9:23 AM

2008 - Wine Recipes-

The Best Articles on Wine Recipes

I Love Italian Wine and Food - Aosta Valley Region, Piedmont Wine

If you are looking for fine Italian wine and food, consider the Aosta Valley region of northern Italy. You may find a bargain, and I hope that you?ll have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour.

The Aosta Valley is a tiny corner of of northwestern Italy bordering on France and Switzerland. This valley is surrounded by high mountains, including Europe?s highest peak, Mount Blanc. This was arguably the last region of Italy to be populated, because it was covered with ice until relatively recently. Over time it was occupied by Celts, Romans, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Lombards, and Franks. It is bilingual, Italian and French. The Aosta Valley is by far the smallest region of Italy with a population of only 120 thousand.

Agricultural is not particularly important, with the exception of cattle raising. There is substantial forestry and some industry, in particular hydroelectric power. The region is one of the wealthiest in Italy, with a highly developed tourist sector.

This region has no single capital. The largest city is Aosta, with a population of about 35 thousand. It was a Roman garrison over two thousand years ago, and is the best example of Roman city planning in Italy. Among the Aosta Valley?s tourist attractions are the remains of a Roman amphitheater said to hold 20,000 spectators. Other tourist attractions include medieval fortresses and churches, the Matterhorn, and Mount Blanc.

The Aosta Valley devotes only fifteen hundred acres to grapevines, and ranks 20th among the 20 Italian regions. Its total annual wine production is about six hundred thousand gallons, also giving it a 20th place. About 90% of the wine production is red or ros? (only a bit of ros?), leaving about 10% for white. The region produces a single DOC wine, that is divided into 23 categories. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin. Almost 23% of this region?s wine carries the DOC. The Aosta Valley is home to almost three dozen major and secondary grape varieties, with somewhat more red than white varieties.

Chardonnay is the most important international white grape variety in the Aosta Valley. Muscat and Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris) are also grown. Local white varieties include Blanc de Morgeux and Petite Arvine, also grown in Switzerland.

International red grape varieties grown in the Aosta Valley include Gamay, Grenache, Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir), and Syrah. Local red varieties include Picotendro (called Nebbiolo in neighboring Piedmont and arguably Italy?s finest red grape), Petit Rouge, and Fumin. In the unfortunate absence of any Aosta Valley wines, I am reviewing a DOCG Nebbiolo-based wine from neighboring Piedmont. If I am ever in the Aosta Valley, I promise to drink and review a few local wines.

Before reviewing the Aosta Valley-style wine and Italian cheese that I was lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region.
Start with Jambon de Bosses; Uncooked Ham.
As the second course try Carr? D?Agnello Gratinato Alle Erbe; Grilled Loin of Lamb in a Pastry and Herb Crust.
For dessert indulge yourself with Crema alla Panna; Pannacotta from the Aosta Valley (a sort of cr?me caramel without eggs.)

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY While we have communicated with well over a thousand Italian wine producers and merchants to help prepare these articles, our policy is clear. All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Travaglina Gattinara DOCG 13.5% alcohol about $28

As stated above, little if any wine from the Aosta Valley region is available in North America. We had to settle for a Piedmont wine produced only a few miles away from the Aosta Valley. For some reason I can?t get out of my mind the 1905 George M. Cohan Broadway title tune (Only) Forty-five Minutes from Broadway, think of the changes it brings. Given that this is a DOCG wine made with Italy?s best red grape, I really don?t feel that I made a sacrifice. It is perhaps a fitting way to treat the last of Italy?s regions.

Let?s start with the marketing materials. ?The winery has other jewels in its crown, as the fabulous base Gattinara 2001 so eloquently proves in the best version we can remember. A pure, austere nose expresses the Gattinara territory, with licorice and crushed roses from the Nebbiolo grape and elegant streaks of eucalyptus, menthol, and even acacia blossoms. The long lingering palate is lively and tangy, slightly held back by assertive tannins.?

Let?s talk a bit about the bottle. As a DOCG red wine, there is a lavender ribbon at the top of the bottle. The bottle itself has a unique curve that fits in the palm of the hand. It was designed by a glassmaker for the 1952 vintage, and proved so popular that the producer has been using it ever since. The grapes are grown on steep slopes at 900-1300 feet in iron-rich soil with traces of Calcium and Magnesium Carbonate. The wine is aged a year in French oak barriques, 18 months in Slovenian oak casks, and then for six months in the bottle. It has been called an affordable Barolo, (one of Italy?s finest red wines that starts at about twice its price). Wine Spectator Magazine has listed a previous vintage as one of the year?s 100 best wines.

My first pairing was with a cheeseless meat lasagna. Frankly the wine was wasted on this meal. It was mouth-filling, long, and powerful, but yet delicate. I felt that the wine was great on its own. A few ounces kept my mouth satisfied for a very long time.

