Italian Wine Series: The regions of Italy

Over the next three weeks I'll be doing a series about the wines of each of Italy's 20 regions.

Each entry will have a list of wines typical to the specific area along with info about the region. I'll also choose a local wine that is a good value.

The regions to be covered:

Abruzzo
Basilicata
Calabria
Campania
Emilia-Romagna
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Lazio
Liguria
Lombardy
Marche
Molise
Piedmont
Puglia
Sardinia
Sicily
Tuscany
Trentino
Umbria
Valle d'Aosta
Veneto

I'll also be attending the NYC Food & Wine Festival this week and will be seeking out as much info on the subject as possible. If you have any reference material to contribute either in advance or as comments I would greatly appreciate it.

Argiolas Costera Isola dei Nuraghi 2006 IGT at Il Poeta

Tonight we returned to Il Poeta for dinner and started with a red wine from Sardinia, Italy.

Aged in French oak barriques for 6-8 months and composed of 90% Cannonau (derived from Grenache), 5% Carignano and 5% Bovale Sardo, this medium weight ruby red wine shows aromas of blackberry and violets.

On the midpalate are white pepper and licorice, with a bit of freshly cut wood... or kind of like eating parsley after a garlic dish, palate cleansing and with a dry finish.

Paired well with:
appetizer: Burrata with mushrooms, onions, capers & tomato
primi: Tagliolini del Poeta, home made pasta in porcini mushroom sauce wrapped with smoked prosciutto
secondi: Petto di pollo in crosta di parmiggiano, chicken breast crusted in parmesan cheese in a lemon and white wine sauce
contorni: broccoli rape
dessert: Fritelle with fresh cream (similar to a zeppole)



We also had a taste of the Natura Carmenere from Colchuaga valley in Chile, an organic dark deep purple that's as thick as syrup. With a slightly vegetal nose similar to green peppers and waves of ripe black cherry, and flavors of summer fruits with structured tannins.

Mario and Luca also bought us an after dinner drink from Piedmont, the Marenco 2007 Pineto Brachetto d'Acqui was a strawberry bubbly that was an excellent way to end the meal.

Sella & Mosca Marchese Di Villamarina 2000 Alghero DOC tasting notes

©photo 2008 dave trieger
This estate bottled red wine from the Alghero region of northwestern Sardinia is made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and aged in small Troncais oak barriques, then in traditional casks for over 4 years. Color is ruby red with a palate that is full and complex. The deep berry aromas are intense but even, along with an earthy cherry and toasted oak. The long soft finish is like herbs on a warm breeze. This wine is outstanding! Tasting was done at Accademia di Vino on 63rd st & 3rd Ave, NYC.