Unusual Grapes – Free In-Store tasting January 30

Where:

Bowen Island Cold Beer and Wine

479 Government Road, Bowen Island (under the pub at the crossroads)

When:

Saturday January 30 2pm to 5:30pm

Kicking off our 2010 tasting year with the first in a series of tastings of wines made from grapes that are not in the mainstream like Syrah/Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay etc.

We will be featuring a selection of less common Italian varietals in this session.With over 350 authorized varietal grapes and another 500+ documented as used in winemaking, Italy is possibly the most diverse wine making country in the world. Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio are familiar Italian names but fantastic value wines in both quality and price come from grapes like Greco di Tufo too.

Join us to sample from the following:

Reds

Aglianico

Apulia, SE Italy. Used to make full-bodied and cellar-worthy wines. The wine we will be tasting has potential to mature for another 10 years.

Nebbiolo

Piedmont, NW Italy. This is the great grape of Barolo. Barolo’s are noted for their ability to age but this one is made for drinking now.

Primitivo

Apulia, SE Italy.  This grape is genetically identical to California’s famous Zinfandel. Primitivo grapes are used for robust pizza wines to superbly rich-tasting almost port-style wines. The wine we will be tasting is in the richer dolce style similar to Amarone.

Whites

Catarrato

Sicily. Lots of pear and fruit. This wine is a super value for everyday drinking.

Falanghina

Campania, SW Italy. Medium bodied (like Pinot Grigio), intense nose and long finish

Greco di Tufo

Campania, SW Italy. Straw yellow with crisp minerality and bright vibrancy

Pecorino

Abruzzo, NE Italy. Fragrant and light, ideal as an aperitif

There are a huge number of great websites on Italian grapes and wines. As a starting point, try the ItalianMade Italian Wines site maintained by the Italian Trade Commission in New York.

Looking forward to meeting you all for our first event of the year. Don’t forget to add your comments on the wine to this post after you have tasted!

Paul Rickett

New Wine arrivals 16 October 2009

This is the high season for trade tastings and as a result lots on new wines heading our way. This week’s crop include:

Piramimma Petit Verdot (Aus) – $36 – Highly recommended by one of our Australian residents on Bowen.

Joseph Burrier Macon-Solutré-Pouilly(Fr.) – $34.90 – Maconnais Sauvignon Blanc

Joseph Burrier Macon-Fuissé (Fr.) – $34.90 – Maconnais Chardonnay

I had both these last month and they are tremendous value for the quality you get.

G. Alessandria Barbera d’Alba 2007 (Italy) – $34.90

G. Alessandria Langhe Nebbiolo 2006 (Italy) – $39.90

Verve Negroamero (Italy) – $34.90 – Bronze medal winner Wine & Spirits Magazine 2008

La Gioisa Prosecco (Italy) 200ml 4 Pack – $29.90 – Very nice dry Prosecco  in a 4x200ml format. 2 glasses per bottle.

All of the Italians are simply divine. Worth the money.