Dear all,
Happy Spring! While I write, I’m enjoying a delightful glass of Negroamaro.
An Italian red that is making a big splash
In early March, as an Italian wine importer friend of mine poured me a similar glass of Negroamaro, he exclaimed, “Try the other red wine from Puglia!”
I’ve long been a fan of Primitivo wines (Zinfandel) grown in the warm climate of southern Italy. I really enjoyed the glass he poured; it was medium-bodied, rich, and fruit forward with dark berry and black cherry flavors. I was happy to find this wine not too bitter to sip without the accompaniment of food, but I’m sure it would have been a great match with my favorite homemade pizza recipe. My friend advised that he’s recently started importing increasing amounts of deliciously crafted Negromaro.
Happenings of the Vinesse Wine Team
A few weeks ago, I traveled south to the LA Magic Box venue and attended the 2019 Gambero Rosso Italian Wine event, where I tasted more than one-hundred Tre-Bicchieri – award wines. Scores were awarded ranging from Zero Glasses (Bicchieri) to Three Glasses (Tre Bicchieri). The Tre Bicchieri award is a coveted top honor that Gambero Rosso bestows upon the finest examples of Italian wines in their respective categories. This was the thirty-second annual review and selection of Italy’s best wines. Leading up to this year’s event, a team of seventy expert tasters from Gambero Rosso tasted more than 40,000 wines from every region of Italy and the Caton of Ticino.
Driving back from the event, I anticipated heavy traffic in LA, so I opted for the coastal route and bolted toward Malibu. If you must sit in traffic, why not do it on HWY 1, which is not only beautiful but also literally on the edge of western “wine drinking” civilization.
Keep enjoying the good life,
Mike Gwin
Wine Buyer
