From the Vias tasting

I hope I learned my lesson and will eat a big lunch before the next round of tastings. Even though I spit all the wine, some of the alcohol still gets through and it’s easy after a half hour to feel the wine. Which makes it harder to pay attention and makes the long line of wine still to get through look even longer. Eat big meals before wine tasting people!

Some of the wines at the tasting I found interesting were from Sicily and Sardinia (or as Vias puts it “Sicilia” and “Sardegna.”

From Sicily were the De Bartoli Grappoli del Grillo and the Pietra Nera both from the 2007 vintage. Both whites were capped with glass corks — a novelty tableside, but the outer packaging is very awkward to open.

From Sicily

Christian Troy of Polaner Selections was back and of the wines he showed me the most interesting was the Valle dell’Acate 2005 Cerasuolo di Vittorai.

Cerasuolo di Vittorai is a DOCG on Sicily, that uses the nero d’avola and frappato grapes. (From OCW: “frappato is lesser Sicilian red grape variety, which can add fruit and freshness to the more powerful nero d’avola in the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOC.” Also, ” In the southeast of the island, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, made from a blend of at least 40 per cent of frappato and no more than 60 per cent of Nero d’Avola (here known as Calabrese), has improved in recent years.” )