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delfinamaggiousa · 5 years ago

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Visions of Italy: Lugana’s Signature White Wine

This article and the Visions of Italy series is sponsored by Santa Margherita USA.

Each spring, Italy’s beautiful northern lakes come into focus as the preferred holiday setting for the rich and famous. Though Lake Como might be the area’s best-known celebrity destination, cognoscenti have long marked the start of spring by heading to Lake Garda, drawn to its thermal waters, ancient Roman ruins and picturesque scenery. At this majestic lake, close to the romantic city of Verona, nearly every angle provides another easily Instagrammable masterpiece.

When the first buds and blossoms of spring finally begin to appear, the longstanding appeal of Lake Garda is obvious: The area is home to over 60 species of orchids and other rare flowers, including the charming, white-petaled Baldo anemone found atop soaring Mount Baldo, whose peak is accessible via cable car from the lakeside town of Malcesine. Other attractions of the season include the lake’s International Spring Festival — Italy’s largest — and the asparagus festival in the town of Rivoli Veronese, as well as the medieval-themed commemoration of Emperor Otto II, which takes place in the charming commune of Lazise every May. That’s to say nothing of the area’s legendary outdoor activities, which include boating, paddleboarding, windsurfing, hiking, and mountain biking.

Outdoor activities include boating, paddleboarding, windsurfing, hiking, and mountain biking.

When it comes to wine, Lake Garda’s main attraction is its beloved Lugana region. Situated on the lake’s southern shore, the temperature-moderating influence of Garda, as well as the surrounding low glacially-carved morainic hills, create a microclimate with warm days and cool nights, making the area well-suited for grape growing. Relatively flat, with naturally chalky and fairly uniform clay soil, Lugana straddles the regional boundary between the Veneto and Lombardia, one of few DOCs (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) to do so.

This terroir has proven to be perfect for still white wines — which make up 95 percent of Lugana production — though the region also produces a small amount of sparkling wine, as well as late-harvest dessert wines. A DOC since 1967, Lugana is revered for its charismatic dry whites, filled with rich notes of tropical fruits, citrus and nuts — fresh, fruity flavors that pair perfectly with the budding spring season.

This terroir has proven to be perfect for still white wines — which make up 95 percent of Lugana production.

The area’s standout winery Cà Maiol was founded by the Walter Contato family here over 50 years ago, though its history goes back even further. The winery’s main building was constructed in 1710, with the name of the original owner, Sebastiano Maiolo, still visible on the lintel of the winery’s historic manor house. Located just steps from the glimmering lake shore, the vineyards soak up the sun as it reflects off the water and the surrounding hills like an amphitheater.

The primary focus at Cà Maiol has always been on the Turbiana grape, a.k.a. Trebbiano di Lugana. The story of wine in Lugana is a matter of ancient lore — and of a slightly confusing set of grape names. Regulations say that white wines from Lugana DOC must be made at least 90 percent from the region’s storied Turbiana grape. Until recently, Turbiana was believed to be a variant of Trebbiano called Trebbiano di Lugana (and cousin of nearby Trebbiano di Soave). But recent DNA research showed that both Turbiana and Trebbiano di Soave are actually versions of Verdicchio — a grape renowned for producing highly sought-after white wines. This makes way more sense, considering that Turbiana produces typically pale, straw-colored wines with vibrant floral and citrus notes. While Lugana wines are allowed to contain up to 10 percent of other grapes, today many producers choose to use 100 percent Turbiana in order to highlight the grape’s unique characteristics.

While Lugana wines are allowed to contain up to 10 percent of other grapes, today, many producers choose to use 100 percent Turbiana in order to highlight the grape’s unique characteristics.

At Cà Maiol, the single-vineyard, old-vine selection Molin shows off the possibilities of 100 percent Trebbiano di Lugana with flavors of kiwi and other tropical fruits, as well as almonds and apricots that layer into a long finish of stone fruit and citrus. This wine is a particularly good fit for delicate fish dishes, steak tartare, grilled vegetables, and other springtime flavors.

Perfect for accompanying the first vegetable salads of the year, wines like Cà Maiol’s more youthful Lugana showcase Trebbiano di Lugana in its purest form, emphasizing the characteristic apple, pear, and citrus flavors of the region, courtesy of the vineyard’s layered clay soil. Pair this with pasta, risotto, shellfish, and seafood dishes, which will highlight the wine’s balanced acidity, an important characteristic of Turbiana.

There are plenty of great reasons to head to Lake Garda in the spring. But if you can’t make it all the way to northern Italy, just open a bottle of Lugana and pour yourself a glass. After the first sip, you’ll be dreaming of a shimmering lake, and a beautiful world suddenly bursting into flower.

This article is sponsored by Cà Maiol.

The article Visions of Italy: Lugana’s Signature White Wine appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/visions-of-italy-luganas-signature-white-wine/

source https://vinology1.wordpress.com/2019/11/15/visions-of-italy-luganas-signature-white-wine/

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emmolo · 6 years ago

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IL LUGANA DOC IN DEGUSTAZIONE TRA LE“BEST WINE STARS” DI MILANO

4-6 Maggio 2019

@ Rotonda della Besana a Milano

Milano Food City

C.S.

