Vinodiversity Blog

Sagrantino Sessions

Sagrantino is the specail red grape variety of Umbria in Italy.  It makes fruity juicy red wines with oodles of tannin and structure.

A few innovative Australian wineries are producing wines from this variety, and the results so far have been quite promising. You can find out more by checking out the Sagrantino Sessions events in McLaren Vale below. 

List of australian wineries using Sagrantino can be found at http://www.vinodiversity.com/sagrantino.html

 

Love affair with Southern Italian wine

Just started Melbourne Film Festival so I decide to look at Silvestro's Terronia video on his Love Affair with Southern Italian Wine. Looking forward to the school in October and there are still some places left.

 

More info from http://www.vinodiversity.com/italian-wine-school.html

 

Awaiting Table Awaits

Just finalised my booking for Terronia the wine school of Southern Italy.

The video below shows a passionate Silvestro talking about his region, his school and the food and wine culture there.

The Awaiting Table Video from The Awaiting Table on Vimeo.

There are still places available.  See http://www.vinodiversity.com/italian-wine-school.html

You can see more about the cooking school and the wine school at

http://www.awaitingtable.com 

Make sure you tell Silvestro that Darby recommended you and so he will know that your appreciate great diverse wines - of which there are plenty in Puglia.

 

 

 

Susumaniello with grilled chicken, mushrooms and risotto

Susumainello is a red wine variety used around Brindisi in the Italian Region of Puglia.

I enjoyed a bottle today with a lunch of skewer grilled chicken, some mushrooms cooked with garlic and spinach and a simple risotto.

Susumainello is not used in Australia, at least to my knowledge. It is one of a number of indigenous varieties in Puglia that are receiving more attention as part of the modernising wine industry there.

This wine features a donkey on the label, a reference to the belief that the name of the variety refers to a well laden donkey. Susumanilello grapes are apparently high yielders.

Roast lamb and Sangiovese

Traditional Australian roast lamb rump with vegetables and gravy (plenty of garlic!) washed down with a 2005 Avenmore Sangiovese.

Not many Bendigo wineries use alternatives, this one is a good example of Sangiovese, lighter bodied but plenty of flavour. Matched the food well.