Ep. 327 Jumbo Shrimp Guide | North Italy Part 2

The Italian wine podcast presents the jumbo shrimp guide to Italian wine, a new book for curious wine lovers, narrated in weekly installments. Join us on our journey to Italian wine. Hello and welcome to another installment of the jumbo shrimp guide to Italian wine presented by the Italian wine podcast. As always, my name is Joy livingston, your narrator for this series. The jumbo shrimp guide to Italian wine is intended as a quick lighthearted crash course on Italian wine. The material provides a great opportunity for serious wine scholars to refresh on the basic or to use as a reference. At the same time, we hope to bring new fans of Italian wine up to speed. If you're wondering how to get a copy of the book, the kindle version is available on Amazon, and the paperback is available from positive press dot net. We'll also send you a complimentary paperback copy if you donate any amount to the Italian wine podcast while supplies last. Find details at Italian wine podcast dot com or on our social media channels. Our topic this week is part two of Northern Italy. So pour yourself a glass, sit back, relax, and join this journey through Italian wine. Documents from the second century BC report that the Romans were defeated in the Vanitol thanks to the effects that the local wine had on the native soldiers, a powerful advert indeed. The Veneto is not only the largest producer in Italy in terms of volume. It is the region that produces the largest quantity of duck wines in Italy. Alongside the traditional varieties typical of the Veneto, many international ones are also grown in the region. As these were heavily planted here after the phylloxera plate. The first dock in the Veneto was Lugana in nineteen sixty seven, followed by Bardolino, Swave, and Balpolicella. Perhaps the most famous wines of the Veneto are the red wines of the Balpolicella dock, and of course, Amarrone de la Balicella docg produced using Corina, Roninela, and Molinara. However, there are exceptional white wines here too. Next to the homes of Al Pollicella, there is the beautiful hilltop town of Swave, home to the wines made from However, the two increasingly well recognized wines are actually from interregional docks, Luggana, where the white wine is made from Turbiana or the Trebiano de Luggana grape, and Prosecco, the incredibly popular sparkling wine made from Clara. Furthermore, the wines of the Moscato fiore de Corli Elgane, DOCG, made with Moscato galo are beginning to steal some of the limelight from the other Veneto wines. A region of two halves literally. Trentino alto Adice is composed of two autonomous provinces Trentino in the south and Alto Adige in the north. Trentino is almost entirely Italian speaking, while Alto Adige is predominantly German speaking. Even the great varieties are split here. However, there is common ground found in the warm sunbathe valleys that allow for wines much riper and richer than you'd expect from a region so far north. Three native red grapes are Marte Mino, Terroldego, Rotagliano, and Sciaba. However, the area of Trento is home to many international varieties such as pinot gris, pinot noir, and cabernet. Indeed, the most cultivated white grape varieties are the international ones such as chardonnay and pinot blanc, which are used with pinot noir in the production of classic method sparkling wine, trento doc. Ato Adije. Ato Adije or South Tyrol, has vineyards that hug the mountains and foothills of the Alps. Among most commonly planted red grapes are the native Skiava, Vernatch, and La Graine, followed by the international pinot noir. The white grapes here are Givulets Tremina, Keana, and Sylvana. Also common are rose in muscatella and galt muscatella. The first in the form of dessert wines of considerable thickness, the second made in both dry and sweet versions. Whilst Bines were documented in the region as early as the thirteenth and twelfth centuries, BC, the area became famous for its wines due to their trading in the middle ages. However, a string of bad luck with fungal diseases and phylloxera almost wiped out native vines, hence the replanting of merlot, cabernet franc, and Pinobienco grape varieties. Which are now considered traditional to the area. For the most part, Frioli Venencia is synonymous for great white wines, especially those produced with indigenous varieties that find their perfect expression on the hills adjacent to the sea. The first doc was Colio in nineteen sixty eight, followed shortly by Coli orientale del Friuli. Frioli Venezia Julia makes some of the best white wines in the country, and the most important areas for wine production are friuli grave. The name derives from the pebbles that cover the ground, cholio, cholio orientale