Masterclass dedicata al Lugana DOC

Domenica 5 maggio 2019, alle ore 16.30

La DOC Lugana, espressione di un territorio unico e prezioso che si estende sulle sponde meridionali del Lago di Garda, sarà sui banchi d’assaggio della seconda edizione di Best Wine Stars, l’evento-degustazione dedicato alle eccellenze enologiche…

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padmearmadala · 6 years ago

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In German they have this saying “Wenn schon denn schon” or in English Go Big or Go Home. Well... I went BIG! 😜🤣 Dinner with my bestie at the other one of the two best Italian restaurants our little town has. Champagne and tomato bruschettas for aperitif, Potato Cream Soup with truffles, Lobster Spaghetti Aglio Olio and Strawberry Mascarpone Eton Mess, all washed away with my favorite Italian wine Lugana Ca Dei Frati. I told you I went big! 😜🤤🤤But boy was it worth it; Every last crumb! Sometimes life happens and you just have to go with the flow. Dinner with my bestie, who I haven’t seen in 4 months, was way too important for me to skip, just because it doesn’t fit my macros. A healthy life is all about balance. #balanceiskey #lovemylife #lovemyisland #lovemallorca (at Gran Café Antica Roma) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwJz9euF38m/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=etbctalo2bd1

#balanceiskey #lovemylife #lovemyisland #lovemallorca

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dandelionwineshop · 8 years ago

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THURSDAY NIGHT TASTING

Rain be damned! You know you're thirsty, and tonight's line-up of Spanish and Italian wines under $25 is the perfect antidote to a long, gloomy day. So brave the April showers and join us in welcoming Bryan from Moonlight Wine Company tonight, 6:30-8:30, for our weekly tasting! We'll have bread from She Wolf and cheese from Eastern District, and as always a purchase of the full set of tasting wines will earn you 10% off!

Ca' Lojera Lugana 2016

This gorgeous family run winery is located on the shore of Lake Garda right on the border of the wine regions of Lombardia and the Veneto. And while this glimmering white wine has been a favorite around here for many years now, this current vintage just might be the best we've ever had. Made from 100% Trebbiano di Lugana (also known as Verdicchio!), this is a captivating wine with a LOT going on- notes of melon, stone fruit, wildflowers, delicate spice, and a brilliant, underlying acidity. The Tiraboschi family hosts visitors for agroturismo where they serve their wines with regional pasta dishes and local pike with polenta. Second best to a visit would be to recreate those pairings at home! $19

Via Marchesi Pinot Noir, Friuli 2015

The Marchesi estate is positioned in the eastern corner of Friuli in Northern Italy, near Trieste and the Slovenian border. Warm sea breezes blows over the vineyards in the daytime, and cool winds from the Alps at night, producing perfectly ripe, beautifully balanced Pinot Noir with uplifting aromatics and a pleasant lightness. And easy weeknight red for leftovers, or picnic wine with sandwiches and potato chips, Via Marchesi's Pinot is a crowd pleasing, happy bottle that blooms pretty much anywhere you plant it. $15

Ca Sa Padrina Arrel, Mallorca 2013

Discover Mallorca! Mallorca is the hot new region, at least on our shelves, and it's time to get in on the fun. It's not a new region, exactly, the small Spanish island has a long history of grape growing and wine making and a lot of cool indigenous varieties. Arrel is a blend of 85% Montenegro and 5% Callet, grown pretty naturally without herbicides or pesticides. The grapes are hand harvested then vinified in steel before aging for a year in mostly neutral oak before bottling without filtration. Cool coastal nights prevent the grapes in this warm, sunny climate to get overripe, and this fuller-bodied red is refreshingly bright and fresh, with good structure and lively spice. $21

#thursday night tasting #drink wine #party time #old world wine #rainy day wine

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emmaeatsandexplores · 5 years ago

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Wedding over, we were off on our mini-moon and the destination was Borghetto sul Mincio in Northern Italy.

Italy is such a special place for Dan and I. He took me on a tour of Puglia for my birthday a few years back and we fell in love with the country. Since then we’ve taken many trips, all over Italy. Whether to visit tiny towns like Talamone or Viareggio or larger cities like our trip to Siena, or even wine tasting in Montalcino we always find a reason to keep coming back.

We were thrilled when my uncle and aunt suggested we visit their apartment in Borghetto for our mini-moon. Borghetto must be the most picturesque town I think I have ever stayed in. It looks like a picture postcard! It’s situated in the Veneto region of Italy and the river Mincio runs through the middle of it, (hence the name), directly from Lake Garda. It’s a beautiful hamlet of old watermills and bridges and is just so incredibly pretty.

Standing tall over the town is the remains of the Ponte Visconteo (the Visconti Bridge) a fortified dam, built in 1393 by the Duke of Milan – Gian Galeazzo Visconti. Unfortunately, all that is now left is the main tower which can be seen in the picture below.

