Wine Tasting - Wine Tours in Italy

The wine itinerary proposed is centered on the Monferrato, in Piedmont, an area offering a host of interesting wine and gastronomical attractions.

The most important city in the area is Asti, 35 km from Turin, via A21 Highway.

From Asti start two itineraries: one heading toward north to the ‘Basso Monferrato’, the other one toward south to the ‘Alto Monferrato’ (now we are mostly covering the wines from ‘Basso Monferrato’).

- Some among the typical local Wines -

- Dolcetto d’Asti. (DOC); ruby red wine; dry still; Alcohol: 11.5%
- Barbera del Monferrato. (DOC); bright red wine; dry still / dry sparkling sweet / sweet still ; Alcohol: 12%
- Asti. (DOCG ); straw yellow ; sparkling sweet / sweet still ; taste: sweet; Alcohol: 12%
- Cisterna d’Asti. (DOC ); ruby red ; dry; taste: dry delicate; Alcohol: 12%
- Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese. (DOC ); ruby red ; dry still; taste: dry delicate; Alcohol: 11% - 13%

- Some Wineries in the area -

- Araldica Vini Piemontesi: 14040 Castel Boglione (AT); www.araldicavini.com
- Antica Casa Vinicola Scarpa 14049 Nizza Monferrato; www.scarpavini.it
- Bava 14023 Cocconato (AT); www.bava.com
- Bersano &

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The fifth edition of the guide to the wines of Friuli Venezia Giulia has recently been published.

The book entitled: ‘Guida ai Vini del Friuli Venezia Giulia 2006′, describes gastronomical itineraries, festivals, and traditions of this north-eastern region of Italy, also well known for its wines.

It lists 225 wine producers and a selction of 906 wines. Unfortunately, the guide comes with the Italian text only.

However, it could be interesting to note the list of the top 43 wines - the ‘Stelle della Guida’, that have been rated with a score higher than 88/100.

Here is the ‘Stelle della Guida’ wines:
1) Collavini - Bianco Broy 2004
2) Ronco Delle Betulle- Bianco Vanessa 2004
3) Scubla- Bianco Pomedes 2003
4) Dorigo- Chardonnay 2003
5) Ronco Blanchis- Chardonnay 2004
6) Collutta Gianpaolo- Picolit 2004
7) Meroi- Picolit 2003
Vinai Dell’abbate- Picolit 2002
9) Borgo Savaian - Pinot Grigio 2004
10) Bortolusso- Pinot Grigio 2004
11) Colle Duga- Pinot Grigio 2004
12) Grillo Iole- Pinot Grigio 2004
13) Sgubin Renzo- Pinot Grigio 2004
14) Bernardis- Ramandolo 2003
15) Ronchi Di Nimis-Ramandolo Sel.Ronc Da Vit 2003
16) Cà Ronesca- Sauvignon Podere Di Ipplis 2003
17) Teresa Raiz- Sauvignon 2004
18) Tiare- Sauvignon 2004
19) Vigne Fantin Nodar-Sauvignon 2004
20) Bortolusso-Tocai Friulano 2004
21) Buiatti Livio E Claudico-Tocai Friulano 2004
22) Russiz Superiore-Tocai Friulano 2004
23) Scubla- Tocai Friulano 2004
24) Sgubin Ferraccio-Tocai Friulano 2004
25) Torre Rosazza-Tocai Friulano 2004
26) Cecchini Marco- Veruzzo Verlit 2003
27) Rodaro-Verduzzo Pra Zenar 2003
28) Ronchi San Giuseppe-Verduzzo 2004
29) Scubla-Verduzzo Gratis 2002
30) Grudina-Cabernet Franc 2004
31) Collavini-Merlot Dal Pic 2001
32) Comelli Paolino-Merlot 2003
33) Dorigo-Refosco Dal Peduncolo Rosso 2002
34) Luisa Eddi-Refosco Dal P.R. 2004
35) Vigna Traverso-Refosco P.R. 2003
36-Alberice-Rosso Tango 2003
37) Comelli Paolino-Rosso Soffumbergo 2003
38) Dorigo-Rosso Montsclapade 2002
39) Marco Felluga-Rosso Carantan 2001
40) Meroi-Rosso Nestri 2003
41) Pali Wines- Rosso Ris. La Boatina 2001
42) Rieppi-Schiopettino 2003
43) La Viarte-Tazzelenghe 2001

By continuing the series focusing on Piedmont’s wine and food specialties, Virginia based wine tasting planner The Curious Grape, will host a couple of seminars on some typical Piedmont’s food.

- Friday, Feb 17, 6-8 pm, is scheduled:
Alpine Fondue Demonstration. How to make a silky, seductive fondue using cheeses from the Piedmont region.

- Tuesday, Feb 21, 6 - 8 pm:
Piedmont Cheese Seminar. A tasty tour of the cheeses of Piedmont, featuring 6 different cheeses paired with medal winners from the month’s previous wine tastings.
For reservation, call 703-671-8700 for the 6 pm or 7 pm session.

The Curious Grape
- 4056 South 28th Street, Arlington, VA 22206
- web: www.curiousgrape.com

A series of free wine tastings focusing on Piedmont’s wines, is scheduled at The Curious Grape, in Arlington, VA, on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons in February.

The Curious Grape, based in Arlington, VA, offers full-service wine tastings for corporate events, club meetings, social groups, private parties etc…

The series is centered on the best known Piedmont’s wines, such as Barbera, Barbaresco, Barolo, Dolcetto, and Moscato d’Asti.
Below the schedule.
Dolcetto Tasting (Sat, Feb 11, 1-4 pm) - Dolcetto, Piedmont’s lightest, splashiest red.

Moscato d’Asti Tasting (Thur, Feb 16, 6-8 pm) - Slightly sweet and slightly sparkling, Moscato is about as much fun as a wine can be.

Barbera Tasting (Sat, Feb 18, 1-4 pm) - A little bolder than Dolcetto, Barbera, is a red made from the Barbera grape.

Barbareso Tasting (Thur, Feb 23, 6-8 pm) - Barbaresco and Barolo, both made from the finicky Nebbiolo grape are among Italy’s top reds.

Barolo Tasting (Sat, Feb 25, 1-4 pm)

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