Displaying items by tag: Lambrusco

Summary: 

Lambrusco has a bad rap. Many wine drinkers dismiss it as simple sweet commercial fizz. And perhaps much of it was when it made its international debut in the 1960s and ‘70s. But that was a long time ago. And there’s much more to Lambrusco than many are aware.

In this webinar we will investigate the ancient origin of the Lambrusco family of grapes in an atypical growing area in the Po River valley, focusing on three of the most important, site-specific sub-varieties.

We will meet some of the key producers — small and larger, new and older — and discuss some of their most interesting, representative wines employing various production methods (Tank, Ancestral, Traditional) and length of time on lees.

We will also explore the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, which has its own unique production process and extended ageing regimen. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale was traditionally made by winemakers from the same vineyards and grape varieties, and therefore constitutes an additional expression of Lambrusco.

Finally, we will consider how Lambrusco-based wine and vinegar complement the traditional regional cuisine and how all three reflect and express the unique culture and terroir of the area.

Presenter: Alan Tardi

Alan Tardi is a wine journalist (Wine and Spirits Magazine, Wine Spectator, The New York Times, Sommelier Journal, Wine Folly), educator, and author of two award-winning books: "Romancing the Vine: Life, Love and Transformation in the Vineyards of Barolo" (St Martin's Press 2006/James Beard Award Best Wine Book of 2006) and "Champagne, Uncorked: The House of Krug and The Timeless Allure of the Worlds Most Celebrated Drink" (Hachette 2016/Gourmand Best in the World Award 2016).

His interest in wine developed while working in some of New York City’s legendary restaurants and as chef-owner of his own acclaimed NYC restaurant. He lived in the Barolo village of Castiglione Falletto for over a decade, working in the vineyards and wineries and managing the town's Cantina Comunale and functioned as the first US Ambassador of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco.

Alan teaches the IWS program online with the Wine Scholar Guild and is a frequent presenter at SommCon and the Society of Wine Educators annual conference. Alan is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), WSET Level 3, Champagne Master (WSG), and Italian Wine Scholar (IWS).

Here is the list of featured wines/traditional Balsamic vinegar Alan will be referring to in his webinar in case anyone would like to taste during the webinar: 

1. Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC “del Fondatore” 2020  CLETO CHIARLI chiarli.it 
2. Lambrusco Salamino di Santacroce IGT “Rosso Viola” 2020 LUCIANO SAETTI vignetosaetti.it
3. Lambrusco Grasparosso di Castelvetro DOC 2020  FATTORIA MORETTO fattoriamoretto.it
4. Salamino di Santa Croce Rosato Frizzante DOC "PerFranco" 2020 TERREVIVE terrevive.net
5. Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC “Lariserva” Spumante Brut 2020 PALTRINIERI cantinapaltrinieri.it
6. Lambrusco Metodo Classico “1984” Rosé 2014 ZANASI zanasi.net
7. Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC Metodo Classico 2016 SILVIA ZUCCHI vinizucchi.com
8. Lambrusco Salamino DOC “In Correggio” Metodo Classico Rosso 2006 LINI 910 lini910.it

Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena Affinato (12 Years)                     GIUSEPPE GIUSTI giusti.it

Ciro Pirone is the Director of Italian Wines for Horizon Beverage Group and will be teaching the next online Italian Wine Scholar course beginning in February. In under 30 minutes Ciro gives us the fascinating history of Italian sparkling wine production, and discusses key points on the spumante wines of Alta Langa. We also learn about the main grapes and styles of Lambrusco, and learn important distinctions between Asti DOCG and Moscato d’Asti DOCG. 

Summary: 

Travel through Italy's culture, food and wine scene with some of the most beloved grape varietals from North to South.

The Italian Ministry of Agriculture's list of registered grape varieties lists 494 although many say there are a lot more!

Ciro selected 10 that he believes strongly represent the multi-faceted Italian wine scene and tell their stories in a very unique way. From the Nebbiolo in Piemonte, Val d'Aosta and Valtellina to the Zibibbo of Pantelleria, let the journey begin!

BONUS: CIRO's recommended traditional food pairings for these 10 key grape varieties:

• NEBBIOLO – Tajarin al sugo di carne (homemade egg pasta with meat sauce) or risotto with truffle
• SCHIAVA – Risotto ai frutti di Bosco (risotto with fresh wildberries)
• GLERA – Prosciutto San Daniele or any small bites
• CORVINA – Brasato di cervo (braised venison with juniper berries)
• LAMBRUSCO – SALUMI, mortadella, culatello, lardo, salame but also Bolognese and Lasagna with meat sauce
• SANGIOVESE (it’ll depend on which e.g. Chianti vs Brunello or some else) – for the lighter styles a ribollita soup could do great for the more intense and structured a grilled T-Bone or even Sausage and beans all’uccelletto
• VERDICCHIO – Brodetto di pesce (seafood stew with a light tomato broth) or crudo (sushi)
• MONTEPULCIANO – Spaghetti alla chitarra con polpettine (typical square shaped spaghetti with tiny meatballs, tomato sauce and pecorino)
• AGLIANICO – Grilled sausages, Pork chops with fried potatoes and vinegar peppers
• ZIBIBBO – Bacio pantesco (most classic dessert of the island) or Cannoli or Cassata Siciliana

If you just Google the names of the dishes you will find the recipes!

Presenter: Ciro Pirone

Ciro Pirone, Director of Italian Wines for Horizon Beverage Company, is a graduate of the Istituto Alberghiero (Hotel and Restaurant Management school) of Salerno, Italy.  Traveling and working in Italy, England and the US, Ciro developed an incredible passion for wine, food and culture. After all, growing up in Italy, wine was always a very important part of his family’s lifestyle and traditions.

In 1999, Ciro moved to the US permanently.  He landed in Boston, where he continued his wine studies at Boston University, the International Sommelier Guild and the London –based Wine & Spirits Educational Trust (WSET). In 2007, Ciro accepted the position of Italian Wine Specialist for Horizon Beverage. After successful growth at HBC, Ciro accepted on a new challenge as the US Brand Manager for the Arnaldo Caprai Winery of Montefalco (Umbria), the top producer of worldwide recognized Sagrantino di Montefalco. In June 2011, Ciro returned to Horizon Beverage with a new position of Director of Italian Wines in support of their expanding presence in the New England marketplace.  Ciro is happy to share his passion for Italian wine and culture in an effort to give the American wine consumer  a better understanding and appreciation for Italian wine!

Learn more about Italian Wines:

• Italian Wine Scholar study and certification program
• Tuscany Wine Study Tours with Jane Hunt MW
• Piedmont Wine Study Tours with Kerin O'Keefe
• Italian Wine Blog Articles

The best way to make sense of Italian red wines is to simply start tasting them. Italy offers the perfect red wine for every occasion—from pizza on Monday to roast beef with the in-laws on Sunday.

Many of Italy's best red wines are labeled with the name of the wine appellation, often combined with the grape variety. If you've ever felt wholly overwhelmed while browsing an Italian wine section, knowing just a few key wine names will help keep your shopping trip focused and ensure that you have the perfect wine to drink at a moment's notice.

Lambrusco Family: Lambrusco represents one of the most ancient families of native grapes in Italy. In fact, it is so ancient, that a specific area of origin has not been determined. Historically, they were believed to descend from domesticated wild vines. All the Lambrusco grapes are related to each other but are considered distinct varieties. In general, the wines produced from these grapes share common features, such as high acidity, moderate alcohol and red fruit-floral aromas, however, each variety does express a distinct character, despite such similarities.