Getting to Borghetto sul Mincio

The two closest airports are Verona (about 30 mins drive away) and Milan Bergamo (about an hour’s drive away). We flew into Milan Bergamo around 5 pm, hired a car, checked in and were sitting at dinner by 7.30 pm! There is no train station in town but there are local buses which go to Peschiera del Garda (about 10km away) which has a train station.

Accommodation

We were lucky enough to be staying in my uncle and aunt’s apartment but there are a few hotels, guest houses and apartments in town. I haven’t stayed in any of the ones below but if I did, the first two would definitely be the ones that I would pick!

Maison Resola – A breathtakingly beautiful guest house, situated in the centre of town. The rooms are beautifully decorated and there is a terrace overlooking the Ponte Visconteo where they serve breakfast in the mornings and Aperitifs in the evenings.

Il Borghetto Vacanze nei Mulini – A collection of 10 beautifully decorated apartments in the centre of town, right on the river. This apart-hotel is set in one of the old ancient water mills of Borghetto and has the best views around!

Hotel Faccioli – a 3-star hotel with its own restaurant ‘La Cantina.’

Agriturismo Gian Galeazzo Visconti – An agriturismo on the edge of town offering self-catering apartments alongside an outdoor pool, hot tub and garden.

Corte la Guarnigione – a 2-bed apartment right in the centre of town with an outdoor pool, hot tub and garden and amazing views of the Ponte Visconteo.

Amenities

Borghetto itself doesn’t have much in the way of shops other than the deli mentioned below at La Vecchia Bottega. There are a few gift shops, plenty of cafés, bars and restaurants, but that is about it. For supermarkets, bakeries etc you need to head up the hill to Valeggio which is the municipal town of the area. It has plenty of hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, shops etc.

Restaurants

I’ll start by saying that all of the restaurants in town were really lovely. We didn’t have a bad meal so wherever you choose is bound to be good.

On our first night, we ate sitting by the river at La Vecchia Bottega. What a treat for our first meal in Borghetto sul Mincio. We shared the Chateaubriand and a lovely bottle of Amarone with a delicious Italian cheese plate for dessert. But it was the setting that was so incredibly special. Right on the water next to the bridge in the centre of town we literally had the best table in the house! So amazing for our first meal out as husband and wife. They also had a lovely deli inside – so lovely that at the end of the evening we took a few bits of cheese and charcuterie home for our breakfast the next morning! We also popped back on another day to pick up a bottle of wine to drink on the terrace that evening.

We ate at Grand Cafe San Marco the second night. Yet another beautiful setting, right on the river in the shadow of the Ponte Visconteo. Beautiful during the day and even more special at night when the bridge is all lit up! I enjoyed the Prosciutto and Melon followed by a Burrata Salad and Dan got to try out the local tortellini for the first time! Absolutely delicious! And it was here that we had our first taste of the Lugana Reserva. Lugana is the local white wine and the Reserva is slightly aged so it’s a bit oakier and more complex. A very romantic spot for dinner – make sure you ask for a table on the terrace!

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For our last lunch, we’d booked Lo Stappo. We couldn’t leave without eating there, it was just so picturesque, set right in the middle of the river. A bottle of Franciacorta to celebrate the last meal of our mini-moon started lunch off nicely. I opted for the Parma ham and melon (it had been an indulgent few days!) but Dan went for the truffle tortellini. It smelled incredible and I’d definitely recommend it just from the smell alone. The food was lovely, the setting was perfect and it was the perfect way to round off an incredible few days in Borghetto sul Mincio.

We also ate at Il Cavallino in Vallegio one night, the town set up above Borghetto sul Mincio. We’d tried to visit the Tortellini Festival (see below) but it was bad weather and rained off. Instead, we found this little gem, a family restaurant with the Nonna in the kitchen and the son and daughter serving. The food was rustic and delicious – just like mamma used to make! Hearty steaks all round with a great bottle of Valpolicella – the house red, there was no wine list – went down a treat on a rainy evening.

Bars

We only really found three bars in town.

The first was a bar/restaurant but it had a great Aperitivo list. it was called Osteria Al Volto Bistrot. We had a great Aperol Spritz here one evening and wished we were able to stay for dinner. The food coming out of the kitchen looked amazing!

The second bar we actually stumbled upon on our way down from Valeggio. It’s halfway down the hill and it was buzzing. Unfortunately, there was a private party on that night so we didn’t get to in but I’d definitely pay it a visit another time. I can’t remember the name but it’s the only one on the way down the hill so you can’t miss it!

The third bar was a proper bar – La Fiaba. It just served drinks and cocktails. There was a small terrace out back but as it was a bit chilly we chose to sit inside. It was very….eclectic! There wasn’t a surface that wasn’t covered with some kind of nick-nack (most of them broken) and it was definitely different. It was like drinking in a junk shop but it all added to the charm of the place! And they did a great Negroni!

