Day 4 ... Every day in Italy is interesting, especially if you don't live here. It's like when I come in contact with these winery folks and tell them that I am from Toronto - they love the city (because they don't live there), I not trying to give Toronto a bad name - in fact I love the city, I have lived in or around it my whole life, I'm just saying outsiders don't know the problems that are part of living in the city). We all think Italy is beautiful, but the locals know the problems - we as visitors just see the shiny exterior. And speaking of problems, I have had many a conversation about our much ... beloved? ... LCBO - it is getting to the point where I don't want to sit next to a winery principal during a meal or a tasting because sooner or later the 'CBO comes up in the conversation.. Sadly everybody has heard of them, everybody seems to have had dealing with them, and nobody likes them - so much for Canada's friendly reputation, seems out liquor boards are doing their best to sully that perception (no one better than the one in Ontario). But this is not a diatribe about the monopoly, it's to show you the wines we are missing out on because they are just not made in the quantity needed to feed the beast, err, I mean the LCBO. It's also to show you the beauty of the countryside, the wineries, and the friendliness and hospitality of the people. Today it was 5 wineries, 2 villas and a view of Verona that would take your breath away. Once again, it's a picture book story - those are so much easier to read.
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| The day starts bright and early chez Tezza at 9:00am |
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| A poster at the entrance shows the grapes of the region |
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| Tezza has 3 lines under their umbrella, all based on vineyard and grape selection (in order): Corte Majoli - Tezza and Brolo delle Giare |
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| This Spumante Pinot Grigio is an experimental wine they made for family and friends, "we liked to drink sparkling and got tired of buying other people's wine," said Vanio Tezza |
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| At Villa Arvedi we had views of the area over looking the valley and their gardens |
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| The trees looked like gumdrops and the maze is only about a foot-and-a-half high: kinda defeats the purpose of a maze |
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| Took this one for my wife ... I'm sure she'd like to do this to me somedays |
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| Here we are at Zecchini winery (est. 1988) - this symbol was found on the property when they bought it, it has something to do with a magician and a cave ... they kept it as the emblem of their winery so as not to stir up trouble with the magic man |
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| No posters ... here they have preserved the grapes in jars to show you the different varieties |
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| The lunch table ... cheese balls with pear, pistachios and stylized meat |
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| A closer look at the apps |
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| Cured meats and olives help round out the first course |
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| Told you we'd see this again: Risotto a la Amarone ... but wait, you will see it one more time (later today) |
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| Mom always used the phrase, "peel me a grape" when we were being difficult ... well mom, here it is, pit removal not included |
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| The Ripasso was a perfect accompaniment for lunch: blackberry, cassis, and plum on the nose, nice spiciness and fruit on the tongue - there was also a little heat to this wine from the alcohol (*** 1/2+) |
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| A break in the afternoon to stop and get some lovely views over Verona - more to follow ... |
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| Another view overlooking Verona |
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| ... And one more |
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| Next stop Recchia - est. 1906 |
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| at Recchia ... Gratuitous dog shot #3: "whatchu' lookin' at Willis?" |
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| The wines at Recchia fall under three labels: Masua di Jago, is the home vineyard - Palazzo Bertoldi, is the lower vineyard - Roccolo is the space that lies between |
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| We tried the '08 and '04 ... '08 is just too young, but the '04 was a delicious blend of licorice all-sorts on the nose and plum, cherry and spice, which lingered on the long seductive finish (****+) |
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| A sweet dessert wine made in 2007 using Garganega, Trebbiano and Cortese grapes: smells of apricot, honey and orange peel - flavours of tropical dried fruits and spice with a fresh finish (****) |
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| We were scheduled to stop for a look around Villa Novare - one of the Bertani properties - but we were told that we did not have an appointment ... so go away - proving that there are a-holes everywhere |
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| A tasting at the small winery Dindo ... wines made almost exclusively without the use of oak; only 8000 bottles are produced |
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| Giovanni Dindo explains his families philosophy of fresher more fruit forward wines without the intrusion of oak |
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| The Amarone is 80% stainless steel and only 20% is put into oak barrels |
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| Last stop of the day is the winery of Valentina Cubi, where we'll taste 6+ wines, our first organic wine and our first (amazingly) corked wine ... and get a bite to eat too |
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| Dinner consisted of two dishes - this cheese, bacon and bitter greens app ... and ... wait for it ... |
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| you guessed it ... a plate of Risotto a la Amarone, made with the 2003 Amarone and pumpkin puree for dipping. In truth this was the best of the three we have had over the last 2 days ... just check out that deep colour. |
Tomorrow is another day ... and the last. It's a shortened scheduled, with a trip out to the Soave region. Two winery visits and a surprise, unscheduled, look-what-we-found drop-in.
