L'Italo-Americano

www.italoamericano.org 30 L'Italo-Americano Five Italian Wines for a Tuesday Night L ast weekend's fun ti- mes are now history. You're staring down a long work week that keeps getting busier by the minute. And it's only Tuesday morning. The hands of your office clock struggle past 10:25am right about the time you are certain that lunch break is just minutes away. Your desk phone rings and you stare at it without answering until the call goes to voicemail. That a few tasty bites and a glass or two of vino could massi- vely improve the outlook of your Tuesday night is an idea about which you require little convin- cing. Damn, if only last weekend's fun hadn't so badly shredded your entertainment budget. Considering the financial im- plications of the idea, you imme- diately recognize that its therapeu- tic value to your professional life outweighs the little nibble at per- sonal finance. It's settled, then. But the weekday wine picks must be easy on the wallet. Fear not. The first thing you should know is that the dilemma is not yours alone. It's a challenge facing vir- tually every wine lover and wine professional I know. Not many can afford to drink unrestrained every night of every week. But who would want to, really? To drink premium wines every evening would ultimately become a tire- some privilege. The monotony would surely mean missing out on much of the depth, breadth, and diversity that Italian wine has to offer. To drink well during the week and keep cost on the skinny side, do what many savvy wine drinkers do: on weekdays, zero in on inte- resting, well-made, satisfying wi- nes that bring good value for mo- ney. Save pricier bottles for weekends, and more important wi- nes for a well-deserved monthly splurge or special occasion. One wine lover of good finan- cial sense explained to me his ap- proach to managing dollars for vino in the current economy: on weeknights $12-$20 bottles; $20- $50 bottles for the weekend; limi- ting wines of $50 and above to once a month. But, while a spending strategy may enforce a bit of financial di- scipline, it's not all we'll need for a Tuesday night of interesting li- bation. Let's talk about tactics: I highly recommend that you a) look for well-made, interesting wines from Italy's lesser known DOC/G brands, and b) explore the incre- dible diversity of Italy's native wine grapes by looking beyond the big wine brands for niche, in- teresting, quirky wines that bring value for money. Alto Piemonte is an up and co- ming wine region at the foot of the Alps in Italy's northwest where Nebbiolo is often called Spanna. The area continues to be a source of incredibly well-made wines that offer serious value. Look for wines from appellations such as Boca, Ghemme, Gattinara, Costa della Sesia, and Colline Novaresi. Situated between the Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano denominations, Orcia DOC is an area still develo- ping brand awareness and reco- gnition. Orcia DOC makes high quality red wines from principal grape Sangiovese, a native Italian wine grape best known for its role in Chianti, Chianti Classico, Bru- nello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Morellino di Scansano. Wines from Italy's south – Abruzzo, Puglia, Sicily, for in- stance - continue to raise the qua- lity bar with interesting, well-made wines that represent excellent va- lue for wine lovers. To help you on your way to scoring weekday wine picks, here are five interesting and massively affordable wines sure to save you from financial ruin on any given Tuesday: Sasso di Sole Orcia Rosso (Tuscany) A wonderful fix of 100% se- rious Sangiovese matured 6 months in stainless steel, 8 months in Slavonian oak barrel, and 6 months in bottle. Vallana Spanna Colline No- varesi (Piedmont) Nebbiolo, or Spanna, as it's cal- led locally, is a traditional wine of Alto Piemonte. Vinified in cement tank, Vallana's Spanna can age for a time, too. Tiberio Pecorino (Abruzzo) Once nearly forgotten, Peco- rino has enjoyed an immense boost in popularity in recent years offering an irresistible combina- tion of creamy texture and racy acidity. Cantele Salice Salentino Ri- serva (Puglia) A sleek and polished red wine from one of Puglia's most reliable producers. *Full tasting note be- low. Gulfi Rossojbleo Nero D'A- vola (Sicily) Produced with organic grapes farmed without irrigation, an ex- cellent and interesting expression of Nero D'Avola. Generally speaking, at this wri- ting, the aforementioned wines can be found within a couple of dollars north or south of $15.00. Tasting Note: Cantele Salice Salentino Ri- serva, Puglia Achingly ripe red and dark fruits, not at all cooked, sing on a sensuous palate warmed by per- fectly balanced alcohol. There is a sense of earthiness, yet in a very soft, polished way. Notes of milk chocolate, hint of herb. Good aci- dity keeps it all fresh. Love the sleek tannins. Hands down one of the best bargain bottles I have ever tasted. WINE NEWS TRENDS PROFILES JOEL MACK THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2018 Among the best pocket friendly Italian wines, we should mention Sasso di Sole Orcia, Vallana Spanna Colline Novaresi and Cantele Sali- ce Salentino Riserva The good thing about Italian wines is their quality is always there, even when they are cheaper. A great feat, for your Monday to Friday drinks

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