
Ep. 1888 Marco Gandini Narrates Pt. 65 | Italian Wine Unplugged 2.0
Italian Wine Unplugged 2.0
Episode Summary
Content Analysis Key Themes and Main Ideas 1. Detailed profiles of three distinct Italian grape varieties: Primitivo, Ribolla Gialla, and Rondinella. 2. Genetic origins, historical context, and ampelographic similarities of Italian grapes (e.g., Primitivo and Zinfandel). 3. Regional specificity and associated DOPs (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) for each grape. 4. Viticultural characteristics, including soil preferences, maturation patterns, and resistance to environmental factors. 5. Winemaking styles, in-glass attributes, and ideal food pairings for each varietal. Summary This content provides in-depth profiles of three significant Italian grape varieties: Primitivo, Ribolla Gialla, and Rondinella. It begins with Primitivo, detailing its genetic identity with Zinfandel, its historical roots primarily in Apulia, and its characteristic early ripening and high sugar levels. The description covers its viticultural area (e.g., Manduria's ""terrarosa"" soils), typical in-glass appearance and flavors (ripe red/black fruit, tobacco, high alcohol), common styles (dry still, oak-matured), and recommended food pairings like Korean BBQ. Next, the analysis covers Ribolla Gialla, found mainly in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It highlights its ancient ties to the Gorizia area and its popularity in 13th-century Venice. The profile emphasizes its high acidity, preference for hilly, well-draining soils like ""Ponca,"" and versatility in winemaking, ranging from fresh, crisp classic styles to extended maceration, sparkling, and sweet wines. Its delicate aromas, citrus, and mineral notes, along with pairings like mussels and roast fish, are also noted. Finally, Rondinella is described, primarily as a blending partner in Veneto's Valpolicella region. It's identified as a genetic offspring of Corvina and valued for its reliability, resistance to cold and drought, and consistent yields. The profile explains its medium ruby appearance, red cherry, and herbal notes, and its crucial role (5-30% typically) in wines like Bardolino, Valpolicella, Amarone, and Recioto. Common food pairings include pizza, pasta, and grilled meats. Each grape profile also lists associated regions/DOPs and benchmark producers. Takeaways * Primitivo is genetically identical to Zinfandel and is known for its early ripening and high sugar content, often resulting in high-alcohol wines. * Ribolla Gialla is a high-acid grape from Friuli-Venezia Giulia, highly versatile for various winemaking styles including skin maceration and sparkling wines. * Rondinella is a reliable and resilient blending grape from Veneto, crucial for Valpolicella, Amarone, and Recioto wines, rather than a standalone varietal. * Specific soil types like ""terrarosa"" (Primitivo) and ""Ponca"" (Ribolla Gialla) significantly influence grape characteristics and wine quality. * Italian grape varieties often have complex historical backgrounds and regional adaptations, impacting their unique characteristics and traditional pairings. * Understanding an Italian wine includes not just the grape but also its vineyard conditions, typical winemaking methods, and cultural food pairings. Notable Phrases * ""Primitivo suffers from a synchronous maturation within bunches and can easily achieve high sugar levels."" (Describing Primitivo's viticultural challenges) * ""Since then, studies have traced its heritage to Montinigro and Lomaita."" (Referring to Primitivo's genetic origins) * ""Has longest sargo ties to the area of gorizia and was a popular wine in a thirteenth century amongst nobility in Venice."" (Highlighting Ribolla Gialla's historical significance) * ""Flesh, panca, is the main soil formation for cholio and friuli cholio in italy, allowing for roots to penetrate the friable soils."" (Explaining Ribolla Gialla's ideal terroir) * ""Reliable and dependable helping its gain in prominence."" (Characterizing Rondinella's value as a blending grape) * ""The grapes accumulate sugar easily, making it an important blending grape in the original ricciardo de la Balicella sweet wines."" (Detailing Rondinella's contribution to sweet wines) Related Topics or Follow-up Questions 1. What are the historical reasons behind the genetic similarities between seemingly distinct grape varieties like Primitivo and Zinfandel? 2. How do winemakers specifically manage ""asynchronous maturation"" in grapes like Primitivo to ensure quality? 3. Beyond the mentioned styles, what are some experimental or lesser-known winemaking approaches for Ribolla Gialla? 4. Can Rondinella ever be produced as a monovarietal wine, and what would its characteristics be? 5. How do the specific soil types mentioned (terrarosa, Ponca) influence the characteristics of other Italian grapes grown in those regions? 6. A deeper dive into the specific ""benchmark producers"" for each grape, exploring their philosophy and signature wines.
