Recently, I got the opportunity to help to organize a wine tasting and to choose four Italian wines for an aperitif in Castellina in Chianti in Tuscany.
On May 25th, I headed towards Castellina in Chianti together with my friend Letizia Galletti. It was time to manage a wine tasting that I had been planning together with Tara and Giuseppe, the American couple who was getting married in Tuscany, during the last six months.
Tara and Giuseppe contacted me last year, wondering whether I could help them organize an aperitif for their guests the day before the wedding would take place. The venue in question was Borgo Pietrafitta Relais in Castellina in Chianti.
They asked me for tips on wineries to choose among, that would represent both southern, central, and northern Italy. Giuseppe has a Sicilian origin, therefore, some of the guests came from Sicily to attend the wedding in Tuscany.
Thus, they wanted to have one Sicilian wine, one sparkling wine from northern Italy, and two red wines from Tuscany representing the region hosting them on their big day.
4 Italian Wines to Celebrate Tara & Giuseppe in Castellina in Chianti
The four wines they chose from my list of suggestions were, in my opinion, a good expression of the different Italian areas. It was also important to choose wines that not only are of a high quality but that would also be easy to enjoy as an aperitif on a warm early summer day.
Below you can find a brief description of the different wineries.
Lombardy
Tenuta Belvedere, Montecalvo Versiggia, Lombardy
Tenuta Belvedere is an organic winery situated in Montecalvo Versiggia, in the heart of the Oltrepò Pavese territory in Lombardy. They produce sparkling, white, and red wines with mainly the grape varieties Pinot Noir, Croatina, and Riesling. At the aperitif, we will taste their m’Ami Spumante Extra Brut which is a 100% Pinot Noir produced with the Charmat method (autoclave).
Sicily
Azienda Vitivinicola Paolo Calì, Vittoria, Sicily
Paolo Calì is a small wine producer in Vittoria in Sicily. Vittoria is a small city situated in the center of the wine denomination Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG. He produces rosé, white, and red wines with the indigenous grape varieties Grillo, Frappato, and Nero d’Avola. At the aperitif, we will taste his white wine Blues Grillo IGT Terre Siciliane 2016.
Tuscany
Azienda Agricola Monterotondo, Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany
Monterotondo winery is a small organic winery in Gaiole in Chianti, which is in the Chianti Classico area in Tuscany. They produce traditional Chianti Classico wines with only indigenous grape varieties. At the aperitif, we will taste their Vaggiolata Chianti Classico DOCG 2014 which is an 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, and 5% Malvasia Nera wine.
Boscarelli Winery, Montepulciano, Tuscany
Boscarelli winery is situated right in Montepulciano, the center for the production of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Indeed, they produce a very high-quality Vino Nobile wine. They are generally awarded +90 points by, for example, Robert Parker in the Wine Advocate. At the aperitif, we will taste their Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2014 (85% Sangiovese Prugnolo Gentile, the rest a mix of Colorino, Canaiolo, and Mammolo).
The Guests are enjoying the Wine Tasting
The wine tasting was paired with a selection of local prosciutto and cheese products. The afternoon was a success, the guests were mingling and enjoying the different wines. Tara and Giuseppe had printed out a flyer with a short presentation of each winery. In that way, the guests could better understand what wine they were tasting. They were often curious to know more about each wine.
Tailor Made Wine Tastings
This wine tasting was a lot of fun. I learned a lot working together with Tara and Giuseppe and skyping with them to understand their wishes and needs. Together with Letizia we managed to help Tara and Giuseppe have a wine aperitif in a beautiful setting with a stunning view where the guests could taste high quality Italian wines.
Would you need help with organizing a similar event in Tuscany? Please contact me HERE to discuss it all further.
