Man Does Not Live By Bread Alone

Among its many contributions, Italy is the country that gave the world Dante and DaVinci and Donatello, Modigliani and Michelangelo, Botticelli and Raphael. Indeed, some might say that so much artistic greatness has been born here that there must be something in the water.

More likely, it’s in the wine.

San Remo Round Bar by Casa Novalia

It seems there is hardly a square foot of land in Italy that does not produce grapes suitable for winemaking, and the Italians have been making good use of their land for some 4, 000 years. Indeed, the country is the world’s largest producer of wine, with vines carpeting all twenty of its regions, from the snow-capped peaks of the north to the sun-drenched island of Sicily in the south.

Italian wines are marked in a classification system that has roots dating back hundreds of years. For the uninitiated, the governing body for quality designations is the Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC), while wines of the highest quality are dubbed Denominazione di Origine Controllata Garantita (guaranteed in the style and regional authenticity). The latter must carry a government seal in the form of a paper strip placed over the cork.

Here, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite Italians for you to try with a few of your favorite friends. For the requisite nibbles, we’ve plated cheese-in this case a Parmesan wedge, crumbled Parmesan and asiago-along with loaves of crusty bread and, of course, grapes for color. You might also try mild, soft cheeses such as Bel Paese or mozzarella di Bufala, both are delightful with light to medium-bodied whites such good wine is its color. Incidentally, if you’re a fan of dishwashing detergents, make sure to rinse glasses thoroughly by hand before your guests arrive, since even just a trace of a lemon-scented cleaner can destroy the bouquet of your wine.

Wines We Like

From Northeast Italy, in the Trentino region, where there is evidence that wine has been made for more than 2,700 years, comes Barone Fini Pinot Grigio Alto Adige. Crisp and perfectly balanced, this estate-bottled Pinot Grigio offers bright citrus fruit flavors with underlying mineral on its refreshing and lengthy finish.

As background, you can impress your friends by telling them that this wine hails from an area that was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War II. Fini and Bonmartini are the names of titled Venetian families that merged thanks to the marriage of two Fini sisters and two Bonmartini brothers. Hence, the Barone Fini name. Records reveal a history of family winemaking dating back to 1497.

The Pinot Grigio vineyards of Barone Fini are 25 to 30 years old. All of the grapes are handpicked and sorted, and the juice is then divided into several lots, each undergoing a different temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks. After reaching equilibrium, juice selections are skillfully blended to produce one of the most complex and flavorful Pinot Grigios produced in Italy.

Poggio Alla Sala Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano meanwhile, is a complex wine with a refined and deep lingering finish produced at an estate (complete with vineyard and traditional farmhouse) established in the 1700s south of the town of Montepulciano in Tuscany. Highly concentrated flavors of sweet black cherry and currant fruit accompany hints of licorice, underbrush and leather in this full-bodied red.

Here’s what to tell your friends: The estate was originally owned by the nobleman Pietro Bonci-Casuccini; today, the wines of Poggio Alla Sala are crafted under the watchful eye of winemaker Cecilia Leonsechi who has continued the estate’s winemaking traditions. The vines have an average age of 20 years with the oldest vines being 30 years old. Along with the maturity of the vines, what makes the acclaimed Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano so special is a careful selection of the estate’s native grape varietals, excellent soil composition, and of course, the alchemy of the wonderful Tuscan sun.

Our next selection is for all those who still think chianti is an inexpensive, commercial wine that is always dressed in a straw-covered flask. With its intense red fruit flavors with soft, sweet tannins and an admirable finish, Trecciano Chianti Colli Senesi shows how the red-checkered table clothed tables have turned.

The Trecciano estate is 40 acres of meticulously kept vineyards situated on unique red soils in a gentle valley southwest of Siena. Wooded hills protect the valley and its winery from the weather. Housed in a beautiful medieval villa that was once home to cloistered nuns, the cellar of Trecciano perfectly combines respect for the antique traditions of winemaking with the requirements of modern times.

Finally, lest we forget the sparkle, there’s II Cortigiano Prosecco Spumante, which will allow you to set out those flutes you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Considered the perfect aperitif, this Prosecco is medium-sweet with honeysuckle and peach flavors and a melony fragrance. Grown in the eastern part of Italy’s Veneto region, Prosecco is a white wine grape that is primarily made into light sparking wines. To your health!

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