Activities

Cycling – There is a cycling track that runs from Peschiera del Garda all the way to Mantua (about 40km). It is all tarmacked and fairly flat so it is perfect for cyclists of all ages and abilities – even kids! The part between Borghetto and Peschiera is about 12km long and probably took us about 45 mins to an hour at a fair pace with no stops. Peschiera is at the south of Lake Garda so it’s an easy way to get to the Lake to explore…But that’s a whole other post! There’s so much to see and do there (including hiring a boat) that Lake Garda needs its own post!

Wine Tasting – The wines of the area tend to be Lugana for the white and Valpolicella for the red. We loved the Lugana Reservas (slightly aged) as our white choices and the Amarones for the red! I also found a new to me sparkling wine called Franciacorta. Franciacorta is a sparkling wine made using the traditional Champagne method and the same/similar grapes. Unlike Prosecco which is made from Glera grapes and is tank fermented, Franciacorta is made from grapes such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc and has its second fermentation in the bottle. This results in a slightly drier wine with a more yeasty and less fruity character than Prosecco.

Dan and I spent one day travelling around the area visiting various wineries. We decided to head to a larger, more well-known winery and also a smaller family-run one to see the differences. We chose to visit the Bertani Winery as the larger one and Cantina Gozzi as the smaller one. In Bertani, we were offered a tasting in their wine shop and we couldn’t leave without purchasing a bottle of their (very expensive) Amarone Classico which we are going to lay down and drink in a few years!

At Cantina Gozzi we were offered tastings by the vineyard owner. She told us all about how the vineyard was very much a family affair, run by her, her husband and her sons and daughters. We left with a bottle of their Riserva Vigna Magrini which was a blend of Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon. We also chose their Riserva Colombara, a delicious barrel-aged Chardonnay, both at very reasonable prices!

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There are also plenty of Cantinas around the region. These are almost like big cash and carries where you can taste wines from many vineyards in the area.

Visit an Agriturismo – We headed out into the surrounding countryside one night to Tamburino Sardo – an agriturismo – for a bit of dinner. An agriturismo is a kind of working farm/vineyard which also offers a restaurant and sometimes rooms. We were welcomed in with a glass of Prosecco from the vineyard and shown to the dining room where we were the only non-locals! There was even a party for all the local farmers that evening! You know you’re in for a good night when the locals all head to the restaurant you’ve picked. All the food was locally sourced and we had a delicious meal, and plenty of the vineyard’s own wines. My favourite was a delicious sweet wine pictured above (Nettare del Tamburino!)

Tortellini Festival or the Love Knot Feast (Festa del Nodo d’Amore). The festival takes place in June on tables that are 600m long on the Visconti Bridge. There are more than 3500 diners from all over the world. It is truly magical with people from all over the world, coming together to eat and ending in a fireworks display from the Scaligero Castle on the hill in Valeggio. The festival was cancelled in2019 but will return again in 2020.

The tortellini are known as Love Knots due to an old legend from the area which talks of nymphs and soldiers:

The nymphs lived in the Mincio river and used to come out to dance on the banks at night. Captain Malco, a soldier, passing through Valeggio fell in love with Silvia, a nymph. They pledged to be together forever. However, before the sun could come up she had to return to the river. She left him a memento of a knotted, gold silk handkerchief. He couldn’t live without her so agreed to go and live in the river with her for eternity. When the other soldiers awoke, all that was left was the knotted handkerchief on the riverbank.

The tortellini of Valeggio are said to resemble the golden knots – hence the festival of Love Knots!If you miss that, there’s also a Tortellini Festival in Vallegio in September. It’s held over three days at various sites around the town. You purchase either a red ticket or a blue ticket from one of the local restaurants for around €24. It gets you a map to find your 5 tastings (4 tortellini and a dessert) plus a glass of wine with each and most of the restaurants showcase their best pasta and try to out-do all the others. This year for the first time they even did a gluten-free ticket!

It was on while we were there so we headed up to experience it on our last night. Unfortunately, it was rained off that evening! But if you can’t make the festival don’t worry. The tortellini is available in every restaurant in town, each priding themselves on their own special recipe. I think Dan might have tried every variation!

Parco Sigurtà Giardino and Scaligero Castle – This park is dubbed as one of the most beautiful parks in the world. It’s just at the foot of the hill from Borghetto sul Mincio up to Valeggio. You can spend an entire morning just wandering around enjoying the Avenue of Roses or trying your hand at the maze of hedges. The Water Gardens, Great Lawn and some beautiful sculptures are also ‘must-sees.’ The park is open every day from 9 am to 7 pm and costs €14.50 for a day pass. If you walk up through the park you can reach Valeggio town on the hilltop. (You can take the little train if it’s too steep for you). Scaligero Castle sits at the top, or at least what’s left of it. Hit by an earthquake in the 12th Century, only the tower, called Rocca remains now. The castle was built in the 8th century by the lords of Verona. You can visit for only €2 euros or tale incredible photos from the panoramic courtyard!

Day trips to Venice & Verona – Both of these amazing cities are easily do-able in a day. Verona is very close. It’s about a 30min drive or you can take the train. Venice is an hour or so on the train. Trains run frequently from Peschiera so it’s worth doing if you have a free day and want to see a bit more of Italy!

