Description
VALTELLINA SUPERIORE ― INFERNO FIAMME ANTICHE ― ARPEPE
Location: Sondrio – Lombardia
Classification: Valtellina Superiore DOCG
Grape varieties: Nebbiolo
Valtellina is a valley in the Alps on the border between Italy and Switzerland. The mountainous slopes are extremely steep and rocky. Viticulture is only possible thanks to having shaped the surface of the land with dry stone walls, creating terraces for planting vines in an otherwise hostile context. These vines are of the Nebbiolo variety and their roots sink into the hard rock. These rocky Valtellina vineyards can only give lean wines, all in finesse, with extraordinary aromas and with a taut, vibrant taste due to the combination of savory acidity and fine-grained tannins. Inferno, meaning “Hell” is the exact location where the wine Fiamme Antiche (meaning “Ancient Flames”) is made. It is one of the best examples of such elegant wines, made by a family winery, called ARPEPE. Versatile in food pairing, you can’t go wrong!
BOLGHERI ROSSO ― IL BRUCIATO ― ANTINORI
Location: Bolgheri, Livorno – Toscana
Classification: Bolgheri Rosso DOC
Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon 65%, Merlot 20%, Syrah 15%
The spotlight has turned on Bolgheri, a place along the Tuscan coast, thanks to the production of Cabernet-based wines. In 1990 the winery Guado al Tasso (owned by the respected Antinori family) started producing their flagship wine in Bolgheri with Cabernet and Merlot as a luxury item. In 2002 the season was bad for grape ripening, so they decided not to produce the Guado al Tasso wine, avoiding compromising its reputation. They used those grapes to make a different wine, with shorter aging and less demanding expectations. It was called “Il Bruciato”. It immediately won over consumers and has been produced every year since then. Today Il Bruciato is the best-selling Bolgheri red ever! It is deep-colored, reminds of dark fruit and oaky aromas, is full-bodied and very well-rounded on the palate with smooth tannins.
VERMOUTH ROSÈ DI RADDA ― ISTINE
Location: Radda In Chianti, Siena – Toscana
Classification: Vermouth
Grape varieties: Sangiovese
A perfect match of Piemonte tradition and true Tuscan wine, made with elegance and grace. This is the Vermouth di Radda by Istine. Vermouth is not just a wine, as it is flavored with herbes and spices, especially absinth. It was created in Turin, Northern Italy, at the end of the 18th Century as an aperitif wine. It is also widely used in mixing drinks. Istine is a young wine producer of Radda, Tuscany, managed by a dynamic, strong-willed young woman. She was producing a rosé wine with Sangiovese grapes, when she had the smart idea to use it as a basis for Vermouth. So, she asked an experienced liqueur producer of Piemonte to create a new Vermouth using her Sangiovese Rosé wine with the addition of Tuscan herbs. It is pale pink in the glass, very fragrant, fruity and deliciously appetizing.
