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Column: Summer’s fading glow perfect for toasting Italian wines

All of today’s delicious wines are found in BCLDB stores.
Eric Hanson
Eric Hanson

These golden days of late August remind me of the enchanting sunlight in Tuscany. It’s a perfect moment for toasting the end of summer with some Italian wine. While I enjoy Chianti, Pinot Grigio and Prosecco, I’m recommending some new discoveries.

The Casolari Trebbiano is a frizzante, a bubbly with less gas than a sparkling but still plenty of fizz to excite the senses. Usually the Trebbiano grape is found in inexpensive Italian whites which are unremarkable except for their low price. But this dry Trebbiano is a real treasure in terms of both price ($14.99) and flavour.

I enjoyed its yeasty apple aroma and the crisp lemon, apple and honey flavour with some earthiness to add a touch of terroir. It reminded me of a scrumpy apple cider; lots of complexity and refreshing orchard fruit. 

The Casolari Trebbiano is perfect for sipping in the hot summer sun and delicious with a grilled pork chop, slice of prosciutto and a splash of lemon and chicken broth in the pan juices. Bellisimo!

If you want a red bubbly, the Casolari Lambrusco di Sorbara Frizzante is another great choice. Sweet Lambrusco was very popular decades ago; its most appealing quality was the low price. This drier version is a far better wine and a great value for $15.99

A blend of two indigenous varieties, the Lambrusco is tailor-made for this time of year: fresh, fruity, frothy, and when chilled, completely refreshing. Expect aromas and flavours of cherries with a hint of almond, cranberries, raspberries, and rhubarb.

If that’s not enough, the Casolari enjoys a hint of freshly ground pepper to spice it up, a creamy mousse from the carbonation, and a dry but lengthy finish. Light but complex. It’s delicious with that grilled pork chop and a side dish of curried lentils.

From Emilia-Romagna we travel north-east to Verona for our next round. I don’t believe I’ve ever tasted a wine produced from so many grape varieties! The 2011 Monte del Fra Ca del Magro Custoza ($19.99) has eight different types with the majority being Garganega and Trebbiano, along with Chardonnay and Riesling.

The idea behind such blending is that each grape offers unique attributes and as a result you get a symphony of complementary aromas and tastes.There are fresh floral scents along with grapefruit, pear, and lemon zest. Take a sip and you savour yellow plums, apples, a hint of herbs, with a crisp refreshing flavour and an orange peel finish. Enjoy with oysters, sushi, and Beijing duck.

My final recommendation: the Monte del Fra 2011 Bardolino ($16.99). Bardolino is much like a Beaujolais. It’s a smooth and tasty light red which begs to be chilled for an hour.  I love this Bardolino’s cherry and blackberry character, with hints of licorice, cloves, and smoke. Enjoy with barbecued sockeye salmon, a grilled rib-eye with a few ounces from the bottle added to the pan, or a pizza.

All of today’s delicious wines are found in BCLDB stores. Salut!

Eric Hanson is a local retired teacher and wine educator.