Pin Borghetto sul Mincio, Italy for later

Borghetto sul Mincio, Veneto, Italy Wedding over, we were off on our mini-moon and the destination was Borghetto sul Mincio in Northern Italy.

#Agriturismo #Borghetto #Borghetto sul Mincio #Franciacorta #Hotels #Italy #Lake Garda #Love knots #Peschiera #Restaurants #Tortellini #Travel Guide #Valeggio #Veneto #Veneto Region #Venice #Verona #Wine #Wine Tasting

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syrahqueen · 5 years ago

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Zenato Wines - Sipping The Lugana Lifestyle

Zenato Wines – Sipping The Lugana Lifestyle

Nestled in between Milan and Venice, on the southern end of Lake Garda lies Lugana DOC. It is here that the Zenato family crafts beautiful wines from the native Trebbiano di Lugana(also known as Turbiana) grape varietal.

Sergio Zenato was a trailblazing pioneer. He first saw the potential of Lugana in 1960, a time when there was very little attention or appreciation for the region. Sergio deeply…

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#Best Lugana Wine #Lake Garda Wines #Lugana DOC #Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato DOC #Lugana Wines #Nadia Zenato #San Benedetto di Lugana #Santa Cristina #Santa Cristina in San Benedetto di Lugana #Santa Cristina Lugana #Sergio Zenato #Top Lugana Producer #Top Lugana Wines #Trebbiano di Lugana #Turbiana #Zenato Wines

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wineanddinosaur · 5 years ago

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Visions of Italy: Lugana’s Signature White Wine

This article and the Visions of Italy series is sponsored by Santa Margherita USA.

Outdoor activities include boating, paddleboarding, windsurfing, hiking, and mountain biking.

This terroir has proven to be perfect for still white wines — which make up 95 percent of Lugana production.

While Lugana wines are allowed to contain up to 10 percent of other grapes, today, many producers choose to use 100 percent Turbiana in order to highlight the grape’s unique characteristics.

This article is sponsored by Cà Maiol.

The article Visions of Italy: Lugana’s Signature White Wine appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/visions-of-italy-luganas-signature-white-wine/

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johnboothus · 5 years ago

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Visions of Italy: Luganas Signature White Wine

This article and the Visions of Italy series is sponsored by Santa Margherita USA.

Outdoor activities include boating, paddleboarding, windsurfing, hiking, and mountain biking.

This terroir has proven to be perfect for still white wines — which make up 95 percent of Lugana production.

While Lugana wines are allowed to contain up to 10 percent of other grapes, today, many producers choose to use 100 percent Turbiana in order to highlight the grape’s unique characteristics.

This article is sponsored by Cà Maiol.

The article Visions of Italy: Lugana’s Signature White Wine appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/visions-of-italy-luganas-signature-white-wine/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/visions-of-italy-luganas-signature-white-wine

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isaiahrippinus · 5 years ago

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Visions of Italy: Lugana’s Signature White Wine

This article and the Visions of Italy series is sponsored by Santa Margherita USA.

Outdoor activities include boating, paddleboarding, windsurfing, hiking, and mountain biking.

This terroir has proven to be perfect for still white wines — which make up 95 percent of Lugana production.

While Lugana wines are allowed to contain up to 10 percent of other grapes, today, many producers choose to use 100 percent Turbiana in order to highlight the grape’s unique characteristics.

This article is sponsored by Cà Maiol.

The article Visions of Italy: Lugana’s Signature White Wine appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/visions-of-italy-luganas-signature-white-wine/ source https://vinology1.tumblr.com/post/189080889899

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jorgemiroslavjarasalas · 6 years ago

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Jorge Miroslav Jara Salas: The Secret Grapes of the Willamette Valley

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08.18.2018

An ironic dichotomy characterizes many young wine regions around the world. Lacking the hundreds or even thousands of years worth of cultural precedent that established and then sanctioned certain grape varieties to be grown in specific places, many newer regions seek to identify their defining grape variety. The lessons of recent history make the power of such a strategy quite evident. Chile had its Carmenere. Argentina its Malbec. Marlborough its Sauvignon Blanc.

But the more successful a young region is in establishing a dominant and popular grape variety, the more it tends to plant of that variety, and the less interest (or economic value) there seems to be in planting other grape varieties. Despite clear logic that might suggest it ridiculous to have settled on the ideal grape variety for a given region or country in a mere 20, 30 or even 40 years, the economic pressure and self-reinforcing social dynamics of a rapidly evolving winegrowing community often result in something of a premature zealotry that restricts the kind of experimentation and variety that might benefit any wine region with less than 100 years under its belt.

Oregon’s Willamette Valley represents a perfect case in point. Less than 60 years have elapsed since pioneer David Lett planted Pinot Noir and other cool climate grape varieties in the valley. Few wineries have seen even a single generational handover in that time period, and nearly 75% of the valley’s vines have been planted in the last 25 years.

