With the Coronavirus pandemic upon us, many parts of the world are now closed off to prevent the spread of the dangerous disease. Who would have ever imagined being restricted from travel to Europe and Asia? But the reality of global disease has arrived and with it have come the restrictions.
The first European country to be severely impacted by COVID-19 was Italy and the country struggles to gain control of the virulent outbreak within its borders. How devastating that our beloved Italy with its incredible food and divine wines must be avoided and left to cure itself from within!
We can do our part by supporting their economy and buying Italian wine. Fortunately, there is no shortage of delicious Italian wine in our stores, so grab a bottle or two to offer assistance to Italy’s beleaguered economy. With schools closing and people working from home, it seems we suddenly have a lot of time on our hands to enjoy a good glass of wine.
One of the greatest Italian grapes is nebbiolo. Nebbiolo is an aromatic grape hailing from the Piedmont region of northern Italy at the foot of the Italian Alps. It produces outstanding wines celebrated the world over.
An affinity for nebbiolo can quickly become an obsession. Just taste one to see why. Named for the Italian word for fog or “nebbia,” as Piedmont tends to be quite chilly and foggy much of the year, nebbiolo is the grape used to craft the legendary wines of Barolo and Barbaresco.
Both Barolo and Barbaresco are pale garnet in color and have a spicy floral quality on the nose, with plenty of earthy minerality. On the palate, the wines are very high in acid. Flavors can include strawberries, cherries, rose petals, black tea leaves, and even tar. Depending on the producer and the vintage, the wines might also offer aromas of crushed violets, vanilla, toast, cinnamon, and clove.
A young Barolo or Barbaresco can often be too intense to consume pleasurably. Aging allows the wines to improve, as the flavors soften and gain in complexity. Not cheap wines, Barolo and Barbaresco may range in price from about $25 to many hundreds of dollars.
If Barolo and Barbaresco are not in your budget this year, fear not. Fine wines crafted from the nebbiolo grape but without the hefty price tag abound. You simply need to know where to look.
Just north of Piedmont is tiny Val D’Aosta, a narrow valley running along the Dora Baltea River. It’s a wonder that grapes are grown here at all as this is a steep, mountainous region with treacherous terraced vineyards. Brave pickers risk their lives to harvest these high-quality grapes.
As expected, the production in Val D’Aosta is very small scale but the wines are truly sublime. Beautifully perfumed with high acid and bursting with fresh fruit, these wines are absolute treasures if you can find them. Extremely well priced because of their relative anonymity outside the region, a wine from Val D’Aosta is always a delight.
Another region producing notable wines from the illustrious nebbiolo grape is found north of Milan in mountainous Lombardy. Bordering the Adda River and tucked in a steep alpine valley in the foothills of the Alps, Valtellina produces outrageously good nebbiolo. Fresh and bright with heady aromas of dried roses and violets and a mouthful of sweet fruit, the wines of Valtellina are not easily forgotten.
Valtellina also makes a specialty wine in the style of Amarone, by pressing dried grapes. Called Sforzati di Valtellina, these unique wines are rich and highly extracted, with high alcohol, and layers of fruit and spice. Velvety on the palette but packing a tannic punch, Sforzati di Valtellina wines are a must-try and will not disappoint.
As we wind our way from the depth of this pandemic, let’s remember to cherish the precious time we have with friends and loved ones. Open a bottle of good Italian wine and drink to a long, healthy life.
Cheers!
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