Tag Archives: Italian

Red Wine of the Week | Red Wine Reviews, Skank Wine of the Month | Wine Reviews, Weekly Bottles

LAMURA Rosso Terre Siciliane

Cost: Average price $6.99

Where buy now: Stinson Wines & Spirits

Grapes: 100% Nero d’Avola

Region: Sicily, Italy

Vintage: 2013

LAMURA Rosso Terre Siciliane
LAMURA Rosso Terre Siciliane

I’ve been sick all week and with that sickness comes an air of selfishness. You could blame my mom for being the most nurturing of matriarchs. You could blame my birth order and the entitlement I feel as a first child. You could blame an unconditionally loving husband who strives to make me happy. However, it all truly comes down to this fact, I choose to be a big baby.

 

Zinc lozenges, Generic Dimetapp and nasal spray had my tastebuds all bug-a-boo. I couldn’t taste. My diet consisted of Northern Minnesotan fare: bland, white food. Saltines and chicken noodle soup. I was sad. No wine. No bubbles. No happiness. I consumed Xanax as a way to achieve a wine buzz I so desperately craved.

 

As the fog slowly lifted, my tastebuds began returning to a normal state. What does any Italian gal do after a diet of bland food? Turn to pizza and pasta. Gimme spice, gimme garlic, gimme pizzazz. To test the tastebud waters, I didn’t want to blow it on some expensive (ie: $15) bottle of wine. Last week I picked up some cheapy bottles (as if I subconsciously knew) for such an occasion.

 

I picked up Lamura Rosso Terre Siciliane. This one rang up at a whopping $6.99.

 

“What the fuck am I doing? I’m being cheap. No, I’m being adventurous AND it says Natura Sicilia. Go organic!” I told myself.

Scene from The Savvy Lush research and recovery operation.
Scene from The Savvy Lush research and recovery operation.

 

So, here I sit. In bed. Dog at my feet. Crappy daytime T.V. on the boob-tube. Me, a pizza and a glass of red wine. It’s fucking awesome. I’m back, baby. Lamura Rosso Terre Siciliane wine is light on the lips. There’s enough cherry-berry fruit to taste, without being jammy and it’s not overly dry or tannic. It’s soft, gentle and thin on the palate. Perfect for this recovering (addict) sick gal.

 

It’s all working. You can blame my inability to taste fully. You can blame my laziness that is a frozen pizza. You can blame my day-drinking. However, it all truly comes down to the fact that I deserve these just rewards.

 

Skank wine of the week – one deserving of my selfishness recovery.

White Wine of the Week | White Wine Reviews

Vicentini Agostine Soave

Cost: Average price $13

Where buy now: Byerly’s Ridgedale, North Loop Wines & Spirits

Grapes: 80% Garganega, 20% Tebbiano di Soave

Region: Veneto, Italy

Vintage: 2010

Vicentini Agostine Soave

Maybe it’s because I’m buzzed as I write this, but I cannot stop saying “Soave” [SWAH-vay] like that douche bag one-hit wonder, Gerardo (you’re welcome). I know when I tell people to try a Soave, they start singing, “Rico Suave”. Perhaps that’s simply indicative of my friends. [*sigh*] Fortunately, the white of the week couldn’t be further from that level of d’baggery.

Regardless of any mixing of vinegar and water, you need to know more about this wine!

Soave is an Italian white wine that hails from the Veneto Region of Italy, near Verona. The East side of the top of the boot, close to the Adriatic Sea. Soave is made predominantly from a grape called Garganega [gar-GAH-nay-gah]. While not a well known white, it is universally pleasing.

I enjoy Soave in the Spring/Summer months, especially with grilled shrimp and other whitefish, like tilapia. Think about it: this wine hails from an area close to the Adriatic sea, so it pairs well with seafood. That is also a great rule-of-thumb, to pair wine with foods typical of that same region. Similar to the Gavi, I also enjoy this wine with pesto. In fact, I should probably do the “Pepsi Challenge” with both Gavi and Soave with my homemade pesto and pasta.

Truthfully, I think my favorite Soave is by Inama, Soave Classico. This wine now tends to hover around $20 and that is outside what I’m wanting to pay. So I asked my go-to guy Rodney for a Soave around $10, he pointed me toward this one by Vicentini Agostine [Vee-chen-TEE-nee aug-oh-STEE-nay]. This is a delicious Soave, especially for the price. I‘ll also note that I had one glass because my husband slurped it all, and he’s not a huge white wine guy.  (Of course, that’s also due to the fact that I’d moved on to a bottle of red.)

What’s not to like? It’s light, crisp and refreshing. It is unoaked, has a bit of tartness and smells of dried citrus fruit with a hint of jasmine floral qualities to it. Drink this before your meal, along with some grilled or fried calamari or a light salad with tuna fish and arugula.

Come to think of it, “Rico” and “Suave” are actually pretty good adjectives for this wine. So I guess he isn’t a total ass clown. Oh wait, yes, yes he is.

Red Wine of the Week | Red Wine Reviews

Giacomo Vico Langhe Rosso

Cost: Average price $13.99

Where buy now: Surdyks – $10.97

Grapes: 70% Barbera, 30% Nebbiolo

Region: Piedmont, Italy

Vintage: 2009

Giacomo Vico Langhe Rosso
Giacomo Vico Langhe Rosso

The tall, dashingly handsome Italian wine rep at the store made it impossible to pass by with only a glance. Right dapper in his pin stripe suit, well-coifed hair and slight Mediterranean tan, I was completely entranced as he regaled with details about the Giacomo Vico vineyard and their wine. He even smelled like he came straight from a Versace fashion shoot: cypress, smoke, spice and everything nice. As I stood with five or six other patrons, the crowded store made it difficult for our little gathering to remain in one place. When we shifted around to make room for other patrons, I would stealthily lean in to catch a hint of his aura. I know that’s downright creepy, but I was addicted. Oh, how I wanted to channel my inner Sophia Loren!

With his heavy, dripping accent he described this Langhe Rosso blend. The Giacomo Vico vineyards are in a hilly area, South of Torino and East of the River Tanaro in Piedmont, called “Roero”. Barbara and Nebbiolo wines are created separately, then fused into barrels to age. This blend creates a smooth, slightly tannic but not too dry libation. The deep color and smooth nature is evident as it is 70% Barbera. The slightly tannic, woody dry flavor is due to the Nebbiolo. I figured I’d like this wine since I love Barbera, and the introduction of Nebbiolo gives it a little bit drier quality. It has enough character to stand alone- perfect for sipping and gossiping with girlfriends (or Italian boyfriends). It is not, however, too strong to drink alongside spaghetti and meatballs or a grilled hamburger. Ooh, or pick up some truffle cheese at Trader Joes- that mushroomy smokiness would gracefully bring out the Nebbiolo flavor.

When this romance novel of a gentleman finishes telling us all the details, I stand there like a deer in headlights. I don’t speak. I can’t speak! I merely extend my hand hoping he will take it, whisk me away to his villa, perhaps speeding on windy hills in his convertible Alpha Romeo. He smiled and asked if I’d like a bottle. As I mutely nod, he places one in my desperate, outreached hand and moves on to the next patron.