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Wine – Page 2 – GT Food & Travel
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GT Food & Travel

Category: Wine

This category celebrates all that is the beauty of wine.

  • Cave Ox – Where to Eat on Etna

    Cave Ox – Where to Eat on Etna

    Although Sicily is a region of Italy, it is a country itself, made up of many states to be discovered. At every turn there’s a new discovery and unique food made with care and attention. I’ve visited Catania and Mount Etna many times. I’m drawn back by the volcano, the people, the food and wine. There’s something magical about the soil and the air that surrounds la  Muntagna (Etna in Sicilian dialect). There’s something captivating about the people who call Etna home. If you find yourself near Etna visit a vineyard and stop at Cave Ox to eat seasonal food and drink wine from Etna and afar. Chat with the owners. You won’t be disappointed. For more about Cave Ox…   CaveOxpastaasparagus

    Cave Ox
    Via Nazionale Solicchiata, 159
    Solicchiata (CT)
    Open: Wednesday to Monday for lunch and dinner (closed on Tuesday)

  • The King of Lazio Red Wine – Cesanese

    The King of Lazio Red Wine – Cesanese

    When I share a meal with family and friends, I often ask them which Italian wine they like best. Many will mention a red from Tuscany, most likely a “super Tuscan,” a 1980s term for Tuscan red blend that uses wine grapes not indigenous to Italy, including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.cesaneseWhen I suggest a wine from Lazio dazed and confused faces abound, never mind the eyebrow raising glares when I utter the red wine grape Cesanese. Lazio does have some identity problems. It’s a somewhat indistinct central region that has long been overshadowed by more renowned neighbors Campania, Tuscany and Umbria. Even visitors to Rome don’t always know that Lazio is the region that Rome calls home. Rome’s importance as the capital make it feel like an oasis in the desert, a landlocked island enclosed by the Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA), the ring road/highway that encircles Rome. Just a short ride beyond the motorway lie rolling hills speckled with olive groves, orchards and vineyards and land of the antique grape variety Cesanese. ciolli

    Continue reading about Cesanese and Lazio vineyards here.

     

     

  • Meet Vini Scirto on Etna

    Meet Vini Scirto on Etna

    I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Sicily in 2015. During one of my Etna explorations, I had the pleasure of meeting Giuseppe Scirto and Valeria Franco, the owners and wine makers of Vini Scirto. Vini Scirto is located in the beautiful Etna zone of Sicily, which is rich in Sicilian wine traditions. Giuseppe and Valeria invited us to their farmhouse for a home-cooked Sunday lunch where we were fortunate enough to spend time talking, eating and sharing life stories.

    Continue reading here for my interview with Giuseppe and Valeria.

    Scirto

  • Red Wines in Summertime

    Red Wines in Summertime

    As a wine lover, I drink mostly Italian wine – white, rose and red and let’s not forget dessert wines. Classic pairings like Lambrusco and Parmesan cheese or a Picolit with blue cheese are a heavenly experience but sometimes I admit I just drink what I’m craving. It may be a glass of Franciacorta or a Cerasuolo di Vittoria while I’m cooking dinner. After all in Italy wine is like food. While it’s meant as nourishment, it’s also meant for enjoyment. So why always play by the rules? IMG_4269

    For my diehard red wine loving friends, the ones that ignore whites, my advice is to at least pick fruitier and lighter wines with low-to-moderate alcohol content (13 percent and below), light-to-medium body and low-to-medium tannins. They’re easier on the palate, even refreshing. For more tips and for five favorite red wines for summer continue reading …

  • Centopassi – Organic Wine from Free Land

    Centopassi – Organic Wine from Free Land

    On my last trip to Sicily I spent a day at the Centopassi vineyards with Francesco Galante. It wasn’t my first visit. In fact Francesco remarked “I think you’re the only person outside of Centopassi who has witnessed every step of our growth and changes first hand in the Portella della Ginestra Vineyard .” CP_PortelladellaGinestra