Of the more than 21,000 acres of vineyards in the Willamette Valley, nearly 93% has been planted to just three grapes: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay, with Pinot Noir accounting for a full 72% of the grape acreage.

This, my friends, is something of a minor crime. It’s hard to say this, loving the region’s Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays as much as I do, and readily acknowledging the extremely high quality of both that the region is clearly so well suited to producing.

But really. The Willamette Valley is just a baby. Sure, it makes amazing Pinot, but what else could it do if we just took the time to explore a little?

Thankfully, some people have been doing just that, and slowly but surely a few grapes are on their way to becoming the best kept secrets of the Willamette Valley.

I’ve written before about Oregon Riesling, which is beginning to get quite good, and has become the valley’s 4th most planted grape variety (with a mere 513 acres under vine). But the notes from my recent tastings focus primarily on Pinot Blanc and Gamay, both of which seem to have real promise, the latter already reaching some truly impressive heights of quality, as you’ll see from my tasting notes below.

Interestingly, the valley’s first winery and the one responsible for introducing Pinot Noir to the region, has also been one of the most adventurous in exploring other grape varieties. In addition to planting Pinot Noir in 1965, David Lett also planted Pinot Meunier and somewhat more remarkably, the first Pinot Gris to be established anywhere outside of Europe. In the 1980s, the winery also planted a small parcel of Gamay, but, unhappy with the particular clone they used and the resulting wines, the winery pulled them out. In 2012, Lett’s son Jason planted the first vines of Trousseau in the Willamette Valley.

“Pinot Noir and Chardonnay have already established their reputation as wines of place,” says the younger Lett. “We have a harder case to prove with Gamay, Pinot Gris, or Trousseau – those wines have no equivalent to a Corton Charlemagne or a La Tâche, because even in their homes they have yet to be taken as seriously as they should. But I firmly believe that, if Oregon growers take these varieties seriously as we have Pinot noir and Chardonnay, we can be recognized as the world pinnacle for their expression.”

In case the notes below don’t fully express my enthusiasm, constrained as they are by their form, suffice it to say that there’s all sorts of goodness to be had, and so much more potential suggested by these wines. The vintners of the Willamette Valley should continue to try out new grape varieties (Lugana, anyone? How about Chenin?) even as Pinot and Chardonnay ascend to new heights. It would be a shame to simply assume that these two were all that the gorgeous landscape was capable of perfecting.

Every young wine region needs more secret grapes.

2015 Domaine Trouvere “Indigine” Pinot Gris, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of apple and citrus zest. In the mouth, citrus and pear flavors have a mouthwatering, racy edge to them and a nice grapefruit pith backdrop. Produced from a mutation the winery found in its Pinot Gris grapes and subsequently propagated on its own. 13.4% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $28. click to buy.

2015 Yamhill Valley Vineyards Pinot Blanc, McMinnville, Willamette Valley, Oregon Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon and lime pith with a hint of white flowers. In the mouth, a light spritz on the palate carries along flavors of apples and pears and a light citrus zest. Excellent acidity. 13.3% alcohol. Score: around 8.5 . Cost: $22. click to buy.

2016 Lange Estate Winery ��Reserve” Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon Pale gold in color, this wine smells of pears and white flowers. In the mouth, pears, pear skin, and white flower notes have a wonderful zingy brightness thanks to excellent acidity. Notes of citrus linger in the finish. Barrel fermented in neutral French oak. 13.4% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $19. click to buy.

2016 Winter’s Hill “Reserve” Pinot Blanc, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon zest, struck match, and vanilla. In the mouth, flavors of vanilla and lemon and unripe apples have a zippy mouthwatering aspect thanks to excellent acidity. There’s a touch of wood here, but it is restrained. 13.7% alcohol. 149 cases produced. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $29. click to buy.

2016 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, Oregon Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of apple and pear and a touch of white flowers. In the mouth, juicy flavors of apple, unripe pear and a hint of sarsaparilla make for a complex and delicious mouthful. Excellent acidity is welded to wet chalkboard minerality that lingers for a long while in the finish. 13% alcohol. Score: around 9. Cost: $24. click to buy.

2017 Brooks Vineyards Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, Oregon Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon pith and white flowers. In the mouth, gorgeously mineral flavors of lemon pith, grapefruit pith and a touch of white flowers are backed by wet chalkboard notes and a chalky texture that lingers through a long finish. Zippy, with fantastic acidity. 12.5% alcohol. 850 cases produced. Score: around 9. Cost: $18. click to buy.

2016 Chehalem “Stoller Vineyards” Pinot Blanc, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of wet chalkboard and citrus pith and a touch of honey. In the mouth, gorgeous and bright flavors of apple, lemon zest, and a touch of vanilla have a wonderful zip to them thanks to excellent acidity. Lemony flavors linger for a long time in the finish. 13.2% alcohol. 295 cases produced. Score: around 9. Cost: $25. click to buy.

2016 Torii Mor Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, Oregon Palest greenish gold in color, this wine smells of apples and lime zest. In the mouth, extremely racy lime and grapefruit flavors mix with a touch of green apple for a deliciously zippy experience with bass notes of wet chalkboard. 13.3% alcohol. Score: around 9. Cost: $20. click to buy.

