ITALIAN FOODIE: The Wines of Piedmont

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The Wines of Piedmont

Prized Barolo Vineyards Near ALBA

in PIEDMONT

Of all the great wine regions of Italy, the greatest wine country of all, the region of Piedmont is probably the most diverse .. The best known wines of the region include Barolo and Barbaresco, which are both made from the Nebbiolo grape 100 % .. Gavi is another wine of great popularity with American drinkers and of the World, and is a white made of the Cortese grape. Barbera is well known on America and Dolcetto and Gattinara as well. Barbera is made of the Barbera grape and Dolcetto is made from Dolcetto, while Gattinara is made from Nebbiolo. Other wines include Arneis, a white, Brachetto d'Acqui (Sweet Sparkling Red), Moscato d'Asti (Sweet Sparkling White)

BAROLO & BARBARESCO

Since time immemorial Nebbiolo has been the most highly-prized vine and the wine-growing emblem of Alba and the Langa, and when it is matched with a great wine-making terroir it is capable of expressing itself at sublime levels in wines of remarkable personality, intense bouquet, great smooth tannins, and outstanding possibilities of evolution and resistance over time. This is Barolo wine.

GIACOMO CONTERNO

Considered by Many as The Pinnacle of BAROLO Wines

And Barolo's Top Producer

My Personal Favorite

BAROLO
BARTOLO MASCARELLO

The GREAT BARTOLO MASCARELLO

And His Daughter

Maria Theresa

"SEE This SIGN" ???

Pay ATTENTION !!!

And Take The ADVICE !

Do Not Drink BAROLO or BARBARESCO

or BRUNELLO

THAT Has Been HEAVILY OAKED In Small FRENCH OAK BARRIQUE BARRELS ..

The Small Barrels Distroy The Delicate Character of NEBBIOLO and SANGIOVESE Based Wines'Like BAROLO, BARBARESCO, and BRUNELLO, The GREATEST WINES of ITALY ..

WINES Like BAROLO, BARBARESCO, and BRUNELLO are Best Aged in Large Slovenian Oak Barrels that are much gentler and better suited to these wines ..

Remeber "No Barrique" !!!

And No Berlusconi !!!

BAROLO

La SPINONA "SORI GEPIN"

A Single Vineyard BAROLO

That is Resonably Priced

And as good or Better Than Many Barolo's

That are 2 or 3 Times The Price

BARBARESCO

Barbaresco is one of Italy's great premier wines. Barbaresco like Barolo are made of 100 % Nebbiolo grapes and of the highest quality of standards .. Barbaresco is every bit the equal of Barolo but often in the minds of many plays second fiddle to Barolo that is by no means true, but is a unjust perception of people that really don't know that much about wine. In a way this status of Barbaresco as 2nd Fiddle to Barolo is a blessing in disguise for thos of us in-the-know who do know our wine. The blessing is in the fact that Barolo is more popular and sells more and more easily than does Barbaresco, the wholesale and thus retail prices of Barbaresco generally run a quarter to a third less than Barolo wines, and as I've said and anyone who knows Italian Wine well will tell you, Barbaresco is every bit the equal of Barolo .. So if you read this and didn't know before, now you do. So next time you are in a restaurant and see a Barolo for $120 a bottle and a Barbaresco for $90, go for the Barbaresco.

Don't get me wrong, I love Barolo, and have druck many fine ones and all the great ones over the years .. Luckily, being in the business, I don't have to pay and usually I don't have to buy wine. It is given or bought for me .. When I do pay, because of the equal greatness of the wine and the fact that Barbresco is about a third cheaper, I go for the Barbaresco.

Basta! Nuff said.

BARBARESCO MARENGO MARCHESI di GRESY

Is One of THE BEST

And One of My FAVORITES

"TRY IT"

The 2000 and 2001 Vintages of BAROLO and BARBARESCO were

Two of the GREATEST VINTAGES Ever for BAROLO and BARBARESCO

PS ... A little secret. The 1996 vintage of Barolo & Barbaresco was not nearly as highly exalted as 2000, 2001, and 1990 but every bit the equal and at much lower prices. I drank many wonderful 1996 vintage BAROLOS and BARBARESCO and just loved them. 1996 is my favorite vintage ever for Barolo and Barbaresco. I had the great fortune to drink many oustanding 1990 Barolos and Barbarescos as well as those of 2000 and 2001, but the vintage of 1996 for Piemont is still my Favorite ...

