This past weekend, I taught an overview of course on the wines and varietals of Italy. It is a big subject to dive into. The Greeks referred to Italy as the "land of wine" over 2000 years ago and it still lives up to that reputation. It is home to one of the oldest wine cultures.
This was a two-hour course and I do not use the term "overview" lightly. Italy is home to over 600 native grape varietals and grows a host of other non-native varietals. It has 421 named designations of origin. In comparison, Washington state has just 20 regions (called American Viticultural Areas - AVAs). All of that variety produces a wealth of wine that pairs very well with food and daily life. In fact, the Romans changed how the world thought about wine. It was for the masses and every day versus something reserved just for the noble elite.
If you haven't had a chance to experience the wines and varietals of Italy, I challenge you to check it out. There are truly a vast array of possibilities and most are really affordable. Over the next few posts, I will try to bring some of those highlights to you.
For this post I will share with you the wine list and pairings that I did as part of this course. It was split across three Italian-made wines and two Italian varietal wines made here in Washington. The list skews heavily in favor of the Sangiovese varietal which is world famous and synonymous with Tuscany and Chianti. For the food pairings, the Sant Angelus Canonica went with a pesto filled ravioli with an aged alfredo sauce. The Mazzacano Capriccio was paired with a fresh pasta in a San Marazano tomato sauce. The Mazzacano L'armonia went with a caprese skewer and 10-year aged balsamic vinegar. What stood out in my mind for this tasting is how much better each of these wines became with food. The wines were great on their own, but they came to a different level with the food pairings. Italian varietals pair so well with food.
Santi Nello Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, (Conegliano Valdobbiadene, Italy), non-vintage, $19.
Sant Angelus Canonica, (Umbria, Italy), 2021, $27.50.
S. Andrea in Colle Chianti Classico Riserva, (Toscana, Italy), 2020, $24.
Mazzacano Cellars Capriccio, 100% Sangiovese, (Columbia Valley, Washington, USA), 2020, $48.
Mazzacano Cellars L’armonia, 80% Cabernet Sauvignon / 20% Sangiovese, (Columbia Valley, Washington, USA), 2018, $63.