Domaine South
Italian Wine Tasting
Featured Importer, Yontville Imports
Special Guest, Kara McKevley
Friday, Sepktember 18th, 4pm - 6pm
$20 per person
256-759-9952 to Reserve
The Wines
NV Riva des Frati Prosecco Brut, Treviso, Italy $21.99
Grape: 100% Glera
A fruity scent of peach, apple, peat, with a hint of citrus fruits. This is a sparkling wine that expresses Prosecco’s wine’s intensity and aromatic fragrance. Its semi-dry tone blends perfectly with the balance of its bouquet thus making it inviting in every occasion
Vinification and Ageing: The Prosecco Spumante’s sweet characteristics enhance the fruit sensations and make it especially pleasant. It’s a must for important occasions and also when drinking means enjoyment
2023 Feipu dei Massaretti Pigato, Liguria, Italy $26.99
Massaretti Pigato is a standout white wine from the Liguria region, produced from the indigenous Pigato grape, a close relative of Vermentino. Massaretti, one of the leading producers in Liguria, is renowned for its elegant and fresh expressions of Pigato, capturing the essence of the Mediterranean coastline. Pigato thrives in the sun-drenched, terraced vineyards along the Ligurian coast, resulting in a wine that balances vibrant acidity with a distinct minerality and saline character, reflecting the sea breeze and rocky soils of the region.The Massaretti Pigato is a quintessential Ligurian white, offering a perfect balance of fresh acidity, vibrant fruit, and a distinctive salty, mineral character that transports you straight to the Ligurian coast. Ideal for lovers of Vermentino and coastal whites, this Pigato is a versatile wine that pairs effortlessly with seafood and light Mediterranean fare.
2024 Ceretto "Blange" Arneis, Piedmont, Italy $18.99
Ceretto Blangé is an excellent example of the expression of the native Arneis grape. It is a pleasant medium-bodied white, fresh and fragrant. The appearance has a bright straw yellow color. The nose is mineral and intensely fruity, with clear hints of ripe pear and green apple. In the mouth it is fragrant, savory, fresh and with a persistent finish. Ideal in combination with fish dishes and appetizers, risotto with vegetables, savory pies.
Ceretto Blangé Arneis White Wine has notes of anise seed, almond, peach and fresh pear. This effervescent Italian white wine is enjoyable on its own or with a myriad of foods. Blangè combines organic practices in the vineyard with a modern style of winemaking.
Tasting notes:
Ceretto Blangé Arneis White Wine has notes of anise seed, almond, peach and fresh pear
Pairs well with:
This effervescent Italian white wine is enjoyable on its own or with charcuterie boards or light desserts
2023 Feipu dei Massaretti Rossese, Liguria, Italy $26.99
This light-bodied red is a delightful embodiment of freshness and elegance. Crushed raspberries, juicy red currants, and delicate rose petals dominate the enchanting nose. The palate is tart and fresh, with mouthwatering acidity and vibrant flavors of ripe summer berries. A subtle hint of thyme and savory spice emerges on the intriguing finish. — Jeff Porter
Agostino “Pippo” Parodi and his wife Bice inherited a family estate of mostly fruit and vegetables that Pippo’s grandfather, Filippo or “Fèipu” in local dialect, had first planted. Convinced that his property was particularly well suited to winegrowing, Pippo slowly cleared the land starting in the mid-1960s and replanted it with vines, focusing especially on the native Pigato. Since there were no appellations for Ligurian wine at that time, he decided to highlight this exceptional terroir by naming the estate after the locality, Massaretti. His efforts were instrumental in establishing Ligurian Pigato as a quality wine, and soon they had a long list of potential clients begging for an allocation of their tiny production. As Pippo and Bice eased into retirement, they handed the reins over to the next generation: their daughter Brunella married a banker, Mirco Mastroianni, who quickly fell in love with winemaking and joined his sister-in-law, Ivana, at the family estate. Under Mirco’s direction the family has rebuilt the old winery and increased production, but the estate remains small and the wine is still a clear expression of the terroir.
Mirco is proud to be in an area where wine estates are still family-run and most of his neighbors share his respect for traditional wines. Massaretti lies just inland of Albenga on the Mediterranean coast, in what is probably the former riverbed of the Neva, which left a sandy alluvial soil. The area also enjoys striking diurnal temperature shifts thanks to the alternation between winds from the sea during the day and from the land at night. These two factors combine to provide the perfect home for Pigato and Rossese to develop their full aromatic potential, giving light wines that are easy to drink but more elegant and complex than you might expect.
2021 Ca Di Monti (Cecilla Monte) Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont, Italy $28.99
We think Cecilia is doing society a favour by making this entry level 100% Nebbiolo wine. Reasonably priced, but so expressive.
Using grapes from the Serracapelli Cru (the same vineyard as one of Cecilia's Barbaresco) gives the wine a medium ruby colour and an extraordinary body given it only sees minimal time in old oak. The high tannins are soft and well integrated for a wine of only 3 years age, giving the strawberry, red plum and black cherry fruit flavours plenty of space to shine. Give it 30-60 mins of air and you might also find dried herbs, fennel seeds, roast beetroot and leather boots too. A perfect wine for red sauce pasta or a creamy risotto.
2023 Tenuta L'Ariosa "Simboli" Cannonau Di Sadegna, Sardinia, Italy $16.99
In the idyllic and unspoiled hinterland of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, Tenuta L'Ariosa has found its place. Here, the Rau brothers' vineyards have found their ideal environment on a strip of land where a light sea breeze constantly blows around the vines. These conditions are optimal for the cultivated grape varieties, exclusively native, which grow in symbiosis with the Mediterranean flora.
Soil: granite with Paleozoic (marine) sediments
Processing: 6 months in steel
Intense ruby red color with purple hues, incense, ripe berries, grassy, pleasantly fruity, elegant tannins, long finish
Food Pairing: first courses, spicy dishes, braised and ridged meats, as well as spicy cheese