Barbaresco and Barolo, But Don’t Forget Dolcetto, Barbera and the Whites

Barbaresco and Barolo, But Don’t Forget Dolcetto, Barbera and the Whites

I could not remember my previous experience with wine made from Nebbiolo, but study and reading prepared my expectations of its dark, tannic qualities. Our drive along the Tanaro River northeast from Alba was directed at the commune of Barbaresco as a starting point.

It was apparent that the previous day’s nebbia left on cat’s feet (as Sandburg would say) during the darkness of night yielding the yellow warmth of the morning sunrise at the Hotel Langhe near the center of Alba. The winding road up the Barbaresco hillside offered picturesque vineyards holding ripening grape clusters soon to submit fruity, sweet liquid at the Producttori del Barbaresco.

We worked our way down to the commune of Castiglioni Falletto just east of Barolo during the warming early afternoon. Our next stop was at the Paolo Scavino estate where we were greeted by Eliza Scavino, granddaughter of the founder Paulo.

2005 Bric del Fiasc (Single Vineyard Barolo): The modern history of the Scavino family started with this vineyard, within the Fiasco cru, when in 1978 young Enrico Scavino convinced his father Paolo to vinify these grapes separately. This vineyard has been produced as a monopole since that time. Here the Nebbiolo grapes always seem to be the best.

More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=1138

Tags: Alba, Antica Torre, Arneis, Barbaresco, Barbera, Barolo, Bingham Vineyards, Castiglioni Falletto, chardonnay, Dolcetto, Hotel Langhe, Italy, Langhe, Mandola, Nebbiolo, Paolo Scavino, Piedmont, Piemonte, Producttori del Barbaresco, restaurant, Sauvignon Blanc, tasting, Texas, Viognier, winery

Wine Road through Provence and Piemonte

Wine Road through Provence and Piemonte

Looking at the World through a Glass of RoséLooking around this place, it has characteristics like many places on the Texas Gulf Coast: Wind-blown palm trees, blooming bougainvillea, and cadres of dogs on leash and bikini-clad beach goers. One of the most obvious differences discernible to wineophiles visiting the French Cote d’Azur is the flow of dry pink wine. It is made from sun-loving Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvedre grapes. At street side cafés, it is chilled and served by the glass complete with an outer coating of condensed moist air. More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=1118

Barolo & Barbaresco: Where the Nebbia and Nebbiolo HangOur goal for the day was to reach Alba, the town at the heart of the Nebbiolo grape growing region pinned on its western and eastern flanks by Barolo and Barbaresco, respectively. A lingering mystery of the Nebbiolo grape of the Piemonte region is why this grape has not produced wines of similar characteristics and intensity in other wine regions around the world. The reason given by the locals for the success of Nebbiolo in the area around Alba are the special soils and microclimate of the region. More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=1124

Tags: France, Italy, Texas, Rose, Barolo, Barbaresco, wine, travel, tasting, vineyard