Italian Wine NightFly Club Wine Seminar

7 May 2009

Mitchell Dong AB ’75Italian Wine Consumer

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Introduction

Welcome to Italian wine night Sample my favorite Italian wines Prosecco, gavi, pinot grigio Chianti classico, barolo, moscato I am an Italian wine consumer Lived in Italy for 15 summers I am not in the wine business

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Tonight’s WinesStarter ( figs/ proscuito) Prosecco di Conegliano - Canella (means cinnamon) Prosecco Vigneto Giardino - Adami (garden vineyard)Antipasto ( mozzarella/ cheese, salami/ bread sticks) Gavi di Gavi – Cristina Ascheri Gavi Principessa – BanfiPrima Piatti (risotto con fungi) Chianti Classico – Isole e Olena Chianti Classico – Villa CafaggioSecondo Piatti (carne) Barbaresco Martinenga – Marchesi di Gresy Barolo – Gaja SperssFormaggio (Cheese) Pinot Grigio – Terlano Pinot Grigio – Alois LagederDolce (gelato italiano) Moscato d’Asti – Cristina Ascheri Moscato d’Asti - Alasia

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Geographical Characteristics of Italy for Wine Production Extensive latitude: from

Alps to Africa

Long shoreline: moderate climate

Extensive mountains and foothills: wide range of climate and soils

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Italy

Sud(South)

Centrale

Venezie(Northeast)

Nordouest

• 4 Wine Areas• 20 Wine Regions

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Prosecco di Conegliano - Canella

DOC No date – younger the better (so it doesn’t lose bubbles) Alcohol: 11% Varietal: Prosecco Region: Veneto (near Venezia) Color: Brilliant straw yellow Light, Bubbly, Clear, Crisp, Lemony Fun, Easy, Simple Bouquet is tangy, fruity Can’t taste the alcohol $20 (less than Champagne)

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Prosecco Vigneto Giardino - Adami

DOC Year: 2005 Alcohol: 11% Varietal: Prosecco Region: Veneto (near Venezia) Color: Straw yellow Spumante, Clear, Light, Fizzante Drier, More texture, More serious Slightly bitter, but slight hint of sweetness Taste more of alcohol Vigneto Giardino translated = Vineyard Garden $25 (less than Moet & Chandon - $40-50)

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Italian Wine Laws (Lege) Vino da Tavola

-VDT -Simple table wines -No vintage date -No varietal name

Indicazione Geografica Tipica -IGT -1992 -French Vin du Pays -Specific region -Varietal type -Vintage -Super Tuscans -120 IGTs.

Denominazione di Origine Controllata -DOC -Registered by government-Zone of origin -Alcohol content -Age -311 DOCs

Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita-DOCG -Most stringent category -Grower and bottler -Place of bottling -Alcohol strength -Zone of origin -Gov't seal of approval -32 DOCGs

DOC

VDT

IGT

DOCG

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Gavi di Gavi – Christina Ascheri

DOCG Year: 2007 Alcohol: 12.5% Varietal: 100% Cortese Region: Piedmont (Piemonte) Color: Pale straw yellow Very popular label, a best seller No bouquet, Almost no legs Nice front After taste – slightly bitter Easy to drink, Very friendly Light color First on white list in restaurant for

$30-45 Retails for $20 in store (good value)

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Gavi Principessa - Banfi DOCG Year: 2007 Alcohol: 12% Varietal: 100% Cortese Gavi Region: Piedmont (Piemonte) Color: Pale yellow Fruity, Fresh, Crisp, Airy No alcohol taste Hint of berries No alcohol bouquet More acidic than other – gentle acidity Note small sentiment More flavor, More sophisticated, more

complex $19 – good value

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Key Italian Wine Varietals – Bianco (White)

Cortese - Gavi- Piemonte

Pinot Grigio- Crispness and cleanness- Hugely mass-produced wine- Delicate and mild- Region: Trentino-Alto Adige (Alps)

Moscato- Piedmont- Frizzante

Trebbiano- Most widely planted white varietal- Abruzzo

Tocai Friulano- Sauvignon Blanc

Pigato- Liguria

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Key Italian Wine Varietals – Rosso (Red)

Sangiovese

- Chianti Classico

- Brunello di Montalcino

- Rosso di Montepuciano Nebbiolo (meaning “little frog”)

