The Ciliegiolo Grape

The Ciliegiolo (cheeli-oh-JOL-oh) grape gets its name from an Italian word for cherry, a fruit that the Ciliegiolo grape resembles in its wine’s aroma and flavor.

Although traditionally used as a blending grape in Chianti, since around 2000 it has been used to make varietal wines that range from light (somewhat like a Pinot Noir) to big and complex.

Wines made from the Ciliegiolo grape tend to be somewhat low-acid and low-alcohol. It does not need much bottle aging and is quite drinkable young.

In Tuscany, Ciliegiolo is now being used to make fuller, more structured varietal wines, especially in southern Maremma Toscana.

Recent DNA analysis has shown that Ciliegiolo and a grape called ‘Calabrese di Montenuovo’ are the parents of Sangiovese, but further testing seems to be needed to definitively determine the ancestry.

Watch for the next Behind the Cork™ Wine Blog that will feature four Ciliegiolo-based wines from Maremma Toscanna. Cheers!

Once Again it's Beaujolais Nouveau Time!

Beaujolais Nouveau. Its name literally means 'new Beaujolais.' This wine is named for the village of Beaujeu in France, which is a small region just south of Burgundy.

On the third Thursday of each November, which is November 18th this year, France releases Beaujolais Nouveau wine to the world.

The 'new' part of this wine is due to the fact that the grapes used to make this wine are picked from the vineyards just a couple of months prior to its release! That's compared to most wines that spend at least a year or more going through the fermentation and aging process before being bottled and shipped to market.  But Beaujolais Nouveau gets from the vineyard to you in about two months!

Word has it that this wine was originally produced for the harvest workers in France to immediately thank them for all their hard work just after harvest was complete. But now its production is somewhere between 30-60 million bottles so that the entire world can enjoy.

Although there are more than 100 Beaujolais Nouveau festivals held each year in the Beaujolais region, the 'Les Sarmentelles' multi-day festival is said to be the biggest and most famous for celebrating the release of Beaujolais Nouveau. The festival includes music, dancing, fireworks and, yes, plenty of wine.

This wine is produced entirely from handpicked Gamay grapes and because it is so new, it is very fresh and fruity. Many describe Beaujolais Nouveau as having flavors of candied cherries, strawberries, red plum, bananas and bubble gum.

Beaujolais Nouveau is meant to be enjoyed young, not critiqued. So, pick up a bottle soon and give it a slight chill. Then raise a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau to the French harvest workers. It's Beaujolais Nouveau time! Cheers!

Lambrusco - The Sparkling Red Wine of Italy

Lambrusco is both a brightly colored grape variety and a sparkling red wine produced in Italy.

In the past, Lambrusco has been known as a cheap, bright and fizzy wine often served with ice cubes (remember the old ‘Riunite on ice’ commercials?) But, today there are top Lambruscos that barely resemble those sweet versions that flooded U.S. shelves in the 1970s and 1980s.

Lambrusco comes from Emilia-Romagna which is a large region that cuts across north-central Italy. Major production areas include Modena, Reggiano and Parma.

Historically, Lambrusco wines were widely produced in the methode traditionelle, a process requiring more care and attention because the second fermentation, that creates the bubbles, was done in the bottle. But, today, most Lambrusco wines are produced using the Charmant (or tank) method where it goes through its secondary fermentation in large steel tanks and is then bottled.

While Lambrusco is a grape variety, there is actually an extended family of varieties of grapes that can be used to produce Lambrusco that are all grouped under the “Lambrusco” category.

The styles of Lambrusco can still vary widely. They can be produced as either frizzante (gentle bubbles), or spumante (forceful bubbles) and be labeled Secco (dry), Amabile (slightly sweet) or Dolce (sweet).

Today, the best Lambruscos are dry (not sweet), have delicate aromas of violet and crisp red-berry flavors. They’re silky smooth sparkling wines that offer bright acidity. Most are also extremely well priced. So, give this Italian sparkling red wine a try. It pairs well with a lot of big, bold Italian hearty cuisines. Cheers!

The Four Styles of Valpolicella Wine

Valpolicella (val-polla-chellah) is an Italian wine region that covers 95 square miles across the western part of the Veneto region.