2015 Left Coast Cellars “Left Bank” Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, Oregon Palest blonde in color, this wine smells of citrus pith and Asian pears. In the mouth, flavors of pastry cream and apples and lemon pith have a silky texture with acidity that sneaks up on you instead of hitting you over the head. Very pretty lemon and apple notes with a backdrop of wet pavement. Fermented and aged on the lees in stainless steel. 13.5% alcohol. 450 cases produced. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $16. click to buy.

2015 Anne Amie Vineyards “Twelve Oaks Estate” Gamay Noir, Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, Oregon Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of forest floor, mushrooms and black raspberries. In the mouth, mulberry and raspberry flavors have a wonderful earthy undertone even as excellent acidity keeps the fruit bright and fresh. There’s a touch of tannin, powdery and subtle that lingers through the finish with notes of cedar. Aged for 10 months in French oak, of which about 58% were new and one year old barrels. 13.6% alcohol. 240 cases produced. Score: around 9. Cost: $21. click to buy.

2015 Brick House “Due East” Gamay Noir, Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon Light garnet in color, this wine smells of crushed herbs, roses and exotic wood oils. In the mouth, fantastically bright flavors of bitter orange, raspberry, mulberry and dried flowers are swirling and technicolor in their shifting, shimmering melange, nudged at times by tannins flexing their muscles at the edge of the mouth. Phenomenal fresh herbs and floral notes linger in the finish with a citrus kick. This wine, frankly, blew my mind. 13.5% alcohol. Score: around 9.5. Cost: $??

2017 Patton Valley Vineyard “PTG” Red Blend, Willamette Valley, Oregon Pale ruby in color, easily passing for a rosé, this wine smells of freshly plucked strawberries and raspberries. In the mouth, fantastic acidity zings while a faint petillance prickles the front of the tongue, and silky textured flavors of strawberry and raspberry course across the palate. Unusual and quite tasty, begging to be served ice cold on a hot summer’s day. A 100% whole cluster fermented field blend of 50% Gamay Noir, 44% Pinot Noir, 5% Chardonnay, and 1% Pinot Gris. Aged for 3 months in neutral oak. 12.7% alcohol. Score: around 9. Cost: $25. click to buy.

2016 Brick House Gamay Noir, Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon Light to medium garnet in color, this wine has a slightly shy nose of sour cherry and mulberry aromas. In the mouth, juicy sour cherry and raspberry flavors zip across the palate thanks to fantastic acidity. Faint dried herbal notes linger in the background, as do faint, powdery tannins. A citrus note lingers in the finish with a touch of earth. 13.5% alcohol. Score: between 9 and 9.5. Cost: $30 click to buy.

2016 Omero Cellars “Parental Advisory Explicit Content – Minimus” Red Blend, Willamette Valley, Oregon Medium garnet in color, this wine smells of cherry and plum and a touch of sweaty saddle. In the mouth, lightly tacky tannins grip the tongue and the edges of the mouth as flavors of sour cherry, cedar and mulberries linger through a moderate finish. Excellent acidity and a nice underlying wet pavement minerality. An odd, but distinctive, blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Mondeuse and 20% Gamay Noir. 12.7% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $??

2015 Chehalem “Ridgecrest Vineyards” Gamay Noir, Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of mulberries, cherries, and a hint of cedar. In the mouth, gorgeously bright mulberry, blueberry and black raspberry flavors have a fantastic zing to them thanks to excellent acidity. A hint of cedar lingers with dried herbs and bright fruit in the finish. Positively gulpable. Aged in neutral oak. 14.1% alcohol. 195 cases made. Score: between 9 and 9.5. Cost: $23. click to buy.

2016 Omero Cellars Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of stewed cherries and wet felt. In the mouth, bright boysenberry and mulberry flavors are held in a taut, muscular fist of tannins. Excellent acidity keeps the fruit fresh and bright, with just the tiniest hint of funk adding some complexity. 13% alcohol. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $25. click to buy.

2016 The Eyrie Vineyards Trousseau, Willamette Valley, Oregon Medium garnet in color, this wine smells of struck match, sour cherries, and raspberries. In the mouth, beautifully aromatic flavors of strawberry and raspberry are nestled in a fleecy blanket of tannins and crackling wet pavement minerality. Very young, this wine needs some air at the start, but then opens up into an expressive earthy berry mix that is surprisingly broad shouldered. This wine comes from the first planting of Trousseau in Oregon, in 2012. 11.5% alcohol. Score: around 9. Cost: $32. click to buy.

Let me pause here a moment before offering two final tasting notes that I would like to use to underscore my point. The wines above are all current releases, and represent relatively new work by Willamette Vintners. But the two wines that follow show that early explorations had already proven fruitful. These two library examples from The Eyrie Vineyards demonstrate with little doubt that there is more to the Willamette Valley than Pinot Noir, even as much as they do the depth of David Lett’s skill and vision.

