JanuaryWine

Wines of January
Amarone della Valpolicella, 2005 Giacomo Montresor, Cantina Privata del Fondatore 15,5% D.O.C. (€16).
Graziano gets a great discount from one of his colleagues who makes an annual trip prior to Christmas to Veneto. Everyone puts in his or her order and stocks up for the holidays.
Amarone is by far one of my favorite Italian red wines. This one was nice, not the best, but for the price it was a steal
We had it with eggplant Parmesan, and a bun-less burger.
I was inspired the Julia & Julia movie, and decided to make a Cou au vin. I followed the recipe from my Marie Claire Cookbook, and used Montefalco Rosso, 2007, Madonna Alta D.O.C. 13,5% (€7.), as the vin. We paired it with Sagrantino di Montefalco, 2004, Cantina Fratelli Pardi D.O.C., 14% (€20. I think). This is a soft Sagrantino and went quite well with the dish.
It turned out pretty good if you ask me. Later that evening, Graziano said complimenti per la cena, so it was a confirmed success!
Franciacorta Rosé Brut, G. Ricci Curbastro & Figli 12,5% (It was a gift so I don’t know the price)
It was my fortieth birthday the other day, and decided to start the celebration early, and popped open this as aperitivo. It was ok, not my favorite, not to mention that it may have contributed to my slight headache the next day. I guess I should be honest and share with you the pairing… Low Fat Dill Potato Chips from IKEA!
We went out for dinner in Assisi and tried a new Umbrian wine (for us). Colli Perugini Rosso L’Andrea 2004 Monte Vibiano, Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio 14,5% (€45) a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, Sagrantino, and Syrah. Nice easy to drink, but wasn’t worth €45. By any means. Had it with an ambitious pairing, antipasta of crostini anchovy & orange followed by Baccala & carciofi fritti.

Wednesday, December 3, 2009

Today is yet another "white day" here in Spello. About twice a year here in Umbria we experience these "white days" which sometimes turn into white weeks. "White days" are completely fogged in days, and nights. In Italian the word for fog is nebbia, and cloud is nuvola. I love Italian. Anyway the day starts out white, finishes white and the night is a backlit white. It’s weird.

Oh, I might mention that “white days” are perfect for making art.

Yesterday I started working on 3 new wine collages.

Prosecco, Chardonnay, and Champagne. I have a binder of compiled images that I have archived from magazine clippings and organized into plastic slips for my eventual collages.

My original focus was to make one for every Italian wine that exists. So far I have made, Aglianico, Barolo, Brunello, Chianti Classico, Etna Rosso, Greco di Tufo, Insolia, Nero di Avola, Pinot nero, Sagrantino, Taurasi, and Vermentino, I think completes the list so far.

Before Thanksgiving I did the Amarone and then branched out and made a Water and Margarita (cocktail not pizza) collage.

Off to collage now, with a jackhammer in the background!