About This Episode
The Italian wine podcast and series called my Italian Great Geek journal are dedicated to Italian wine geekers and include interviews and a book. The series describes the language used in the book and provides information on the production and drink culture of various wines and regions. The speaker discusses the use of various techniques and regions in wine, including traditional Malays, spicy Malays, sweet wines, and even traditional French wine. The main soil formation for cholio and analyzes its potential for creative wines like Rossate with warmer mesoclimid. The speaker also discusses specific styles in wine styles, protective vinification, maturation, and fruitier blending, and provides information on specific regions and DOPs. The podcast is promoted and viewers are encouraged to subscribe and rate the show.
Transcript
The Italian wine podcast is the community driven platform for Italian winegeeks around the world. Support the show by donating at italian wine podcast dot com. Donate five or more Euros, and we'll send you a copy of our latest book, my Italian Great Geek journal. Absolutely free. To get your free copy of my Italian GreatGeek journal, click support us at italian wine podcast dot com, or wherever you get your pots. For all the super wine geeks out there, we have a special new series dedicated to you. We are reading excerpts from our new addition of Italian wine unplugged two point o. Wine mothers tune in for your weekly fix. Only on Italian wine podcast. If you want to own a copy of this new must read Italian wine textbook, just go to amazon dot com or visit us at mama jumbo shrimp dot com. Description. Mostly found in Apulia with much larger plantings in Cambodia and basilicata. Primitivo derives from the Latin Primativus, meaning first ripen or early ripening known as Khratosha in Machenegro, and Trebridark in Croatia and Zinfandel in the United States. An Ambolographic similarity was noted between Primitivo and Zinfandel in the late nineteen sixties. And it was later established that they were genetically identical through Carol Meredith' work in nineteen ninety four. Since then, studies have traced its heritage to Montinigro and Lomaita. Its first official mention in Apulia was in seventeen ninety nine in Georgia, where it was first planted, and then subsequently planted in Nigeria and on the Solinto Peninsula. Historically used for VINodatayo lending high alcohol. End of vineyard, Gio de Collette Vedocultural area situated on the Mocea plateau characterized by its car's topography. Limestone bedrock with thin top soils, many areas have a top soil called terrarosa due to some of the carcaris materials, dissolving than resulting in a deep red color. The precarious nature of soils, higher altitude, and more marked urinal shifts in, result in wines with relatively higher levels of acidity. Finance and enrollments. Nigeria. Larger production and area under vine, characterized by a lowered altitude and slightly more fertile soils resulting in a heavier expression of primitivo. Grapes are harvested early in August and early September. Primitivo suffers from a synchronous maturation within bunches and can easily achieve high sugar levels. In the glass. Medium to deep ruby color, reach and ripe, red, black fruit, black cherry, liqueared soak, white plum, strawberry jam. Under bush, tobacco tar. Medium range, obesity, medium range level of lightly texture tenants, high alcohol. Generally sees oak maturation mandated for Mandurierisaraba. Specific styles usually dries still. Some sweet and fortified wine production. At the table, pairs well with kalbi, Korean barbecue beef short ribs. Grill spice salumi, and vegetable skewers, current lentil stew with raisin chutney. Associated regions and DOPs. Colina Yonika Tarantina, DOC, Gio Delcole, GOC, Gravina DOC, PRc. PRimitivo de Manduria Dolce, GOCG, Terra dotrento, DOC. Compania. Valerno Del Masico, GOC. Basillicata matera GOC. Benchmark producers, Kanito Fatalone, Marella, Paul Venera, Mascadel Tacoo, continue some Marzano, continued with almond, leonetti castris, Morella