Wine

Wine, Vino, the nectar of the gods. Bacchus, the Roman god of wine was smiling on us this day. We started off the day with a lecture about all of the wine types and regions of Italy, and I was dumbfounded by the sheer amount of wine that is produced from each region of Italy. Each region of Italy specializes in its own varietal of wine; an example of this was Veneto being the biggest producer of the best Prosecco. After the lecture, we were able to go through the castellos stock of wine, and all I can say is holy moly. The wine ranged in age from Fairly new vintages to old vintages, I'm talking 1962 old vintages.

And the magnums, the. insanely. big. and. beautiful. magnums. They brought out two different magnums, one prosecco and one Sassicaia, which I have yet to taste. Along with these magnums, they brought out a box, labeled on that box was Romanée Conti, one of the best Domaines around (I should say we did not get to try any of these).

Following that, we sat down in the kitchen for a wine tasting, tasting two separate sparkling wines, one made with the champagne method and one from the charmant method (Aging in steel vats). After this, we tried a Fiano di Salento, and then a Salice Salentino, and then an Asti. Beautiful wines. Thats all I can say about them. Each wine had its beautiful perks, and the food that was paired with it complemented it even more. For the First course, we had orecchiette with Broccoli  rabe and anchovies. Second, we had roasted lamb with a white wine sauce, which both complemented and contrasted the Salice. And for dessert, we had fresh baked pasticciotti, which complimented the Asti on all levels. All in all, a beautiful day.

Question of the Day;
What are a couple different varietals of grapes and where are they grown?

Friuli Venezia Giulia- Tocai, Verduzzo Friulano, Picolit, RIbolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana, Sauvignon blanc, Merlot, Refosco, Schioppetino

Veneto- Corvina, Rondinella, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon, Molinara, Garganega, Prosecco, Verduzzo Trevigiano

Lombardy- Barbera, Bonarda, Coratina, Pinot Nero, Nebbiolo, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Moscato Bianco, Cortese

Piemonte- Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Brachetto, Grignolino, Bonarda, Moscato Bianco, Cortese, Arneis

Emilia Romagna- Lambrusco, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Trebbiano Romagnolo, Albana, Pignoletto

Toscana- Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ciliegiolo, Canaiola Nero, Cabernet Franc, Trebbiano Toscano, Cernaccia di San Gimignano, Chardonnay, Malvasia Bianca di Candia

Marche- Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Cernaccia Nera, Aleatico, Verdicchio Bianco, Trebbiano, Passerina, Lacrima

Abruzzo- Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Merlot, Passerina, Trebbiano Abruzzese, Malvasia Bianca, Grechetto, Manzoni Bianco

Campania- Aglianico, Sangiovese, Piedirosso, Falanghina, Fiano, Greco di Tufo, Coda di Volpe, Asprinio, Biancolella

Sicillia- Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Frappato, Syrah, Carricante, Catarratto, Grillo, Zibibbo, Ansanico

Puglia- Primitivo, Negroamaro, Nero di Troia, Bombino Bianco/Nero, Verdeca, Aleatico, Malvasia Bianca/Nera, Susumaniello, Bianco d’Alessano