There are four primary styles of Valpolicella. In the order from least to most intensity they are: Valpolicella, Valpolicella Ripasso, Amarone della Valpolicella and Recioto della Valpolicella. These wines are all made with the same grapes (Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Molinara) but the wine-making techniques is what differentiates them.

So, here’s a brief overview of each style.

Valpolicella - This wine is fresh and fruity and the lightest style. It typically has bright aromas and sour cherry flavor that is so typical of many northern Italian red wines. It should be slightly chilled and enjoyed with lighter fare or simply as a refreshing fruity wine on a warm afternoon. Wines labelled as Valpolicella Classico come from the original Valpolicella zone. To be labelled as Valpolicella Superiore, the wine must be aged a minimum of one year in wood and have a minimum alcohol level of 12%

Ripasso - This style is just a bigger version of Valpolicella. It gains it added flavor because it is produced using the Ripasso method of wine making. It starts with the basics used in making the Valpolicella wine, but adds a second fermentation that takes advantage of the pomace - the leftover grape skins that remain after the grapes are pressed for the Amarone and Recioto styles that are described below. By doing this second fermentation with the dried pomace, this style of wine has raisin-like notes that give it a fuller, richer flavor.

Amarone - Amarone may translate to “big bitter” but don’t let that fool you. This style has concentrated flavors of dark fruit and raisins. This is achieved by drying the grapes on mats, racks (see photo) or hanging them from rafters for extended periods (weeks or months) after harvest. Known as the appassimento process, the dried fruit concentrates the flavors and sugars. The result is a wine with big flavor and alcohol levels that can reach up to 17% ABV.

Recioto - This is a dessert wine made from dried grapes. Similar to the process for used for Amarone, this fruit is dried for up to 200 days. This further concentrates the flavors and sugars. The dried grapes are then used to produce this wine but the fermentation is halted before all of the sugar is converted to alcohol. This results in a very sweet wine that still retains its natural acidity.

Ever Wonder About Nebbiolo Wine?

Nebbiolo is a grape that is grown almost exclusively in Italy. In the Piedmont region. And, most famously in Barolo and Barbaresco.

The Nebbiolo grape is named for the Italian word for fog which is “nebbia.” This grape thrives in the cool and foggy climates of Piemonte where altitudes can reach up to 1500 feet. Whether the grape is named for the foggy climate or the thick white bloom of yeast that forms on the grapes when ripe is the subject of debate.

The Nebbiolo grape was first documented in the fourteenth century but is believed to have been grown in the area long before that time.

Nebbiolo wines are known for their lighter color that is often described as brick red-orange or pale garnet, their delicate aromas, and their powerful tannins and pronounced acidity.

The classic Barolos are famous for their "tar and roses" aromas, their bright ruby color (which becomes garnet over time), their bold tannins, elevated acidity, and relatively high alcohol (a minimum of 13% but often above 15% ABV). Barolos must be aged at least 38 months with a minimum of 18 months in the barrel. Riserva Barolos must be aged for at least 5 years.

Barbaresco has a slightly warmer, drier and milder climate than Barolo. This means its Nebbiolo grapes tend to ripen earlier than those in Barolo. Thus, the wines tend to be lower in tannin and a bit more drinkable at an earlier age. But there is still plenty of acidity and tannins to make Barbaresco wines age-worthy. Barbaresco is characterized by its rich, spicy flavors and perfumed sweetness and is often considered a bit more elegant and refined than the more robust wines from Barolo. The wines of Barbaresco must have a minimum alcohol content of 12.5 percent and undergo two years of aging, one of which must be spent in wooden barrels. Barbaresco Riserva must be aged for four years, with one of those years in wood.

While the Nebbiolo wines of Barolo and Barbaresco are best known, they can be expensive. It is said that the neighboring region of Roero within Piemonte produces wines of equal intensity and structure at a fraction of the price. While the wines of Barolo and Barbaresco must be 100% Nebbiolo, the wines of Roero must include a minimum 95 percent Nebbiolo. They must also be aged for 20 months, of which at least six must be in oak barrels. A further 12 months is added to this minimum if the winemaker is seeking Riserva status.

If you love the delicacy of Pinot Noir and the robustness of a Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, try a Barolo or a Barbaresco. But, you might want to give the younger ones a good hour or more in a decanter before serving. Cheers!