ANGELO GAJA Makes Great BARBARESCO

and is the Most Famous and Most Esteemed of all Barbaresco Producers

His Wines are Wonderful and Highly Esteemed but I'm Sorry to say are not

Worth The Rediculously OUTRAGEOUS PRICES THEY CHARGE.

You Can't Buy a GAJA BARBARESCO for less Than $450 in a restaurant and that is at the low-end. They are usuually $650 a bottle and up .. It's all MARKETING and HIPE !!!

If people are DUMB Enough to pay these outrageous prices, the importers and distributors who set the pprice, along with Angelo Gaja are gonna go for the Gold. But beleive me, you can normally get a bottle of Marcesi di Gresy or similar Barbaresco like from my friend Italo of Castello di Neive for about $90 to $105 a bottle as opposed to a bottle of Gaja Barbaresco for $450 to $650 a bottle .. These other Barbarescos that will cost you about one-hundred dollars are every bit as good as the Gaja ones that cost $500 or more .. "Beleive me, It's the Truth." !!!

EVERYDAY MORE AFFORDABLE PIEDMONTESE WINES

Much of the wine mentioned thus far are more expensive prestige wines .. More affordable and everday drinking wines in Piedmont are plentiful. Wines such as whites like Gavi, Cortese, Arneis, with sparlkers of Spumante, and reds like Barbera, Dolcetto, Freisa, Ruche and Grigilino .. The last 3 mentioned are pretty rare and pretty much are only found in Piedmont, so if you're looking for something new and different and out of the everyday norm, try one of these. I especially love Ruche when I can get my hands on some. Ruch is a lovely light to medium bodied Piedmontese Red that has lovely aromatic red berry fruit flavors in the mouth and goes well with just about anything including fish if you like a red while eating some seafood.

Dolcetto is known to Americans and others around the world. Dolcetto, meaning "Little Sweet One" is not a sweet wine and is always femented dry. The flavor profile is of Black Fruits and Liquorice, with sometimes hints of prune .. Dolcetto goes well with Pasta with Meat Ragu, Bue al Barolo (Piedmontese Beef Braised in Barolo), grilled meats and braised rabbit or chicken ..

Barbera, incomparison to Dolcetto is a bit more popular and better known to Americans, the English and others around the world .. In general, Barbera is a little lighter in body than Dolcetto, with nice garnet collor as opposed to the darker black fruit of Dolcetto. Barbera when made in a lighter style, usually exhibits Cherry, Bueberry, and Rasberries on the palate. If made in a bigger more conentrated style Barbera can sometimes exhibit black fruit flavors such as Black Berries and Black Couurant .. Teh preferable style of true Barbera should be the lighter Barberas of light to medium body as opposed to a more international type of wine that is bigger, fatter, and full bodied does not represent true Barbera of Piedmont, though their are a number of them produced there. And of course besides being bigger and fatter in the mouth, they are the same in the wallet, bigger and fatter prices .. Go with the true Barbera, light to meium body and price ...

MICHELE CHIARLO

MAKES BOTH STYLES

Average Price $10.99

Michele Chiarlo Barbera "La Court"

average Price $35.95

GUESS Which Is The TRUER BARBERA ?

And The One I Like Better ....

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

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ROCCO'S RESTAURANT CLOSING .. CARBONE and TORRISI to Take Over ., PRINCE STREET PIZZA OPENS

Prince Street Pizza opens today, where else but on Prince Street in Noho in the former Ray's Pizza. Thee "Original" Ray's Pizza that is. Sad to see it go after all these years, but it had slipped and the counter guys where amongst the worst in the city. You need cordial, upbeat, friendly guys serving up Pizza, and these guys were the opposite in every respect. In other words, "Horrible," which tends to put a damper on what should be a good pizza eating experience.

Yes, I'm sad to see this place go. I hate to see any long established beloved establishment go. Most times you lose a great place and nothing good replaces it. Worst of all, you might get another Bank, CVS, Duane Read, some sort of overpriced clothing boutique, or a dreaded Subway Sandwich Shop. Occasionally they might put in a equally desirable business such as a good cafe or good affordable restaurant (no overpriced Trendite place wanted). In the case of the sad closing of Ray's Pizza on Prince Street, another Pizzeria is opening, Prince Street Pizza. "Let's hope it's good."

