Cork Poppers Go Italian!

The September gathering of our Cork Poppers wine tasting group featured a delicious array of Italian wines -- and some pretty tasty food to go along with it! Meeting at friends Anne and Clayton's home (about 90 minutes away), we were in for a tasty tasting afternoon! 

Our hostess, Anne

We were an almost-full house, missing only Dick and  Cheryl who'd had some serious medical issues and had to skip this time. I have to say, we were probably the gimpiest I'd ever seen us! Four cars made the trip and every car had at least one person using a walker or a cane (yes, I was the one in our car. Not pretty. Meanwhile, Anne is dealing with shoulder surgery this coming week and Meredith had just whipped a three-week sinus infection. We were a sobering reminder to each other. I have seen the future and I'm not sure I like it!. 

 

But with a wonderful array of mostly red wines from various areas of Italy, terrific food, a beautiful outdoor setting under a shaded gazebo, and with a group of friends who love to laugh, I think it's safe to say all of us had a terrific time.

 

We started off with the sole white of the day, a Tuatea Sauvignon Blanc 2024 from New Zealand's Marlborough region. I'm not sure who brought this one of  how much it was. 

I've always loved the Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs and this was no exception. It could have been a bit more chilled but it was really fresh and tasty, a perfect summer wine. Clayton noticed a "nice flavor, more lemon than grapefruit."

Then it was onto the reds with Palazzo Della Torre IGT 2022 by Allegrini. This was Clayton's offering and he explained it was from the Verona region of northern Italy, done in the Ripasso process, which is a double fermentation.

 

I loved the nice aroma. "It's quite yummy," Barb said adding "It's why you like red wine -- it has all the ingredients!" Anne agreed, thinking "It's quite good too!" Clayton found this at Costco, for about $15. 

Kate was up next with Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2022 DOC by Cecilia Beretta, a good buy from Trader Joe's a t $12.99.

 

Kate called it the "Pinot Noir of Valpo," but, added Clayton, "With a more pronounced flavor. Barb noted it was "a very big red also" and Bob called it "Very good, noting it was not as dry as some." 

 

Roger brought a Cortalunga Toscana Sangiovese 2022. Cortalunga means "red devil" or "blood red" and admitted the label attracted him.

 

Clayton noticed the soft tannins and black cherry, while Bob said "Someone who doesn't like reds might like this one." I decided it doesn't "come at you, it comes with you." 

Bob's offering was a Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva 2019  DOCG. Bob said he purchased it for $3 with a gift card but the retail price was $48.

 

It was quite delicious, although we all had some good mocking fun at the description of having the flavors of bubble gum and chocolate chip, which Bob called a "Baskin Robbins" wine. "It smells like I just opened up a pack of baseball cards! It has the flavor of a softer bubblegum -- the one you peeled off a seat!" Barb called it "very good" and I liked the aroma.

 

I brought a Chianti Classico too, a 2020 Volpaia DOCG, made from the Sangiovase grapes of Tuscany. I got it as part of my "6 for $66" deal at our local wine store, but the online prices for that vintage ranged in the $27 area. 

 

Rick said he like it -- it had a lot of tannins. Clayton didn't think this was as dry and with more nuance than the first Chianti Classico. Rick gave it a 7 of 10.

Clayton was up again with a Toscana IGT 2022 from Kirkland (Costco) $15. I noticed it had a lot of cherry. Clayton explained that super Tuscans were developed in the 1970s to upgrade a Tuscan wine.  

We also talked about how a DOC/DOCG and IGT or OGT differ. You'll see these on wine bottles. When you see DOC or DOCG on a bottle it means that the wines are from a specific region and a specific grape. IGT wines permit blends.

Barb's wine, ZIsola Siciilia DOC 2020 by Nota Rosso was last. Clayton said, "You'll like this -- it's similar to a port" and Rick noted it was "really good." "Like a soft port without the fortification," Clayton said.

 

Lest you should think that all we do is drink during these things, please know our pours are small (though some may choose to have seconds!) and we do eat!

 

During our tasting we had plenty of Rick's bread and Bob's crackers and cheese to fortify us, along with Anne's zucchini bread. And what kept us pleasantly happy between sips? A wonderful display of foods, all delicious.

 

Barb brought a beautiful fruit tray (I think she must have bought out the fruit section of a very good grocery store!) Meredith had shrimp salad on lettuce leaves, and Anne had Italian meatballs. Kate brought an antipasto plate with delicious veggies, including her pickled carrots and marinated asparagus spears. I had mozzerella roll-ups with soprasetta, pepperoni and proscuitto. For dessert we had small bites with caramel, chocolate and apple.

 

Anne sent us limping home with a delightful take-away, a potpourri dish with autumn scents.

 

Once again, it was a marvelous afternoon. 

 

The only thing missing was Dick and Cheryl! (Thanks Anne, for sharing some of your photos!)

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