1988 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon Medium yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of beeswax, bee pollen, and yellow flowers. In the mouth brilliant mineral, bee pollen, wet stones, and savory dried honey and chamomile flavors linger for a long time in the finish. Alsace eat your heart out. This wine is incredible. Supple, gorgeous, and deeply resonant. Alcohol unknown. Score: between 9 and 9.5.

1985 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Meunier, Willamette Valley, Oregon Pale brick red in the glass, this wine smells of brown sugar, red apple skin, and cedar mulling spices. In the mouth, cloves, cinnamon, red apple skin, dried orange peel and mixed potpourri flavors have a nice tangy and spicy sourness to them along with a juiciness from still vibrant acidity. Nice longish finish. Alcohol unknown. Score: around 9.

Posted by: Alder on August 18, 2018 10:21 PM

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airporttransfersmaastricht-blog · 7 years ago

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What an amazing landscape! #winetours #lugana #italianwines #topservices by Tudor Tours & Services We drive you the best places in North Italy ! We provide complete assistance: ground transportation, hotel booking, restaurant reservation, wine tours and off course we can take care of the expedition of your wines to your address ! (at Azienda Agricola Pilandro)

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static-pouring · 7 years ago

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Contact Points (A Decade Of Cà Maiol’s Molin Lugana)

Lugana bubbles on the riddling rack at Cà Maiol

Walter Contato knew potential when he saw it.

Like an inordinate number of Italians before and after him, this successful Milan-born businessman took holidays in the sometimes-too-charming-for-words (as in, how-the-hell-are-we-gonna-get-the-car-through-these-narrow-Medieval-streets?!?? levels of charming) Lake Garda town of Sirmione. As an inordinate number of successful white businessmen seem to want to still do, Contato eventually decided that he wanted to become a wine producer, and chose the site of his presumably favorite vacation spot – home to the Lugana wine region – as the place he would try his vinous hand.

It worked out; Contato eventually went on to help establish the Consorzio Tutela Lugana (still in existence today). In the 1990s, he handed over the reigns of his wine venture, Cà Maiol, to his mellifluously-named sons Fabio and Patrizia.

Contato picked a great spot, from a wine-growing perspective; the nearby Dolomites protect the vineyard area (now measuring about 100 hectares in Lugana) from the cold winds coming out of the north. They vineyards sit on enviable calcareous soils. They even have the requisite Older Building, erected in the early 1700s.

I visited Cà Maiol as part of a Lugana-area media jaunt, but I’d had ample access to one of the company’s flagship Lugana releases – Molin – long before that, during previous visits to the region, L’Anteprima Lazise, and even as part of library tastings during that most recent tour. And so I thought that I’d share a bit of perspective on how the Molin fares in bottle over a decade or more (SPOILER ALERT: it fares well)…

Cà Maiol’s Fabio Contato shows off the wares

We’ll start with the most brand-spankin’-new Molin release, and work our way backwards a bit from there. Molin is part of Cà Maiol’s linea selezione lineup, and is named after the company’s old cellar. generally, Molin is a blend of the best Turbiana grapes from Cà Maiol’s oldest vines, and sees a bit more skin contact (48 hours or so) in an attempt to give this white more structure. That’s a delicate, tricky game; Turbiana skins have ample bitter polyphenols, so if you don’t know what you’re doing from a pressing and contact perspective, then you can end up with a wine that’s less “acerbic bite” and more “bit in the ass bitter.” But in this case the family’s last name, literally translated, means “contact,” so one would hope Lugana lovers would be in good hands, right?

2016 Provenza CàMaiol ‘Molin’ Lugana (Lombardy, $NA)

I was (pleasantly) surprised at how full-throttle this young white was; it’s heady in its white flower and white pepper aromas, and pithy in its lemon-rind texture and tropical fruit flavors. The finish is fairly long, and more-than-fairly mineral. While it’s not without elegance, it’s absolutely assertive in just about every way that a Lugana can be. In five years, it ought to be generously honeyed, and it will probably drink “sexy” form now through that time.

Cà Maiol Molin 2011 (& for color comparison, a `97 Riserva)

2011 Provenza CàMaiol ‘Molin’ Lugana (Lombardy, $NA)

This is where patience with Lugana pays off. Honey, almonds, blossoms, lemon drop, ripe peaches, tropical fruits, and toast… you can sniff a wine like this for hours. It’s mouthfeel is powerful, with dried fruits and saline. It’s juuuuuust over the hump now, six years on, and starting its downward trajectory. But still enjoyable? Hellz yes.

2004 Provenza Ca’Maiol ‘Molin’ Lugana Superiore (Lombardy, $NA)

Thirteen years young at the time that I tasted it, this is like having a wine from a totally different grape versus tasting Lugana when it’s a newborn. Dried orange peel, dried flowers, saline, spices, and pith; this is toasty, nutty, intriguing, and elegant. At this age, it’s the kind of drinkable delicacy that has to be paired carefully with food (don’t look at me, this one might be above my food-matching pay grade), so do yourself a favor if you’re ever fortunate enough to be in its company: enjoy it on its own and just count yourself lucky.

Cheers!

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