In the equally sad case of one of Greenwich Villages last few remaining Old-School Italian Restaurant (VERY SAD), Rocco's on Sullivan Street will be going out of business soon. Fortunately something great will take its place, in all likelihood anyway as the team of Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone of Torris Italian Specialties fame is taking over the space, and you can be assured these guys with great taste, experience and know-how will not ruin the place. It will probably be even better with the Carbone/Torrisi touch which I like to describe as "Updated Old-School Italian-American." And these guys do a great job. Masters in their trade they are. They have just recently opened their second sucessful project in "Parm" next door to their original spot Torrisi, to booming sucess. The new spot in the former Rocco's on Sullivan Street (Mario Batali's first gig in New York) is sure to do the same. Which is to be wonderful, and a huge success.

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

ITALIAN AMERICAN ... WHAT IS IT?

There has long been a debate, fights, and Mud-Slinging in regards to Italian and Italian-American

food served in restaurants in New York and the rest of the U.S.. Culinary Snobs, people who "Think" they know what they are talking about and what not. I can set the record straight, being an

Italian-American who has been eating Italian and Italian-American food for more than forty years, who has been professional Chef and someone who has eaten all over Italy on some 15 trips to the great peninsular. In addition to studying Italian Food in Italy for some 25 years, I am constantly reading all sorts of articles , cookbooks, and historical facts on this subject, in addition to being one of the countries foremost authorities on Italian Wine.

Anyway, let me tell you. I myself was once a uninformed Food Snob who badmouthed and was slightly disdainful of unauthentic Italian food being served in restaurants all over the city. That's just in restaurants. Of course I Loved eating Sunday Sauce, Eggplant Parmigiano, and Meatballs that my aunts made at our frequent family get together s. And on the occasions that we weren't at one of the family's homes but in an Italian restaurant in Lodi or Garfield, I usually ordered Chicken or Veal Parmigiano. Yes I loved it, but these dishes, for me at the time (1985-1993) had their place, and it was not in the kitchen or on the plates of any serious Italian Restaurant in Manhattan.

Eventually as I learned more of the history of food in New York, Italy, and the World, I realized that there was actually a real true Italian-American Cuisine and that it was completely valid.

Do you realize that if you think there is not a true valid Italian-American Cuisine, then you also must concede that there is No True French Cuisine, because the origins of what we now know as French food and Cuisine is really Italian. Yes, I said Italian. For the food and cuisine of French was quite primitive and did not begin to form into what we now know as French Food and French Cuisine until Caterina Medici of the Noble Florentine Family of the Medici married the King of France and brought her Florentine Chefs with her to the French Court way back in the 15th Century. So there. Many dishes which most people think of as French in origin, like Duck ala Orange, Bechamel, and others, are really Italian. "So there!"

Anyway, back to Italian-American food. Food and cuisines are constantly changing and evolving. This is how Florentine Chefs of Italy, went to France with the newly crowned French Queen who was of the Italian Peninsular in one Katherine Medici and taught the French how to cook. Thus Italians immigrating to the United States in the early 20th Century brought their ingredients and techniques from mother Italy to cook the dishes from their homeland, with some modifications do to financial issues (being poor) and the unavailability of certain ingredients, and started forming what would one day be known as Italian-American food (Cuisine).

"to be Continued"

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

NEW YORK...BLEECKER STREET, GRENWICH VILLAGE'S BEST #1 DOLLAR A SLICE PIZZA ..PERCY"S PIZZA

The latest entry into the DOLLAR a SLICE PIZZA "PERCY'S PIZZA" on Dollar Slice is phenomenal. It's Top Notch and Superior to the likes of JOE'S PIZZA just a mere 200 feet away from this wonderful new establishment.

The Pizza at Percy's is just about absolute perfection. The way real pizza should be, perfect dough that is cooked to crisp perfection with just the right balance of tomato to cheese ratio. This slice is tasty, and at a Dollar a pop, one of New York's greatest culinary deals. And as for the other Buck a Slice guys, they just don't measure up. They're pretty good for a Dollar, but the slice at Percy's is Superior, even up against $2.75 a Slice joints like the famed Joe's Pizza just feet away. Percy's blows them away. They have a couple great Pizzaiolos, one from Sardegna, the other from Cairo of all places. Percy's is a simple unassuming place, that's nice and comfortable and serves up some of the Best Pizza in town, and at a Buck a Pop, you just can't beat it. I Love it, and hope it last.

