Start the New Year the Italian way!

4th January 2013


January needn't be a month of deprivation, a diet of colourful fruit & vegetables, olive oil, lean meat, fish & pasta dishes paired with some of the world's most fantastic wines can be both healthy and delicious.


This month T. Wright has focused on Italian wines and specifically those that are below 13% alcohol, making them that little bit lighter but just as delicious to drink, La Dolce Vita all round!


Pinot Grigio has been the darling of the white wine world for some years now and for good reason; typically produced in the Veneto or alternatively the Umbria or Friuli wine regions it is light, fresh, fruity and easy to drink with or without food making it the perfect aperitif wine. Mirabello Pinot Grigio is a classic example; the delicately perfumed floral bouquet is followed by crisp honeyed citrus flavours and a refreshing dry finish and with only 12.5% alcohol this is an ideal quaffing wine. The award winning Matteo Braidot Pinot Grigio is a step up in complexity with more concentrated layers of flavour and texture, wonderful with salads, white meat or fish dishes & risotto and still only 12.5% in alcohol!


As a change to Pinot Grigio let us introduce you to Orvieto, a stunning wine produced in the D.O.C. Orvieto wine commune of Umbria. Unlike Pinot Grigio Orvieto is made from a blend of grapes, most notably Grechetto, Trebbiano and Malvasia. The result is a dry peach scented white wine with well rounded lemon, lime and pear notes, a fantastic alternative if you want to try something new; Baroncini's Orvieto Classico Libra D.O.C. is a steal at only £7.99!


If you are a lover of rose wines then a Pinot Grigio Rose is an excellent choice, as fresh and easy to drink as white Pinot Grigio with an additional layer of red summer berry fruity notes to remind us of those light summer days, when they still seem so far away! Both the Mirabello Pinot Grigio Rose and the Sacchetto Pinot Grigio Blush are delicious choices and are 12.5% & 12% respectively.


For those who prefer red wines Italy has a truly stunning array available, from the deep richly fruity wines of Sicily to the classic elegant wines of Chianti, Italy has something for everyone. Continuing with our focus on lower alcohol wines this month we have selected three red wine types to concentrate on; Bardolino, Valpolicella and Chianti.


The least well known of these is perhaps Bardolino; situated in Verona within the Veneto wine region on the shores of Lake Garda, the beautiful D.O.C. of Bardolino is famous for producing a light fruity wine of the same name. Bardolino is a blend of three grapes; Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, although small percentages of other grapes may also be included. The resulting wine is fresh, deliciously fruity and dry, perfect as a lighter midweek option in the winter months and ideal as a summer thirst quencher. The Monte del Fra Bardolino is of a superior quality, something that is instantly apparent upon tasting! Delicately fruity and laced with cherry, strawberry, raspberry & redcurrant notes underscored with subtle hints of spice, this is a real cracker.


Valpolicella is a long term favourite amongst Italian wines. Produced not far from Bardolino in the Veneto region, Valpolicella D.O.C. also shares the same principle grape varieties; Corvina, Molinara and Rondinella. The style of Valpolicella is similarly easy drinking and fruity though with more depth of flavour, the perfumed bouquet of red fruits and soft peppery spice follows through to a lush lively palate.


Far too often overlooked these days Valpolicella is an excellent wine and perfect match for pasta and pizza dishes to name but a few, if you haven't tried one for a while remind yourself of how good they can be! The Giacomo Montresor San Pietro Valpolicella D.O.C. and Tedeschi Valpolicella Superiore D.O.C. are both fantastic options.


Chianti is perhaps the best known of all Italian red wines, produced in the idyllic vineyards of Tuscany this wine has conquered the world with it's sublime blend of floral, fruit, herbal and savoury notes. Known as the Bordeaux of Italy, Chianti can range from light and elegant in style to full and rich depending on the area of production and the style of the producer. We love Chianti for its versatility and effortless class, it can partner casual light supper dishes or heartier dinner options with ease and the Campobello Chianti Classico Riserva D.O.C.G. packs all this flavour into only 12.5% alcohol. An Italian masterclass in both style and content!


Traditionally Italians take great pleasure in sharing their love of food and wine so we recommend inviting your friends and family round before starting the evening with a glass of another success story from Italy; Prosecco and toast to 2013 together. Salute!

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