del friuli. Isonzo and carso. The dock friuli grave is the largest in the region representing more than half of the wine production in friuli. Whereas, the DLCGs of Rosatso picolite and Ramandoo, provide other exceptional local wines. Emilia Romagna. Although there was vine cultivation here as early as six thousand BC, The first true vine growers were the etruscans who created huge expanses of vineyards in the area near Feenza. With the middle ages, this one production became even more important. Over the years, it took on a key role in this region, which is often referred to as the gastronomic heartland of Italy. Emilia Romania is the region that has the largest one production in Italy after the Venetal and is one of the most extended wine regions, counting about sixty thousand hectares of vineyards. The first DOCG in Italy was awarded here to the unlikely white wine of albana de Romagna. Although considered as one region, this is another example of two areas talked about as one. Emidia. Here in the area of Piacenza, The most common varieties are the red grapes of Barbera and croatina, which characterized the Guutorno doc. The native white grape varieties of Malvasia de Candia, aromatica, and Moscato Bianco find their home here amongst the widespread international varieties such as chardonnay, pinot blanc, and pinot gris, riesling, and Mula Thirgau. The areas of Regio Emelia and Modena are dominated by the cultivation of perhaps the best known wine from this region, Lambrusco. Lambbrusco de Surbara and Grasparosa are most common around Modena. And are the perfect wines to pair with the tortellini dishes or mortadella cold cuts famous in this area. Romania. In Romania, however, the most important grape is sangiovese, which surpasses Trebiano Romagnolo, the most common white grape variety in Romania in quantity. Mention must of course be given to Albana, the grape synonymous with Albana, the first ever d o c g white wine of Italy. Wines to try. La Grane. La Grane is the most important red grape variety of Alto Adije, and that region's native answer to Cabernet Salvigno. The name comes most likely from Valagrina, a valley in Trentino. It is related to and possibly to Martemino, and or sera. Usually used to produce dry, still red, or rosato. Magraine's docs are alto adige, Suttirole doc, Trentino doc, and the valdaddy, h tala doc. Tasting note. A very high in anthocyanins and therefore very dark in color. It is full bodied and tonic with dark berry fruit flavors and a bitter finish. The most famous and important of the refoscos and likely Frulio Venezia Julia's best known red grape, pedum colo rosso translates as red stock. As indeed, its stocks turn red fully ripe. Used to produce still red wines in Frulio, venezia, Julia, can be found in Frulicoly, orientale, doc, and Fruli gravid doc. Tasting note. The most aromatically complex of the rifascos, it demonstrates dried red cherry, fresh herbs, almonds, and floral nuances of lavender, geranium, and violet. However, these notes often fail to linger. Small barrels are frequently used for aging in order to help smooth, which can be tough and astringent and curbs reduction. Which this grape has a tendency towards. Similar to the cabernets, it can show green notes, especially when not fully ripe. A high quality white variety with a long history of production and export, numerous spelling variants such as and Usually dry, light and fresh, but also commonly used to make orange wines using extended skin contact and oxidative techniques. Some producers are testing its suitability for sparkling wine because of its high acidity. But with mixed results. Despite all the media buzz surrounding these new ribolas, the best ribola jala wines are still those made from low cropping old wines on hilltop vineyards that give classically dry perfumed white wines. Frioli, called the orientale doc and cholio doc are the main docs. Tasting note. High acidity and a hint of white pepper are typical of ribula jala, unless over cropped. Other flavors and aromas include flowers like buttercup, citrus fruits like lemon and tangerine, and minerals. Thank you for listening to this installment of the jumbo shrimp guide to Italian wine. We'll see you again next Thursday and remember the kindle version of the book is available on Amazon and the paperback is available from positive press dot net. You can also get a complimentary paperback copy by donating any amount to the Italian wine podcast while supplies last. Our Twitter handle is at itaewind podcast and check out at mama jumbo shrimp two two two on TikTok. This has been the jumbo shrimp Guide to Italian wine presented by the Italian wine podcast and a once listened to the Italian wine story. Join us next week as we continue our narrative journey.