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

A 1980 Vintage of COL Di'ORCIA BRUNELLO Holds Its Own... Tasty !!!!

Classic Tarry Tobacco nose for such an old wine, 30 years old. The wine was in great shape with a surprisingly dark garnet color with just a little bricking around the edges. Tar and Tobacco pervading in the mouth, still hinting of Violets and a good amount of fruit of particular Alcohol Soaked Cherries. The wine was most enjoyable and a pleasure to drink. It's probably a few years beyond its prime, but should still hold its own for another 5 years or so if you have a bottle that is in as good of shape as this.

Drunk at Southern Wines Grand tasting in conjunction with the Food Network, New York, September 30, 2011.

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

BORDEAUX BLEND from GREVE in CHIANTI Takes TOP PRIZE

Reporting from the Winebow Annual Grand Portfolio Tasting.

As usual a great event of a couple thousand fine wines from around the World. This guy always focuses primarily on the Italians with a few French, Ports, Champagne, and a few others thrown in here and there. The tasting did not disappoint and one big surprise from some friends in Greve, the Fiore Family led by father and famed wine maker Vittorio Fiore, son Jyuri (Vineyard Manager and co/Winemaker), and brother Roberto who was my first Wine-Salesman from Winebow when I had my Bacaro Bar Cichetti back in the late 90's. Well, I spotted Vittorio doing some tasting on his own and started up a little chat. Asking him how his sons Jyuri and Roberto are doing and he said his son Robert whom I haven't seen in years was at the tasting and was manning their table.

So I went over to the table with Vittorio and said hello to Roberto. Of course I tasted their famed Super Tuscan wine Il Carbionone. Awesome as always. I spotted another wine on the table and as I looked at it, it seemed to have a typical Bordeaux labeling to it. But I also noticed the Podere Scalette log on it so I knew it was one of the Fiore wines. After tasting the Il Carbionone I asked Roberto if that was a new wine the had. He said, "Yes it's a special project form Jyuri (brother who is vineyard manager and c0-winemaker along with father Vittorio). Roberto said that Jyuri was a bit tired working with just Sangiovese and wanted to make a Bordeaux Style wine. So the Fiores planted some Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petitie Verdot. The wine, called Capogatto is make from equal parts of these 4 grapes. Well, let me tell you. The wine blew my mind. Awesome and perfect in every way. This wine had some nice flavor of all sorts of mixed berries both red and black and was in "Perfect Balance" of Acid, no harsh tannins, fruit flavor and nice medium weight. I loved it and told Roberto and Vittorio with all sincerity. And in the end, after tasting wine for another two hours, it was this wine that won top prize in my book for the best wine of the day, and I would give it a score of 94 on a 100 point scale. Absolutely marvelous.

And speaking of marvelous, I've just to mention the dessert wines of Fausto Maculan, who makes arguably, Italy's best dessert wines of all, and they are his specialty. When I came upon the Maculan table I spotted Fautos's daughter Angela, said hello and asked her if I could try the Brentino which has a special memory for me, as I always remmeber when my cousin Joe and I drank it one night back at the Hotel after a long day of flying from New York to Milano, grabbing a car at the airport and driving to Bardolino to spend the night before heading to Verona and Vinitaly the next day. Anyway, it was Joe's first trip to Vinitaly and our cousin Tony was along with us as well. After we checked into our hotel, we went out for lunch, then went to a nice litle Enoteca where we had a couple glasses of wine with some Salumi and cheese. In Italy, in a wine bar (Enoteca) you can buy bottles of wine to take home as well as consuming in the wine bar. Something you can not do in the states. This place had some really fine wine and Joe bought a bottle of Brentino, along with a bottle of Guado al Tasso, and a bottle of Sassicaia. After lunch and the wine bar, we all went back to the hotel to rest-up before going out to dinner. We had a nice dinner, went to another Enoteca after that and drank a great bottle of Amarone Brigaldara. "Awesome." We then went to some little cocktail lounge and had a couple drinks before heading back to the hotel.

