Wine Book Club and Vino Italiano giveaway
Move over Oprah, there’s a new book club in town! OK, this one probably won’t be quite as influential but it will be fun nonetheless.
Dr. Debs had the idea of starting a “virtual” book club where anyone interested could read a wine book and then talk about it. Since Deb wants to learn more about Italian wines this year, the first book up is Vino Italiano by Joe Bastianich and David Lynch. Your reports are due February 26 according to David McDuff who is coordinating this round. Either post them to your own blog if you have one, or in the comments section of another blog, such as this one or the new WineBookClub.org.
I will be giving away one copy of the book to help get things started. In the comments of this post, tell us one wine that you’ve enjoyed from Italy recently. Post by midnight on Wednesday and check back here or your email on Thursday to see if you were selected at random from those who commented. The new paperback will ship directly from Amazon.
On January 14th, 2008 at 10:00 am ,Marco Romano wrote:
Lamuri, a Nero d’Avola from Tasca d’Almerita in Sicily. It’s “Love” in a bottle, bright, boldly elegant, silky, seductive. It reminds me of the Sicilian sun and the smell of fresh Ragusan pork roasting over a wood fire.
On January 14th, 2008 at 10:18 am ,Bob W. wrote:
Last night we opened a 2001 Brunello di Montalcino from Fattoria La Lecciaia. We paired the wine with a great Tuscan style short rib dish with ribbon pasta. The Brunello was beautiful. A great fruity, flowery nose with dark berries and that great Montalcino dirt on the palate. Very sikly mouth feel and a nice long finish.
On January 14th, 2008 at 11:56 am ,Jonathan M wrote:
My wife and I were in Florence on our honeymoon and went to a fun wine bar called Borgovino. They poured us a flight of Vino Nobles and Brunellos. The highlight, by far, was an Argiano 2001 Brunello di Montalcino. Complex, earthy, fruit. I think it will get even better after a few years. You can find this wine in the US as the one I bought was confiscated by the airport security people. Long story…
On January 14th, 2008 at 12:03 pm ,Michael Veseth wrote:
Zuani Vigne — a sensuous white blend from Friuli, Italian wine’s hidden treasure. We met the winemaker, Patrizia Felluga at a Slow Food wine event in Portland, Oregon a few years ago and we have enjoyed her wonderful wine ever since.
On January 14th, 2008 at 12:04 pm ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Thanks for the story Jonathan. Can you elaborate on the airport security issue? Bringing wine back from overseas is something we’ve discussed before and it’s always good to get first-hand experiences.
On January 14th, 2008 at 1:57 pm ,Wine Scamp wrote:
I had a very decently quaffable Montepulciano D’Abruzzo from Monte Campo a while ago, and it was only $6.50! I thought all cheap Montepulciano was tonsil-rasping swill, but I was happily mistaken! Interesting how it is still possible to find excellent value wines from Italy, despite the Euro.
On January 14th, 2008 at 4:14 pm ,Chaz wrote:
My fiancee and I enjoyed a really nice bottle of Bruno “the Maestro” Giacosa’s 2000 Barolo Falletto a few weeks ago. Although it wasn’t ready yet (the tannins were nearly face-kicking), the really balanced finish continued on and on for at least 30 seconds.
On January 14th, 2008 at 4:33 pm ,Mark wrote:
I love many Italian wines, and, yes, even with the Dollar dropping, there are still good values out there. While we mostly drink northern Italian wines, last night we enjoyed an aglianico which I picked up at Trader Joe’s after reading a review at Quafability: http://quaffability.com/?p=72
It definitely lived up to JohnG’s review. It’s an incredible value that paired beautifully with dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant.
On January 14th, 2008 at 6:13 pm ,Jules van Cruysen wrote:
I just love the wines from Pidemont – particularly those made from the Nebbiolo grape. As I cannot afford to buy Barolo and Barbresco very often and am on the other side of the world which equals expensive wine and not much choice as the market is very small was very impressed to find an affordable one, the 1998 Dessilani bottling from the Colline Novaresi DOC – it was stunning. Amazing contrast between super high acid and tannin, mature with all those classic Pidemontese flavours and aromas – tar and roses (leather and lace if you will). It was stunning. And, surprisingly, it was affordable at NZ$25. Wow!
P.S.
I cannot get the book here.
