Happy March!
I hope it’s sunny, and you’re feeling relaxed wherever you are. As I’ve been sharing only travel guides this year (check a few of my personal favorites here and here), today I want to share three fantastic Italian drink discoveries, I’ve been enjoying lately. The first two are excellent choices enjoyed as an aperitivo or with some antipasti and fish or seafood dishes. The third one is the perfect digestivo to finish the meal with a sweet note, and to be paired with an almond cake or pastries.
Try them, and let me know your thoughts!
Cari Saluti,
Emilia
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Serra Lupini Roero Arneis 2021
I discovered the white grape Arneis only earlier this year. Arneis is a white native grape typically grown in the hilly region of Roero, Piemonte. However, it also grows in Langhe, Piemonte. Arneis translates to little rascal from the Piemontese dialect, as it is considered a difficult variety to grow.
This Roero Arneis is from the cantina Angelo Negro which dates back to year 1670, when Giovanni Dominico Negro, son of Audino was the owner of the estate. A homage to the founder, the name is presented on the wine label flowing from the angel’s pennant (check the image above). Today, this family-owned estate has over 70 hectares of vines, and their focus on native varieties, traditional methods have over the decades yielded in award-winning quality wines.
The Serra Lupini Arneis Roero 2021 is an excellent proof of the family’s work. Made with 100% Arneis grape, and handpicked in September this wine has character and pose, sharpness through its acidity, yet it’s delicate and dry with tones of stone and tropical fruits balances the wine perfectly.
Nose: apricot, peach, grapefruit, delicate herbs
Palate: soft, mineral, long finish. Dry and medium acidity.
Where to find it:
Alko
Angelo Negro Website
Zenato Lugana San Benedetto 2021
The Lugana grape was also quite a recent discovery for me from August last year. It most often is a great value wine. The San Benedetto Lugana 2021 was a find from last week, when opting for a white wine with acidity and freshness to accompany a Friday night aperitivo.
The Zenato wines were founded by Sergio Zenato in 1960. Today, the estates and company are run by his wife Carla and children Alberto and Nadia, and it has 95 hectares of vineyards near Lake Garda in the Veneto region (and also Tuscany), which provide ideal conditions for growing Trebbiano di Lugana and many other excellent wines such as Amarone and Valpolicella from the region.
A great manifestation of how wine cultivates not only the land but also art and culture, is the Zenato Academy. Described on their website as: “It was born as a permanent laboratory for study and experimentation in the arts with a focus on the world of photography. It was established in 2019 with the scope of documenting experiences and efforts in the arts over the last ten years. Since its founding, it has become an excellent resource for supporting young artists.”
Sergio Zenato was the visionary, who brought out the full potential of the Trebbiano di Lugana grape and transformed it into the white by the same name: Lugana. The San Benedetto Lugana 2021 from cantina Zenato has great complexity with both depth, and lightness. The wine is made with 100% Trebbiano di Lugana grape and is handpicked in late September to early October.
It’s a full-bodied and flavored wine in the mouth, with notes that shift from dried apple, citrus and pineapple to pear and vanilla. It’s dry and crisp with a nice acidity and minerality, with a long finish, which lingers in the mouth with delicious results. The crisp acidic palate balances its fruitiness. The 2021 vintage received the Falstaff Gardasee Trophy of 91 points.
Nose: green apple, citrus, pear, and vanilla
Palate: full-bodied, dry and medium acidity, long finish.
Where to find it
Alko
Zenato website
Poli Elisir Prugna - Per Pulire la Bocca
In my latest post I shared the perfect day’s itinerary to Bassano del Grappa. One of the activities include a Grappa and Liquor tasting at the Poli Distellery. We tried several varieties and ended up buying a favorite one of the tasting to take home.
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