We were back at the hotel for about 25 minutes when I heard a knock on my door. It was cousin Joe with a bottle of Brentino in hand. We popped the cork. We drank the Brentino and chatted about the day and the rest of the trip to come. It was just one of the great unplanned little time that you never forget. We had a great time drinking the Brentino and chatting at a hotel in Bardolino on the beautiful shores of Lake Garda 45 minutes from the Lovely little city of Verona. Just Great! So that's how I go off on a tangent about Brentino and drinking a bottle of the stuff in Bardolino at Lago de Garda.

After tasting the Brentino, which was nice, but could never taste as good as the one in the Valpolicella Classico area of Italy with cousin Joe. "No way!"

So I moved on to the renowned dessert wines of Fausto Maculan. I spot this wine Madoro and ask Angela if it's in the style of Recioto, the celebrated dessert wine of Valpolicella Classico and older brother of Amarone. Angelo said, yes it was in the same style but instead of Corvina, Rondenella, and Molinara, the Maculan "Madoro" is made from 80% Marzemina grapes and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. I tasted it and absolutely adored it. Near perfection. The wine had a bit of sweetness but not too much. Just the right amount in fact. It was rich and full, and in perfect balanced. I Loved it, and put this in my top 6 wines of the tasting along with the Capogatto from the Fiore's, a tasty Cote de Broilly from Chateau Thivin, Maculan Dindarello, and Maculan Torcoloto. All fabulous, outstanding wines. Wines to get excited about. Anyway, it was on to tasting the Maculan "Dindarello" made from 100% Moscato grapes. The wine was in perfect balance and tasting of Orange Blossoms, Honey, and Apricots. Yummy, to say the least as was the famed Maculan "Torcolato" made from 100% Vespaiola and tasting of Peaches, Honey, and Wild Flowers. Again, ummy and close to perfection. Wow!

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

PATSY'S and NEW YORK PIZZA

When it comes to PIZZA, and in particular the Best Pizza, New York leads America at the "Top of the List." No other place in the country comes close. "And that's all there is to it." That slop they make in Chicago is not and should "Never Be Called Pizza." It's Deep-Dish-Pie, just don't call it Pizza. It's not.

Now, back to New York, the Undisputed Heavyweight Champ of Pizza in the United States of America, and some the Best Pizza on the Planet, and that includes Italy.

New York has such renowned Pizzeria's as John's Pizzeria on Bleecker Stree in the Village, the great Tottono's on Neptune Avenue, Coney Island, Lombardi's, Gimaldi's, Ben's in Soho, and on and on. Let's not forget Patsy's, way up in East Harlem, a stones throw from the hardest table in New York, "Frankie No's" Raos.

Yes, and speaking of Patsy's coal oven Pizza that has been operating in East Harlem since 1933 when the neighborhood was primarily a Italian one at the time.

Plain and simple, Patsy's makes a pure and simple Neapolitan Pizza at the fairest of prices. Imagine a large Pizza Margherita for just $12.00 a Pop and a Slice will only set you back $1.75, at a time (2011) when most slices are $2.50 or $2.75 ..

Patsy's is a New York institution who has had such customers as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Benett, Phil Rizzutto, Yogi Berra, jo DiMaggio and many others call Patsy's their favorite Pizza. Now top that.

yes Patsy's is waey up in East Harlem and quite a trip for Downtown Manhattanites, but it's definitely worth a trip every now and then . Patsy's, try it!

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

The NEGRONI

The Negroni! A cocktail most Americans do not know. To bad! It is so fine. Well not many know except among the more Sophisticated of our population. Even just a minute percentage of those who have traveled to its birthplace in Italy will even know of the cocktail. In this country, it is drank more often in the city of New York, a city with a higher "Sophisticate" ratio than most, but still only a few will know of this drink, the Negroni Cocktail.

So what it is it? Well its base is the highly popular aperitif bitter Campari, a Bitter-Sweet aperitif from Torino, Italy. The Negroni made of 1 0z. Cmapari, 1& 1/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth, 3/4 oz. Gin, over ice cubes in a Rocks Glass with a splash of Club Soda on top and garnished with a slice of Orange or Orange peel. Voila! The Negroni! Usually drunk as an aperitif before dinner in the early evening, but just as wonderful anytime of the afternoon, especially Alfresco, or late into the evening for that matter.

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

ITALIAN FOODIE

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The Wines of Piedmont

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