The next pairing was more suitable, grilled rib steak in my spicy, homemade barbeque sauce that included ketchup, sweet and sour mustard, fresh garlic, and black pepper. The meal also included potato patties, and caponata, an Italian-style eggplant and tomato salad. This marriage was made in heaven. The wine was mouthfilling and powerful. A little bit went a very long way.

The final meal was with slow-cooked, boneless beef ribs and potatoes. Once again, the wine was very powerful, tasting of leather and dark fruit. It is easily the most powerful wine of the series, and probably one of the most powerful wines that I have ever tasted. However, I did not find the tannins assertive; they blended perfectly with the fruit and other flavors.

It might have been best to try this wine with a Piedmont cheese such as Gran Padano or Gorgonzola, or with an Aosta Valley cheese such as Fontina. I had none of the above, so I settled for the ends of my Italian cheeses, coincidentally at more or less the end of this series. The Gattinara took on a pleasant acidic character to deal with a Montasio cheese from the Veneto area that was past its prime. It also went well with a Sicilian Isola. I liked it the best with an Asiago, also from the Veneto region. But once again the wine was somewhat wasted on these cheeses.

Final verdict. I don?t think that this wine should be cellared wine for a dozen years, but I would love to find out. If I had the money, I?d buy a case, drink a bottle a year, and then decide what to do. Not going to happen. This wonderful wine will have to go into my once a year category. I?m already looking forward to savoring and comparing the 2002 vintage with this wonderful 2001.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His wine website is http://www.theworldwidewine.com .

Another short Wine Recipes review

Exploring Barossa Wineries Down Under

With a name like Barossa, your taste buds should be tingling with anticipation if you are going to make the trip to Australia. Here is some informatio...

Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

Recommended Wine Recipes Items

The FTD Birthday Party Bouquet Classic - Standard

A present abloom with pinks, yellows, purples and whites, in a basket festooned with party horn, party snakes and birthday banner. A16-BPS

Price: 46.99 USD

Current Wine Recipes News

Winemaker Insures Nose for 8 Million Dollars

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:12:46 PDT
The Lloyd's of London insurance market has insured the nose of a leading wine maker and taster for $7.9 million, covering the Bordeaux producer against the loss of his nose and sense of smell.

Lloyd's insures winemaker's nose for $8 million

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:51:53 PDT
LONDON (Reuters) - The Lloyd's of London insurance market has insured the nose of a leading wine maker and taster for 5 million euros ($7.9 million), covering the Bordeaux producer against the loss of his nose and sense of smell. Lloyd's is famous...

Wine futures available - Garage Wine Co. Chile

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:42:13 PDT
The Garage Wine Co. is making a limited release of its soon to be available Cabernets on a futures basis. Unlike in the Bordeaux tradition, and with a whole lot less pomp & circumstance they are available at last years price until the official release date in April. Get them fast!

The kosher wine revolution

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 02:00:01 PDT
In case you haven't heard the news, kosher wines don't suck anymore. Good ones are being made in Israel and in a number of other places, too, notably Bordeaux. For oenophilic Jews, this is truly an answered prayer; keeping the faith no longer requires smiting the palate.

Woodinville Passport III

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:57:19 PDT
Hordes of people wandering around, with a wine glass in hand, in the cold, in the warehouse district west of 144th. Along the strip on the way in we visited William Church, Arlington Road, Page , Red Sky and others. William Church had a nice Cab Blend. Arlington poured two wines with regal names and prices. The Imperium ( too bad you can't walk around the Roman Art From The Louvres show at SAM with this) is a semisweet Riesling - kind the quintessential Riesling, but too sweet for my taste. The

More affordable 2005 Bordeaux

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:03:18 PDT
Three more Bordeaux wines from the 2005 vintage. Solidly made and good value for money, I reckon - at least, by the usual Bordeaux standards. Dourthe No 1 2005 Bordeaux This well known brand is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, put together by none other than M. Rolland. It's classic Bordeaux: there's a hint of gravelliness to the nose, there's some brightness to the dark fruits, and there's fresh grippy structure. It's not going to set the world alight, but it is very drinkable. Solid

Wine Source
Tags: Wine Reviews | Wine Sales

Labels: Wine Vinegar

&type=page">

Posted by Patrick Ramsey | 0 comments

2:46 PM

Questions are meant to be answered. This is why we hope that all your questions on People Wine have been answered by this composition on People Wine .

Today's People Wine Article

The Ideal Wine Cellar: Everything You Need to Get Started

So you've decided to take a large step, and move from wine lover to wine
connoisseur. You are going to buy a wine cellar. This guide will give you all
the information you need to make this purchase.

Wine Bottle Storage
The ideal location for storing wine
is a dark, draftless area that stays at a constant 50-60 degrees, with 60-70
percent humidity. The bottles should be kept on their sides to keep the corks
moist, and should be exposed to limited vibrations. This will ensure that you
will be able to keep bottles at their best for years to come.