    Centopassi is the Sicilian winemaking arm of Libera Terra (free land) started in 2002. It occupies 93 hectacres of vineyards confiscated from the Cosa Nostra located on the periphery of Palermo and Corleone. Why the name Centopassi? I Cento Passi – One Hundred Steps – is a film dedicated to Giuseppe “Peppino” Impastato, a young Sicilian radio broadcaster and anti-mafia labor organizer, who was assassinated for his fight against the mafia. Like Peppino, Centopassi is a leader; planting, nurturing and building vineyards giving back to the land and people of Sicily by not only contracting dozens of full time workers but also by producing high quality organic wine.Centopassi winesThe vineyards are an admirable example of how to make positive use of confiscated land. Are you interested in learning more about Centopassi? Continue reading…

  • The Etna Wine Buzz

    The Etna Wine Buzz

    vignabosca2

    Despite the looming presence of Europe’s highest active volcano and the labor-intensive terraced vineyards, Etna currently is one of Italy’s most exciting wine regions. Etna is not only drawing attention to Sicily but is in great company with some of the best wines in the world. It’s no wonder that young Sicilian winemakers are making a stake on Etna, embracing agriculture and quality wine production over quantity. They are breathing life and personality into distinctive Etna wines.Etna_VineyardVisit

    So why all the buzz about Etna? It’s impossible to point to any one factor. Likely it’s the volcanic soil and extraordinary climate but also an increased love and interest in the native grape varieties that have existed on Etna’s terraced vineyards for centuries. Whatever the reason may be, Etna wines appeal to wine novices and connoisseurs alike.IVigneriTasting

    What can you expect from Etna wines? Continue reading….

  • Carbone Vineyard & Aglianico

    Carbone Vineyard & Aglianico

    Eating our way around Matera was a blast but we were disappointed with the wine selection. None of our favorite Basilicata wine producers were to be found. We reminisced about our first trip to Basilicata. It was July when we visited Carbone vineyards in Melfi set under the grandeur of Mount Vulture. VultureSara and Luca Carbone met us outside of the Carbone cellar where we hopped in their jeep for a quick drive to the vineyards. Winemaking is in Sara and Luca’s DNA. The oldest Carbone vineyard, Piani dell’Incoronata, was planted in 1970 by their dad and uncle. The Carbone brothers produced wine until 1987 at which point business took them elsewhere. They didn’t give up the vineyards but sold grapes to wine makers. The sister and brother team took over the family vineyards in 2000 and they haven’t looked back since.
    saracarboneAfter spending 10 minutes walking and talking with Sara and Luca their enthusiasm and dedication had infected us. They believe that working in the vineyard is essential to producing a wine that expresses their personality and that of Vulture. At the foot of Vulture, aglianico is THE grape variety. Sometimes called the barolo of the south it is dark, dry and tannic with beautiful acidity often with black cherry, blackberry and chocolate aromas.

    aglianico2

    Sara and Luca’s first vintages are Stupor Mundi 2005 and Terra dei Fuochi 2005 followed by 400 Some 2006, all 100% Aglianico del Vulture. We recently opened a 400 Some 2009 and Stupor Mundi 2009. They both had lively acidity and beautiful expressive tannins. Stupor Mundi was chock full of blackberry, dark chocolate and herbs while 400 Some expressed blackberries and spice. I have no doubt that both wines will improve with age. We enjoyed 400 Some with podolico caciocavallo (an aged cheese produced using only milk from the Podolica cattle), a classic pairing, and we drank Stupor Mundi with Sunday lunch of tomato and meat sauce, pasta and meatballs. We look forward to repeating this Sunday combo in a few years time.

    CarbonewinebottlesIf you’d like to visit Carbone call or email in advance for an appointment.
    Tel: +390972 237866
    Email: info@carbonevini.it


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