Booze Clues: Fun Facts about Italian Wine for Ferragosto

The Italian holiday Ferragosto celebrates the harvest season and summer in general. Though introduced by the emperor Augustus in 18 BC, it also coincides with the Catholic feast of Assumption of Mary, so for many it has religious significance as well as cultural. Since it occurs in mid-August (seeing a pattern with that root word yet?), which is the summer vacation period in Italy, celebrations can last from one day to a couple of weeks. The festivities begin on August 15th. In Italy, there will be picnics, fireworks, religious observances and– most importantly for this crowd– the sharing of delicious food and great wine.

If you're in the New York area, you can also join the celebration at iTrulli, where there will be a special Ferragosto-inspired lunch menu designed to feature foods traditionally enjoyed and shared during the festivities. Think panzerotti, octupus, caprese salad, meatballs, etc. Plus, the Marzovilla Family, makers of Barone Fini Wines, are partnering with the restaurant to offer a curated selection of wines to pair with your meal. As an extension of good will, 100% of the proceeds from each glass of Barone Fini purchased will directly benefit the Food Bank for New York City.

We attended a preview of the lunch last week, and it was DELICIOUS! While there, in addition to learning about the celebration of Ferragosto, we also learned quite a bit about north Italian wines, especially those from Barone Fini. The family behind the brand has been making wine since 1497 and has become an authority on the process of creating exceptional Pinot Grigio and Merlot. Our editor couldn't help but swoon as a fellow Leo and 15th-generation family member Giovanni Bonmartini-Fini guided attendees through the tasting. Of course, the experience inspired a few #TIPsyTuesday posts. If you didn't catch them on our Instagram, Facebook or twitter, here they are:



Looks like we all need to pay a little attention to labels. Granted, there are some amazing Pinot Grigio wines from various places, but we'd like to think the best of the best would come from its home country.

Be mindful when you're wine shopping. Many times, the higher the classification, the higher the price (because the assumption is that the wine is better). However, often, there are I.G.T. wines with quality levels at or above those of D.O.C. wines, especially in certain grape varietals.

*Bonus Fact: Because part of northern Italy was once actually part of Austria, white wines from that region, especially in the Alto Adige area, will have flavors similar to German or Austrian wines.

Now that you've gotten a little primer on Italian wines, do you feel more comfortable in the wine shop? Do you have questions we can pass on to Giovanni?

Booze Clues: Wine Advice from Somm In The City

The world of wine can be a bit intimidating. There are so many types! How's a girl to choose? I recently had an opportunity to pick the brain of sommolier (and fellow booze blogger), Sara Lehman of Somm in the City about some of the basics.

SNB: We're often judged by the content of our cup. With this in mind, what are a couple of varietals to generally avoid when someone’s aiming to impress (especially at a restaurant or bar)?

SITC: Avoid the typical choices like Pinot Grigio or Pinot Noir. Of course some spots have excellent wines by the glass with these grapes, but there are usually more fun and interesting grapes on the list.

SNB: What should she opt for instead?

SITC: Well, depending on the restaurant and their wine selection, its always fun to choose something unique but approachable. If you enjoy crisp whites with some yellow fruit and roundness, go for an Albarino from Spain or White Burgundy from France, which will be a Chardonnay grape varietal. Also if they have a Gavi or a Gruner Veltliner, these are fun grapes with striking acidity if she is a total pinot grigio fan. For an approachable red a Garnacha, Malbec, or Chianti are always good choices. These wines tend to be great on their own, and if you decided to order a light bite or two, are very food friendly!

SNB: Some varietals are great alone. Some are better with food. What's one of the most versatile?

SITC: It really depends what you like to drink and what you are eating at the time. Many whites such as a buttery California Chardonnay can go great with lighter meat dishes

SNB: So... boxed wine. Is there such a thing as a good wine in a box? And do you ever sneak a sip in private?

SITC: Boxed wine tends to have a bad rap, because when its not used for sangria or “slapping the bag” games, its just less expensive wine that can hang outside the fridge for longer than the bottle usually does. Good boxed wine does exist, and a few brands are Public House, Shania, and Beso del Sol or Don Simon Sangria.

I wouldn’t say leave these wines in your room or cellar to age, but they are very drinkable now. They're also good for when you need to make batched cocktails or when having a party where lots of wine is needed.

SNB: If you're just getting into wine, but your drink of choice until now has been cosmos or apple martinis, what's a good place to start?

SITC: Because of the acidity and alcohol in those cocktails, certainly start with a Sauvignon Blanc from California or New Zealand. The Apple Martini has some herbaceous and grassy notes like the SB from NZ would have, and the fruity California SB will be light and fruity like a cosmopolitan. Approach a wine with striking acidity first to see what you like and can handle, and then if you choose to move to a red, go for an Oregon Pinot Noir, a Washington State Cabernet, or a California Cab or Merlot.

SNB: Bonus- which pair of shoes remind you of your favorite wine?

SITC: I certainly get a lot of my shoes from Aldo and am very into Mary Jane-like shoes. They are stylish and classic, and can be worn with almost every outfit day or night. This shoe style reminds me of Champagne, which also is stylish and classic, and can be enjoyed anytime of day!

Aldo doesn't have any mary janes at the moment. However, this Galelawen ankle strap pump seems to have the qualities Sarah described. They're on sale at the moment, too.

Booze Review: Attems 2010 Pinot Grigio

 

Grape Expectations

 

I seldom discuss wine here, but that’s about to change… starting now. Ladies, the wine you drink says as much about you as your shoes and your cocktail. (The selection process can be confusing, so check back soon for more info on which wine says what.) There’s white, there’s red, sparkling, rose… and the list goes on. However, there are certain types you can find on almost any menu, and Pinot Grigio is one of them. It’s one of the more versatile varieties of white wine- easily sipped alone or paired with chicken, fish or other light meats. Recently, the folks at ATTEMS sent me a bottle of their 2010 Pinot Grigio to review.

ATTEMS wines come from Collio DOC in the northeastern part of Italy, and the winemaking lineage of the ATTEMS family dates back 900 years.

I asked my friends, Enovia Bedford of Accessory Remix (June Ambrose was just spotted in one of her necklaces) and Yenitza Lindsay of Sociallite Accessories to try it with me and give their opinions.

The Sniff…

We took a quick sniff to see what flavors we detected in the aroma

The Sip…

We sipped it to pick up the subtleties in the flavor

The Verdict (and potential food pairings)…

We rated it and decided which foods would work best with it

Tasting Notes (from Attems): The wine appears an intense straw yellow with gold highlights, luminous and appealing. Rich, complex notes of fruit are first to please, with banana, pear, mandarin, and
kumquat, as well as pink grapefruit and white peach, and the bouquet ends in a flourish with generous orange blossom honey. The elegance and length of the palate are notable, as is its silky mouth feel, finely balanced by a crisp acidity and ultra-savoury fruit.

I’m not as well-versed in my vino as I am in my cocktails, so this is a journey we can take together. One thing I’ve learned: white wine needs at least 3 years of aging to reach full maturity. Nonetheless, my friends and I definitely enjoyed the ATTEMS. Now I want to know what a 2008 tastes like.

Oh… FYI snooth.com (a HUGE wine site) is shining the spotlight on Pinot Grigio for the month of August via its Global Tasting Initiative (snooth.com/GTI). If this review has you thirsty for more pinot info, check them out (and maybe even participate).

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