| Greetings!
Welcome to the world of Italian wine! Use this newsletter to learn basics of Italian wine, where to buy it, and how to pair it; helping you purchase with confidence!
Sincerely,
Kallie Smith & Nathan Woodhouse |
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| The "M" Word
As with most languages that are foreign to us, some Italian words may be a bit confusing. In the world of Italian wine I have found that an often confused group of words are the "M" words; Montalcino vs. Montepulciano, not to mention the latter is used as both a grape and a region. Here, we explore the differences and give confidence to those in the Italian section of the wine shop! Oh, and don't forget to pronounce the c as a "ch" in these words!
Montalcino
This hill town in Tuscany is famous for the prestigious Brunello di Montalcino wine. Brunello is a deep and complex red wine made from Sangiovese Grosso grapes, but in the particular area around Montalcino the grape is known as Brunello. Also popular are the Rosso di Montalcino, a younger version of Brunello, it's the wine to drink while waiting for the Brunello to age. Try our Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino from Marchesato degli Aleramici and Casisano Colombaio.
Montepulciano (the town)
Also hailing from Tuscany is the town of Montepulciano, most known for it's wine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. This wine is also made from Sangiovese grapes (and often a few others blended in), but around Montepulciano the grape goes by Prugnolo Gentile. Throughout Italy, each different Sangiovese name is thought to be a slightly different strain of the grape.
Montepulciano (the grape)
Just to add to the "M" word confusion, we have Montepulciano the town and Montepulciano the grape. The grape is most popular as Montepulciano d'Abruzzo but is also commonly grown in Abruzzo's neighboring region the Marche. Montepulciano typically makes a soft, plump red wine with good fruit and a bit of earthiness. Try our approachable and budget friendly "Paradise" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo! |
Retailer Spotlight
Vintage Wine & Spirits Co.
 6905 Mills Civic Parkway West Des Moines, Iowa
515.225.4373
It's hard to beat a wine shop that let's you taste wine very week, and that's just what Vintage Wine & Spirits in West Des Moines does. Tastings are held every Saturday from 2:00-5:00 pm plus they have a patio for relaxing with your wine on site. With selections starting at $8.99 and a wide variety of craft beer, there's something for everyone. Curt at Vintage has generously offered to take 10% off Ionia Atlantic wines for any customer who brings in a printout of this newsletter! Find these great wines on their shelves and save today!
Camp alla Sughera "Adeo" Bolgheri Rosso
Curatolo "Mulinea" Insolia
Casisano Colombaio Rosso di Montalcino
Goretti Sagrantino di Montefalco
I Giusti & Zanza Rosso Toscana
Seiterre "Le Capanelle" Rosso Maremma Toscana
Seiterre "Sassoscritto" Rosso Maremma Toscana
Vinchio Vaglio Serra "La Passione" Dolce Rosso
Vinchio Vaglio Serra "Vigne Rare" Moscato
Vinchio Vaglio Serra "I Tre Vescovi" Barbera d'Asti
Vinchio Vaglio Serra "Kroara" Barbera & Cortese Bag-in-Box |
The Tasting Files:
Orlando Abrigo Barbaresco
Orlando Abrigo's Barbaresco has only been in our portfolio for a few months, but it is already a star. He makes many Barbaresco, but this tasting focuses on his classic 2006 Barbaresco. Delicious right out of the gate, this wine reminds me why I love this business! Beautiful silky color and a nose to kill. The bouquet has many layers including spiced plums, faint licorice, and beautiful woodsiness, reminiscent of rosemary and cool, lush evergreen forests. The earthiness that follows is a soft and subtle truffle scent. The palate follows through from the nose, but adds bright cherry, smooth tannins and a lingering finish. This is a beautiful wine and a great value for Barbaresco, retailing at about $45. |
Food & Wine Pairing
2 lbs ground Kobe beef, formed into 4 patties (or 4 prepared patties from Straub's if you live in St. Louis)
Salt & freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Vegetable oil
4 sharp cheddar cheese slices (or your favorite cheese)
4 large onion roll buns
1 beefsteak tomato, sliced thin
1 red onion, sliced thin
4 pieces iceburg lettuce
Your favorite pickle slices, mustard and ketchup, if desired
The hamburger is certainly not an Italian dish, but it's a dish many of our Italian producers love to have when they visit the United States. When using high quality beef such as Kobe, burgers couldn't be easier! The beef is so good you simply need to salt and pepper the patties. If forming the patties yourself, be sure not to overhandle them.
Heat charcoal grill until the coals ash over. Brush grill grate with oil. Place burgers on the grill and cook five minutes or until there is a slight char on the underside. Flip the burgers and cook another five minutes without moving the patties. 3 minutes before they're done, place cheese on top of the patties and close the grill to melt. These burgers are big and very juicy so the 10 minutes will only produce about a medium to medium rare burger, which is perfect in my opinion! The Kobe will still be very pink and juicy, don't fear the juice!
Remove patties from the grill and let them rest a for a few minutes under foil. Prepare your burgers with all of your favorite toppings and enjoy! Don't forget the napkins!
”Buon Appetitio!
Big burger flavor deserves big wine! We suggest I Giusti & Zanza "Dulcamara" or "Perbruno", Curatolo Cabernet Sauvignon, The Paradise Montepulciano d'Abruzzo or Goretti Sagrantino di Montefalco.
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Ionia Atlantic was formed from a passion for great wine and Italian lifestyle. Wonderful wines are found throughout the world, but we believe the most exciting, historic and diverse land for wine is Italy. We strive to share the fruits of this beautiful land by offering traditional, artisan wines with competitive pricing.
Sincerely,
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Kallie Smith
Ionia Atlantic Imports |
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Luglio 2010
