Did you know that Italy makes 50 million HL of wine each year? That's nearly 6.5 billion bottles. 😲 The irony is that these 4 wines are all made in very small quantities. But, with the variety and crushable nature of Italian wines - I've been attracted to them as of late. They are great for summer picnics and bbqs - they are fun and completely unpretentious.
FURLANI - JOANNIZZA 2018
Furlani is an alpine vineyard near the town of Trento (the northeast of Italy). Matteo makes the wines here completely naturally in cement tanks or glass demi-johns with no temperature control, no yeast, or sulfur. Joannita is a very rare grape varietal that was bred in 1968 that is a cross between Reisling, Seyve-Villard, Rulander, and Gutedel that has flourished in the high vineyards in the alps. Matteo planted this 4 years ago - and this is its first harvest. Refermented in the bottle (pet nat) with nothing added. Super clean and crisp, fantastically light, perfect for your afternoons of sun-soaking, cheese-eating, and dilly-dabbing waiting for your guests to arrive. Try to save some for them though - or not. Will be gone quickly.
FURLANI - ROSATA 2018
Another splash from Matteo made of 100% pinot noir. No skin contact, spontaneously fermented in the stainless tanks refermented in spring to add it's super fresh bubbles and delicate textures. Another crispy, sessional wine that should replace al your LaCroix, claws, or whatever the kids are drinking.
VITEADOVEST - GHAMMI 2019
“Viteadovest” -
To narrate a place and the lives that go by in it with a sip of its nectar: wine, the fruit of soil and human effort. To be attentive and respectful craftsmen, always pursuing a territorial character with the awareness of creating something unique in that it is made by us, without any pretension of superiority: a wine that respects nature and the spirit of the place.
Down for it all. A very cool winery doing some romantic stuff in Sicily. This Nero d'Avola (the most important red grape in Sicily) is fresh and light and easy to drink. Red cherries, strawberries with some floral undertones.
LE COSTE - LITROZZO ROSSO 2019
If you've never had the pleasure of tasting Le Coste - I soon welcome you to the other side. Most likely my favourite producer who makes some of the most vibrant and tasty wines I've ever tried. He makes many wines from many different plots each year in Lazio - just outside for Rome. Hard to find, hard to not drink. This Litrozzo is more of an entry wine for Le Coste compared to his other $50+ cult wines. It is juicy, fun, and freaking delicious. It's alive and will change as you open it, so take note as you drink. I snagged one of the 6 cases that made it to Ontario - so, enjoy it, savour it, share it!