One
thing to consider if you decide to purchase a large wine cellar: make sure the
unit will fit! This sounds obvious, but many times stand-alone wine cellars are
much wider than a standard door. Another thing to think about is weight.
Consider not only the weight of the storage unit, but be sure to calculate 3
pounds each for a standard bottle of wine. You might not want to store your wine
upstairs. This is another reason that wine is typically stored in a cellar.

Types of Wine Cellars
If you are lucky enough to live in
a house, maybe you can use the existing cellar or a spare room, or have one
built. Just be sure not to skimp on building materials - it would be silly to
have 400 bottles of wine crashing to the floor because you wanted to save a few
bucks on thinner wood. Also, be sure the condensation will be able to evaporate;
otherwise, the humidity will increase beyond ideal levels.

Consider the cellar as an investment.
If you don't have a
large amount of space, you can buy a freestanding wine cellar. While not
actually a cellar in the traditional sense, these are large units that can be
stored in a house or apartment. They are available commercially for a wide
variety of prices. Always consider where you are going to be storing the wine.
If it will be kept in your home, you will not need to have as much insulation or
as strong of a cooling unit, but a unit kept in the garage will have to be much
higher quality.

Building Your Own Wine Cellar
The
best location for the cellar is below the level of the house. If your basement
has outside walls, keep in mind that north-facing walls will get the least
amount of light. Some smaller crawl spaces may not work very well if they
experience extreme changes in temperature. The same goes for a garage. The first
floor of the house can also be used, and as long as the house stays at a fairly
constant room temperature, the cooling unit will not have to work too
hard.

Framing
The first step in building a wine
cellar is the framing. The outer walls of the basement or room should be framed
with 2" by 6" wood studs. If the floors are cold, use 2" by 4"
studs.

Insulation
The next step in the creation of a
wine cellar is insulation. The room needs to be kept at the most constant
temperature possible. The best type to use is sprayed 2 pound polyurethane,
although less expensive methods can used, especially if the cellar is on the
first floor of the house. Once again, consider the cellar to be an
investment.

Doors
Don't forget about the door! It needs to have
weather stripping and also be insulated. Otherwise all the work done to
insulate the walls will be wasted.

Drywall
To finish
the walls, use a drywall that is resistant to moisture. Other wall material can
be used, but make sure that it will not soak up moisture and that it will not
impart an odor on the wine.

Racks
Don't leave the design of the racks until the end.
Start first with this design to make sure that you have enough space for the
number of bottles you'd like to store. A good place to start would be to look at
the smaller racks available at your local wine store. These will give you ideas
on the design you would like. Once again, make sure the construction is sturdy
enough for the weight of the wine.

Temperature and Humidity and Wine
As mentioned before,
the ideal temperature for wine is between 50 and 60 degrees. If the temperature
is too high, it will spoil quickly. If it is too low, it will not age properly.
If the temperature changes often, the cork will expand and contract. This may
lead to air getting into the wine. Keeping this in mind, never buy wine chilled
at a store, as you have no idea how long it has been that way. Also, don't keep
wine in your own refrigerator for more than 1 or 2 days.

Humidity can also damage wine. If the humidity is too low, the cork can dry
out. While a tipped bottle will keep one side moist, the rest of the cork can
become cracked and brittle.

Also, ensure the wine will be kept in a dark place, away from vibrations.
Colored bottles help keep the light out to some extent, but don't rely on the
bottle to keep the light out. Movement may cause the bottles to shift. Wine
needs to stay in contact with the cork so it will not dry out and crack, so
limit the movement the bottles are exposed to.

Wine Cellar Cooling Units
After you cellar is complete,
you can purchase a commercial wine cooling unit. Many of these work similarly to
a window AC unit. They vent through a wall rather than being installed in the
ceiling. However, if you are below ground or for some other reason cannot use a
window unit, there are commercial units that can be installed. These are
slightly more costly, but work well in those situations.

Every wine has an ideal aging time. If your wine cellar is built properly, it
will keep your wine for years to come.

About the Author

Jason Connors is a successful writer and wine connoisseur providing valuable tips and advice on wine cellar design, wine making, and wine basics. http://www.about-wine.net

Short Review on People Wine

If You Are A Wine Connoisseur You Have To Visit Napa Valley

California is a state that simply must be visited at least once in a lifetime. Whether you choose to travel alone or as a family, California is full o...

Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

People Wine Products we recommend

The FTD Patriotic Tribute Arrangement - Standard

This patriotic arrangement is a beautiful tribute to anyone who's served. A bold combination of red & white is accented with assorted greenery and a complementary bow. S30-3177S

Price: 109.99 USD

Sweet Wine
Champagne Wine
Wine Sauces