The proposal of the day is Adamo Bio winery Sicilian white wines trilogy. As it is in the cinema field, in this case the wines produced by the wise Vincenzo Adamo are a different interpretation and evolution of the same subjects (the Sicilian organic white wines) in the same reference context, that is to say the territory ( in this case Alcamo area in the west of Sicily). This is the best way to catch all the properties and enologic shades of a territory, in reference both to the wine varieties and local origin denominations as the Grillo and the Alcamo DOC (Italy most ancient DOC), that the international wine varieties as it is in the case of the Sauvignon Costa dell’Ape. The approach in Adamo wines is towards the natural expression of the terroir and the vineyards, without building excessively the wines in the winery in their consistencies and aromas, through the organic certifies agricultures methods without treatments that could damage the ground and the marvelous Valle d’Alcamo.

Cantina della Volta: the Champenoise method Made in Emilia. Soon an important new entry will join the OIP catalogue, Cantina della Volta is a company which focuses on quality and innovation, whose excellence has already been certified by recognitions by the some of the greatest expert of the field and guides as Luca Gardini, Slow Wine, L’Espresso and Gambero Rosso. The winery takes its name from the river bank of the Naviglio di Bomporto, in Modena, where already during the Renaissance the commercial ships used to do the typical turning ( Turning= Volta) coming back to Modena city center. The company philosophy is transmitting the value of the territory through the Champenoise method, developing in two main directions: - An high quality Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC sparkling wines line, one of the few made up with the refermentation in bottle of the Champenoise method instead of the one in autoclave of the Charmat method. - The others are a reinterpretation from an Emilia perspective of the great Champagne, through the use of the classic wine varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir cultivated on a hill 650 m over the sea level, in a terroir whose composition limestone-clay-gypsum (on the surface) reminds of the one of the Northern France region. A reality that focuses on the production of wines respecting absolute qualitative and standards and criteria, without any compromise towards the tastes of the mass market, proposing an high level, original offer supported by a well defined idea.

Valpolicella certainly means Amarone, but not only. Torre D’Orti is the one who remembers it us, a winery for which quality is a constant choice. From the strategic raised position, to the selection of the fittest wine varieties, to the adoption of far fewer yields than the ones established by the disciplinaries., in order to use only the best grapes transferring the best of the territory. Torre d’Orti Valpolicella DOC is a red wine with purple shades, initially the red fruit (cherry) is the prevailing aroma, than decise but harmonious spices (clover and cinnamon) arrive. At the palate is is soft, velvety and not too tannic, with final vanilla and wood notes deriving from the barrel refinement accompanied by a perfect acidity which give it great drinkability. VALPOLICELLA TORRE D'ORTI MORARI

Today we’re in Friuli, precisely in San Quirino, in the north-western part of the region. It’s here that we find Russolo winery, namesake of the owner family, which has been dealing with the enology world for more than a century, evolving its own activity up to the current dimension of independent winery since 1974. The production give space both to regional wines as Ribolla Gialla and Refosco, but also to international wine varieties like Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot and others, a choice that has given great results in the case of Russolo Rino Doi Raps. Doi Raps is a Friulian white wine that shows a straw yellow limpid color, the main aromas are mature tropical and white pulp fruit, with some honey note. Round and full bodied in relation to the category it belongs to thanks to the late harvest and finally a light acidity to refresh the palate.

When we talk about Primitivo di Manduria and other Apulian wine varieties in general, Cantine San Marzano is a warranty both of quality and variety. The Apulian winery, indeed, not only produces many different varieties of Primitivo di Manduria doc, but it tries to experiment other wines too, always remaining coherent to the use of local grapes. And that’s how Cantine San Marzano Cinquanta Collezione is born, a name deriving from the minimum age of the vines from which the wine made grapes derive, a wine that literally tastes like Apulia. It could only be like this, with a blend of Primitivo and Negroamaro that gives fruit, spices and characteristic liquor aromas, while at the palate the structure is well defined and certainly present, full bodied, soft, but in a smaller dimension compared to the single variety primitivo of the same winery, making it more towards an important table wine (perfect with red meat and roasted meat) than a meditation wine.

Cartagho Nero d'Avola - Mandrarossa is a Sicilian wine that doesn’t leave indifferent, starting from the name, deriving from the historical Carthage. A city, or better a population that in the ancient times widely influenced the cultural development of Sicily. Indeed, to underline the historical to the territory, the wine is a pure Nero d’Avola, which is one of the Sicilian wine varieties par excellence. In the past it was seen as a blended wine, with the passing of time it has shown more and more potential, personal and pleasant shades when in selective or careful wine making conditions. Cartagho Mandrarossa has been awarded with three glasses by gambero rosso, a further testament of the quality offered by the Sicilian winery. Intense red ruby color, the 12 months of barrique exalt the characteristics that the Nero d’Avola acquires during the refinement: mature fruit and spices aromas, while at the palate the 14% alcoholic volume are perfectly integrated in the aromatic range that goes from the vanilla to an almost floral note (very uncommon), maintaining a well velvety and direct tannin structure.

The Super Tuscan are wines born from the union between the Tuscan local wine variety par excellence, the Sangiovese, and the international ones as the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and manny others. What in the 60s was considered almost an heresy by many people in the filed, that is to say the contamination of the local wine varieties, has proven to be a precious intuition towards innovation. Bolgheri is an area particularly renowned for the production of these blends, as its ground composition reminds of Burgundy, fit for the cultivation of international wine varieties in addition to the Sangiovese itself. It is the Bolgheri DOC denomination itself where the Super Tuscan have decided to reunite, despite the criteria aren’t still well defined, indeed they do not only have to be bland, but also endowed with an important structure. Bolgheri Rosso Felciaino - Az. Agricola Giovanni Chiappini is surely part of this category, a Bolgheri DOC and Super Tuscan wine, a blend of San Giovese 10%, Merlot 40%, Cabernet sauvignon 50%, an high level wine according to the experts too (92 James Suckling points). Red ruby color, at the nose the red fruit and spices notes are clear, at the palate the entrance is soft and lightly sweet, a good velvety tannin that certifies its structure and predisposition to the aging, finally a vanilla note that I’ve rarely find as pleasant at this one.

Wine and culture have always been strictly linked, indeed the enology of a territory is the expression of the same and its inhabitants, becoming automatically a heritage. A partnership that is well represented by Tenute Orestiadi, a wine cellar born in Gibellina, a village in Trapani, where a local viticulturists has established a collaboration with Fondazione Orestiadi, an important cultural institution. This is how is born a company with mission of promoting the territory identity through the Sicilian wine varieties, underlining the meeting between wine and art. As a consequence the production is oriented towards the enhancement of Sicilian typical wines as Nero D’Avola, Perricone, Frappato, Zibibbo, Grillo and so on. Recently the PERRICONE TENUTE ORESTIADI and the Frappato Tenute Orestiadi have been rewarded with the two glass Gambero Rosso, moreover the AIS (Association Italian Sommellier) has inserted in the Vitae 2019 guide the FRAPPATO TENUTE ORESTIADI, whom after the wine tasting have been attributed three vines (among 85 and 88 points out of 100) proving to be a great wine at an affordable price.