- Piedmont

- Barolo

- Barbaresco Montepulciano

- Abruzzo Barbera

- Asti

- Alba Corvina

- Veneto

- Valpolicella

Nero d’Avola

- Sicily Dolcetto (“little sweet one”)

- Piedmont Negroamaro

- Puglia

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Chianti Classico – Isole e Olena

DOCG Year: 2005 Alcohol: 13.5% - high Varietal: Sangiovese Region: Tuscany (Toscana) Color: Light Red Full bouquet Sweet bouquet, cherries Full pallet, Upfront Not over bearing, Not acidic Long legs Goes down smoothly, Delicious No aftertaste $25

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Chianti Classico – Villa Cafaggio

DOCG Year: 2006 Alcohol: 13% Varietal: Sangiovese Region: Tuscany (Toscana) Color: Bright cherry red Deep alcohol scent Wonderful taste, Lovely wine, Delicious Smooth, no alcohol taste No burning sensation, Not heavy Hint of acidity Not as full or as complex as other Chianti A little thin, aftertaste not as pleasant $ 25

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Italian Wine Vocabulary Bianco - white. Rosso - red. Rosato - rose Secco - dry. Dolce - fully sweet (technically, with between 5 and 10% of residual sugar). Bicchiere - glass. Bottiglia - bottle. Economico - cheap. Troppo caro - very expensive. Frizzante - slightly fizzy, but with much less pressure than sparkling wine. Spumante - sparkling. Riserva - DOC wine. Vino da tavola - the regulation term for non-DOC wines Uva - grape. Enoteca - wine store.

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Barbaresco Martinenga – Marchesi di Gresy

DOCG Year: 2004 Alcohol: 13.5% high (note: same as Chianti) Varietal: Nebbiolo Region: Piedmont (Piemonte) Color: Brilliant garnet red Note sediment – need to decant Intense bouquet – slight alcoholic scent Grabs you, punches you in the face Acidic, tanic - but very drinkable Full body, good complexity Need to drink while eating – not for tasting without food Great with steak Long, persistent aftertaste – 15 to 30 minutes after Strongest of Italian reds $75 – among the more expensive of the Italian reds

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Barolo – Gaja Sperrs

DOCG Year: 1996 Alcohol: 13.5% Varietal: Nebbiolo Region: Piedmont (Piemonte) Color: Black-colored Long, long legs Bouquet is sweet and perfumed Note sediment – need to decant No scent of alcohol Powerful and very strong – for winter night Harmonious finish Must drink with eating food, not a stand

alone drink like Chianti or Gavi Gaja – one of the best Italian vineyards Collectible wine $150 bottle

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Wine Statistics

Germany France

Great Britain United States

Major Importers of Italian Wine Germany: 32% France: 25% Great Britain: 9% United States: 7%

Major Wine Producers, Imports & ExportsTotal

(m hectoliters)

Exports

(m hectoliters)

Imports

(m hectoliters)

Per Capita Consumption

(L/capita)

France 55 14 5 56

Italy 50 13 1 48

Spain 35 7 <1 35

US 25 2 5 9

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Pinot Grigio - Terlano

DOCG Year: 2007- good year for all Italian whites Alcohol: 13% Varietal: Pinot Grigio Region: Trentino-alto Adige (Alps) Color: Light straw No legs Full bodied - typical of Pinot Grigio No simple, more complex Slightly acidic Hits front of pallet $ 30 - More expensive than other Pinot Grigio

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Pinot Grigio – Alois Lageder

IGT Year: 2007 Alcohol: 12.5% Varietal: Pinot Grigio Region: Trentino-Alto Adige (Alps) Color: Brilliant straw yellow Dolomiti Less acidic Full body for a white Hits front of pallet Fruity, Light, Crisp $24 – good value

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Moscato d’Asti – Cristina Ascheri

DOCG Year: 2008 Alcohol: 7% Varietal: Moscato Region: Piedmont (Piemonte) Color: Golden yellow Like apple juice Sweet like elderflower and

apricots Aromatic bouquet, fresh Good with dolce (sweets) The younger the better, like

Prosecco $22

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Moscato d’Asti - Alasia

DOCG Year: 2007 Alcohol: 5% Varietal: Moscato Region: Piedmont (Piemonte) Color: Light gold Softer bouquet, like honey Intensely sweet Good with ice cream, pastries $16 - better value

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Notes