- Gerri Sarnataro
Celebrate with Italian White Wines: part 2
Seafood dishes are frequently found on the menu this time of year. There are several Italian white wines that were born to be paired with seafood dishes. There are so many great wines to choose from that this short list was difficult to compile. I am going with my favorites here and the possible omission of your favorite is not meant to be disrespectful.
This was the year of Vermentino for me. I tried vermentinos from all over the world but especially the ones that I could find from Italy. My number one Vermentino is the Colli di Luni Black Label bottling. Made from a minimum of 90% vermentino grapes the Colli di Luni DOC straddles the border between Liguria and Tuscany. the influence of the Mar Lugure agrees with the Vermentino grape. This complex wine is crisp, with citrus, pear and almond notes and pairs well with richer dishes.
There are also several wonderful Vermentinos coming from Sardinia particularly the Siddura Vermetino di Galllura which bursts with flavors of lime, apricot, fennel and green herbs. Also look for Capichera and Sella & Mosca bottling from the Gallura DOCG.
Arnaldo Caprai's Grecante is made from the Grechetto grape grown in Umbria's Colli Martani DOC zone that takes in Montefalco as well. This is a full bodied and complex wine that will surprise you with its depth. Look for other bottling of Grechetto from the Colli Del Trasimeno DOC.
Also from Campagna is Greco di Tufo. Meant to be consumed young, Greco has a fresh nose and flavors of lemon, pineapple and wet stones. The best are very balanced and finish with a slight and pleasant bitterness. Look for Mastroberardino and DiMeo as well as Feudi di San Gregorio and Terredora.
I cannot leave white wine before I mention Antinori's Cervara della Salla. If you are a fan of bold white wines, this is your go to bottle. Cervara della Salla is a blend of primarily Chardonnay with a small percentage of Grechetto blended in. Deep, rich and mouthwatering... what more can you ask for?
See you in a few days when I will talk about Italian red wines.