filling. Trippola. Found in Frieulivenessa Julia with small amounts in Napulia. Possibly related to Guebelon. Spelling variations include Rabbola, Rabiola The name Ebola was used for multiple wines in Venition history leading to the juxtaposition that were also a branded wine similar to Malazia. Has longest sargo ties to the area of gorizia and was a popular wine in a thirteenth century amongst nobility in Venice. Aside from the fresh crisp classic styles of production, extending maceration is most notable. Taking advantage of Revola Jales' highest acidity levels, some producers have also ventured into a wide range of sweet wines, Martinati methods, sparkling and metodoclassico sparkling wines. In the vineyard, quality Ebola Jala production favors hilly side sites, well draining soils, and older vines. Overproduction results in loss of character. Flesh, panca, is the main soil formation for cholio and friuli cholio in italy, allowing for roots to penetrate the friable soils. Soils are slightly octane, helping grapes to retain higher acidity. Two grand cruise. Osavia with higher altitude and cooler nights leads to lemony, mineral, higher acid wines. Rosato with a warmer mesoclimid leads to wines that are relatively deeper and richer in the glass, pale color, delicate aromas, and floral buttercup, citrus, lemon, tangerine, minerals, white pepper, high acidity, light chalk dust texture, classic style employs protective identification with cooler fermentation temperatures. Classic style is dry, fresh, light bodied. Specific styles, many wine styles, protective vinification, maturation, oak maturation, ten methods sparkling, metodoclassicos sparkling, sweet, skin macerated. At the table. Complimentary with mussel and garlic butter, white wine sauce, Fritomisto, roast Fish with capers and lemon. Associated regions and DOPs. Frioli Vanessa Julia, call your DOC, Frioli, call your Inteli, DOC, Frioli Vanessa, DOC. Benchmark producers, Gravner, Doro Pincic, Laving Edizamo. Yerman, Mosich, Edicaber, Tatsic, Karanesca, Latunella, Primosic, Marco Feluga, Livin, Colavini. Roninela, description found in the Veneto region and has gained prominence as a blending partner in Valpolice. It is a genetic offspring of Corvina, While its exact origin and timing are unknown, the first references to the grape are in the late nineteenth century, and its prominence may have improved with grafting into American roots socks. After the arrival of phylloxera. The name is either a reference to the grapes, black skin color, and the resemblance to the feathers of small birds in the area known as Rondine Swallows in in English. Or a reference to the same birds eating the grapes. In the vineyard. Reliable and dependable helping its gain in prominence. It is resistant to cold, drought, and disease. Adapts to different soils and provides consistent yields. The grapes accumulate sugar easily, making it an important blending grape in the original ricciardo de la Balicella sweet wines. In the glass, medium ruby appearance, rat cherry, and herbal aromas, and flavors with medium body, and acidity, and low tenon. Good blending grapes. Specific styles. Rarely seen as a man of arrival and mostly used as a blending rape in the Bardolino, five to forty percent, valpolicella, five to thirty percent, Amarrone, five to thirty percent and reciotto, five to thirty percent red wines of the region. In Bartolino, it can also be made into rosato wine. At the table, pizza pasta grilled meats, antipathy, and fresh young mild cheeses associated regions and g o p's. Venito, Valicella, DOC, Vapolicello, DOC, Bardolino, DOCG, RdocG, ROCG, Benchmark producers. Chezzari, Allegrini Tadeski Zinnato. Listen to the Italian wine podcast wherever you your podcasts. We're on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, email if them, and more. Don't forget to subscribe and rate the show. If you enjoy listening, please consider donating through Italian wine podcast dot com. Any amount helps cover equipment, production, and publication costs. Until next time. Chichi.
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