Holiday Series: Indigenous Italians

Italy is home to hundreds of indigenous grape varieties, many of which are seen in only one region of this complex wine-producing country and many of which are not seen outside of its borders. We are all familiar with Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, Cortese, Garganega and Pinot Grigio but be prepared to go off-piste in this tasting to discover some more unusual wines.

Graham will introduce you to some truly eclectic varieties, which we are pretty sure you will not have tried before and the tasting takes us from Piemonte and Liguria in the north to Calabria in the south.

On your tasting sheets will be the unusual white grapes Albarola, Timorasso and Erbaluce and, for red, Pelaverga, Gaglioppo and Ruchè. We will explore the history behind them, where they are grown and how they have come to produce such distinctive wines in the 21^st Century.

Expect to experience new aromas and flavours if you have not tried these varieties before.

Wines on taste:

• Cantina Lunae, Albarola, Colli di Luni DOC, Liguria, 2020
• Claudio Mariotto, ‘Bricco San Michele’ Timorasso, Colli Tortonesi DOC, Piemonte, 2020
• Ferrando, Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG, Piemonte, 2021
• Castello di Verduno, ‘Basadone’ Pelaverga, Verduno DOC, Piemonte, 2019
• A Vita, Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore DOC, Calabria, 2010
• Montalbera, ‘La Tradizione’ Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG, Piemonte, 2019