Italian Wines

An interesting map of the wine regions of Italy

I tried 5 Italian wines at the Armagh Food & Cider Festival, particularly at the Long Meadow Cidery 5 course dinner held on Sept 6, 2024 at their very fine Bramley Barn dining room. Five wines were sampled; one with each course. I had not heard of any of the italian wines. The two whites to accompany the starter and entree were okay. Both were quit minerally but not outsatnding. Of the three reds sampled the best was the Canace Nero di Troia from Puglia.It was rich, bold and spicy with light tannins and a lingering berry flavour. Excellent! It went very well with the beef main. 8.5/10

The whites were Vesevo Falanghina from Campania (like an unoaked chardonnay but more minerally) and Pipoli Greco/Fiano from Basilicata (had more body than the Vesevo and a little more minerally – quite nice). The other two reds were Edizione (very dry and too tannic) and Il Nostro Vin Santo Chianti (which was not a good choice to accompany the dessert as it was not sweet enough)

Wine Glasses

There are so many shapes and sizes mode for wine, many of which are intended to enhance the drinking experience. From bulbous still wine glasses to the slender Champagne glasses. 

One unusual design is the sipping glass for port. It is supposed to improve the continued taste of the wine by not disturbing the surface which thought to over-oxidize the wine.

Port wine sippers