Veneto is home to Italy’s beloved cities of Venice and Verona, and is surrounded by the foothills of the Alps in the north, Lake Garda to the west, and the Adriatic Sea to the southeast, making its microclimate very diverse. The region is slightly smaller than Italy's other main wine-producing regions – Piedmont, Tuscany, Lombardy, Puglia, and Sicily — however, it generates more wine than any of them. In terms of geography, culture, and wine styles, it represents a transition between the alpine, Germano-Slavic end of Italy and the warmer, drier, more Roman lands to the south.
As a wine region, Veneto brings heft and history to the table. Its importance is in part due to the volume of Pinot Grigio it produces, and the massive growth in demand for Prosecco. However, continued recognition for other wines from the region, such as Valpolicella, Amarone, Soave, and Bardolino, help keep Veneto in the spotlight. We will sample two popular varietals from this region:
Marcato La Giareta Pinot Grigio 2022 — The Marcato Family have been producing wine in Verona for over 140 years; the family remain at the heart of the wine production. Straw yellow color. Well-structured with flavors of white fleshed fruits, tropical hints, and flavors of peach. A crisp balanced acidity; and a clean and lingering finish. 12.5% ABV. $21/7
La Giaretta Amarone Classico 2020 — The Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is obtained from the best grapes of every harvest, left to wither on wooden grids and pressed in January. At least two years of ageing and subsequent refinement in bottle result in a ruby red wine with intense aromas of cherry liqueur, black fig, carob, cinnamon, and plum sauce along with subtle notes of green peppercorn, chocolate, and crushed gravel dust. On the palate, Amarone wines often have medium-plus to high acidity balanced with high alcohol and flavors of black cherry, brown sugar, and chocolate. The older the wine, the more it will offer flavors of brown sugar, molasses, and fig. This is a wine that improves with age. 16.5% ABV. Regularly, $42.99/14.50; tonight, $38/12.50
See you Friday!