Exploring Italian Wine Culture: From Vineyard to Tasting Room

In the heart of Italian wine country, among the sprawling vineyards and rustic charm, lies a world of tradition, pride, and exquisite flavors waiting to be discovered. Join us on a journey to a delightful wine tasting.

After pedaling and strolling amidst the vine-covered hills, it's time to taste the fruits of labor. Along our routes, we passed by various wineries, each offering a glimpse into their craft. Selecting one, we arranged for a tasting, immersing ourselves in the art of winemaking. Guided through the cellars, we learned about grape varieties and processing methods.
The mother of the family is proud of how her children continue their father's legacy. She proudly shows us the photos of her husband and children and the old bottles of wine they keep from each vintage. She doesn't speak English. Meanwhile, we understand enough Italian to follow the story. But understanding Italian well isn't really necessary. Her pride shines in her eyes.

That was the theoretical part. The wine tasting itself takes place at another location. The mother drives ahead in her Fiat Panda. She races along the winding roads to their wine ranch. She giggles as she sees our amazed looks at the arrival. "I used to be a race car driver," she says proudly. Then the daughter takes over, guiding us through the tasting in English.

We start with bubbles. Every winemaker here tries their version of champagne. And some are more successful than others. Half of our group likes these bubbles. It's a dry spumante that is excellent as an aperitif and also pairs well with fish dishes. But for myself, I prefer a good wine.
Meanwhile, the mother brings out the first snacks. We get some grissini, cheese, and local raw ham to taste with and between the wines. The first wine we taste is a Viognier. This grape is imported from France and also produces delicious wines here. It's a dry white wine, excellent as an aperitif and with cold dishes and appetizers. This is something different from the Cortese and Gavi you can usually find in most restaurants.

We choose to taste 3 more red wines, a Barbera d'Asti superiore, an Albarossa, and a Ruché. The Barbera d'Asti is a tasty red wine that you find everywhere here. The family makes this wine from grapes from an old vineyard, which means few bunches of grapes are produced but of high quality. This vineyard produces a typical Barbera with a light spiciness. The taste is harmonious and extremely pleasant. The wine goes excellently with traditional appetizers, white and red meats, and cheeses of medium age. Then we taste an Albarossa. This grape is less known. It's a typical Piedmontese grape variety obtained from the cross between Nebbiolo di Dronero and Barbera. The wine has an intense ruby red color and has a soft structure. La mamma tells us that the label of this wine will never change. It's the last label her husband designed for this wine. Finally, we taste a Ruché. This wine is almost unknown to us. This wine can only be made from grapes from a small area, less than 40 hectares, in Castagnole Monferrato and some surrounding villages such as Portacomaro, Grana, and Montemagno. This wine has a deep ruby red color and has a spicy taste. We will continue to drink it at home with game dishes, Indian stews and more mature cheeses.

And now comes the hardest task: which wines do we choose to drink at home and how many bottles do we take with us. Everyone gives their preferences, and we make a joint 'shopping list'. The boxes are gathered on the spot and loaded into the car's trunk. We feel a bit light-headed. La mamma thinks we should have a cup of coffee first. She starts with the new coffee machine she doesn't know at all. She decides to make us coffee in the private kitchen in the old-fashioned way and comes back with espressos and homemade amaretti biscuits.

It was a very beautiful experience, and we will not soon forget this day. Let us toast to the magic of Italian wine, and may our next journey lead us once again to this enchanting world of tradition and delight. Cheers!

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