Aperitivo, tasting Syrah from Cortona
Enjoying a bottle of Syrah 2011 by Stefano Amerighi together with friends the other night, made me think about sharing the special traits of DOC Cortona. As often at our weekly aperitivo evenings, we hang out at Le volpi e l’uva, a wine bar close to Palazzo Pitti in the center of Florence. They have a good selection of very interesting wines, mostly Italian and French wines. For example, you can sip at a Vermentino di Sardegna or a Gewürtztraminer from Alto Adige, or a Bourdeaux Claret or a Brunello di Montalcino, and enjoy a selection of Italian and French cheeses. Or, why not, one of their crostoni with spicy ‘Nduja.
(pic by www.balloningintuscany.com)
Cortona
Syrah from Cortona is part of the DOC Cortona. The small town Cortona is situated on a hill in the south east corner of Tuscany, in the province of Arezzo. Wine has been cultivated on the hills around Cortona, close to the Trasimeno lake, since the Etruscan era. During the early middle ages there was a longer break in the production of wine due to the fact that the valley of Valdichiana below Cortona, transformed into a swampland. The area recovered only after the 16th century. During the Napoleonic occupation in the early 19th century, more international vine varieties were introduced in the area (Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc.).
(pic by www.discovertuscany.com)
Syrah di Stefano Amerighi
Stefano Amerighi is a small wine producer in Poggiobello di Farneta, close to Cortona. He is embracing the concept of biodynamic agriculture and natural viticulture. Thus, not using neither corrective nor chemical products in the vinification process. Stefano Amerighi is advocating the production of a high quality wine, and on the website he describes how he is aiming at an alternative agriculture, producing not only Syrah, but also cultivating for ex. cereals, vegetables, and fruit. His Syrah wine is refined in wood or cement barrels for 14 months, and then bottled without being further filtered or treated.
This Syrah of Stefano Amerighi has a ruby red colour, aromas of blackberry and mature cherries, juniper, as well as a slight note of cinnamon and coffee. The taste is fresh, full-bodied, and elegant, with a rich note of tannins.
Have you tried a Syrah from Cortona? Have you ever been to Le volpi e l’uva? What’s your story about this wine?
That sounds like such a lovely evening… and of course the wine! Hugs. 😀
Thanks Teagan, and indeed it is a very good wine! 🙂
Amerighi is a fantastic producer and I love Cortona Syrah – one of Tuscany’s last “hidden gems”, I’d say!
Have you tried Tenimenti d’Alessandro Il Bosco Cortona Syrah? It’s amazing, too. Cheers!
Thanks for your comment! 🙂 And, indeed, Amerighi is one of the best Cortona Syrah out there. However, I have also tried Il Bosco, which I really like a lot too. A hard choice…
This is one of the very best Syrah overall, definitely a world class. Luckily, greatly underappreciated 🙂
Thanks for the comment. The Amerighi Syrah luckily so far is not that well known, or as you mention, underappreciated. Anyway, it is a great Syrah wine… 🙂
Thanks for this blog post! It reminds me of my wonderful time in Italy years ago, and the books of Frances Mayes. The photos make me want to go again! Beautiful photos!
It sounds wonderful and is definitely on my places to see list. 🙂
Your knowledge of wine is so far superior to mine. I only know red, white or blended!
Thanks:-) And I am happy to share the things I know about wine!!
Interesting. I’ve never tried it. Now I want to when I have the experience.
What a beautiful place with such a delicious treat. I am a total wino living vicariously through you!
Thanks!:-)…Have thought about next month starting more seriously to cover a small local wine producer in the blog, like twice a month. Would that be interesting for you?
i do love a good bottle of wine with friends.
It’s a good thing I’m reading this in the morning or I’d be heading straight to the wine. This syrah sounds excellent and thanks for the pictures too.
Thanks for the nice comment, and it is indeed a very good wine!:-)
I’m with Beth Niebuhr…this makes me want to get up and find the nearest wine bar. It won’t ever be the same as being in Italy but still…take me away!!!!
Thanks :-)…you should…a friend yesterday, proposed a skype live wine tasting…perhaps that would be a cool initiative, to discuss wine together over skype or on a hangout… What do you think about that? Not as nice as a wine bar… Although, one could perhaps organize it from a wine bar…hmmm…
Just yesterday I was talking to my husband about planning our next trip, which will be to Italy. I don’t know anything about wines & don’t drink, but I would love to know enough so that I can be confident when bringing a bottle of wine as a gift. This is so helpful
That sounds great, just ask if you want any tips, etc. 🙂
I know very little about Italy and just as much about wine, but there are soooo many that would resonate with your message and share a glass of wine with friends and enjoying the culture.
Thanks Kristen! And I guess you can enjoy the article anyway, even if you do not drink much…:-)
Your blog posts are always such a beautiful trip to amazing places, Katarina!
Thanks, happy you liked the blog post! 🙂
Tuscany – it’s on my list. And I’ll be sure to enjoy a glass or three of the local wines 🙂
Sounds lovely! Bet it tastes great, too. 😉
A lovely Chianti Classico wine, yes…:-) Thanks!