On January 14th, 2008 at 8:50 pm ,Dr. Debs wrote:
Thanks for the announcement (plus contest) Dr. Vino. And to Jules, I am sorry I didn’t check to make sure it was more widely available–got as far as Europe and Canada, but forgot you all down under. We’ll try to make sure it doesn’t happen every time, although with what I know about NZ book import problems, I can’t promise you it will never happen again! We need to start sending you care packages…
On January 14th, 2008 at 10:06 pm ,Chris wrote:
I work in an Italian restaurant so I have Italian wine everyday. Today however, I had the opportunity to taste dozens of delicious wines from Italy at the Vias Grand Portfolio tasting. What a selection!! My favorite of the day (if I have to narrow it down to one) was Dettori Tenores 2003, 100% Cannonau di Sardegna from 80 year old vines. It was incredibly balanced with an elegance that didn’t take away from its rustic character. Thank you for a wonderfully fun contest and a great blog.
On January 14th, 2008 at 10:20 pm ,aditya wrote:
Castello di Cacchiano 2001 Reserva Chianti Classico
On January 15th, 2008 at 10:37 am ,Cassandra wrote:
The last Italian wines I tried weren’t actually my favorite, they were for the next edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday. A 2004 Tocai Friulano from Giordano Sirch and a 2006 Pinot Grigio from Ruffino Lumina. The Friulano was interesting, but still not one of my favorites.
I did have an Italian wine not that long ago in Grand Junction, CO that was quite good. Casalfarneto Fontevecchia – Verdicchio, from the Marche region of Italy. Great paired with seafood.
On January 15th, 2008 at 10:37 am ,Saul M wrote:
A Cesanese del Piglio (from Faunus)-one of my favorite wines for under 10$.
On January 15th, 2008 at 11:11 am ,Mickey wrote:
Fretelli revello Barolo 1999 was drinking very well when tasted last week.
On January 15th, 2008 at 11:18 am ,Michael wrote:
Pio Cesare Barbaresco is great, though not exactly inexpensive, its worth the splurge.
On January 15th, 2008 at 11:20 am ,Ryan wrote:
With the unnaturally cold weather we have been having in LA, yes I know not really that cold, I opened a wine to pair with the temperature last weekend. The Faraone Vino Liquoroso Rosso della Cattedrale was excellent
On January 15th, 2008 at 2:08 pm ,nick wrote:
My wife being pregnant, I do all the drinking at the moment; I therefore try to keep the better bottle for in a few months, when the new kid is there. So, last saturday, I got a bottle for Dinner. A Masi from Valpolicella. It was very good. I decided to check what was the price to get some more.
Oups! That is when I saw that I had misclassified the bottle. It should have been with the expensive ones…
Sorry dear! I’ll get a new one!
On January 15th, 2008 at 3:21 pm ,CS wrote:
A super Tuscan by tenuta sette ponti, oreno served with duck breast and cherry compote over basmati rice it was Wonderful!
On January 16th, 2008 at 8:52 am ,Dan Leone wrote:
Hello! I am only now stumbling onto your blog and I LOVE everything I have read so far. I hope it is not being too presumptuous of me to participate in your contest.
Believe it or not, on New Year’s Eve, I purchased a few bottles of “cheap” prosecco to bring to a party that I thought no one would be in a position to really enjoy fine wines. It turns out to be one of my favorite Italian wines. Try the Prosecco di Conegliano. I think it was around 12 bucks.
On January 16th, 2008 at 2:37 pm ,Andrew Hwang wrote:
I recently tried a 2006 Bastianich Tocai Friulano and thought that it is an interesting wine. I shall discuss this wine @ WBW 41
On January 16th, 2008 at 4:04 pm ,Bob W. wrote:
This is not a surprise to me. I think most consumers believe that more expensive products are of a higher quality. But wine tasting can be very subjective and the perception of value could be more easily swayed than for other “hard” consumer items such as furniture, appliances, etc.
On January 16th, 2008 at 8:14 pm ,Mike D wrote:
1998 borolo made by Cascina Fontana.
i drank it with my fiance, my best friend and his girl friend. my best friends gf guzzled her first glass, reluctantly as we are enjoying this wonderful bottle, we pour her another glass. 30 sec later she knocks over the rest of the bottle.
truly a scene out of a movie.
honeymoon to italy only 10 months away, any advice would be greatly appriciative.
mike
On January 17th, 2008 at 9:25 am ,Dr. Vino wrote:
I went to random.org and lo and behold it generated the number 1! So Marco Romano, come on down! Let me know your mailing address and I’ll send the book out today.
Looking forward to the first installment of the Wine Book Club! And thanks for mentioning these fun wines.
On January 17th, 2008 at 9:38 am ,Marco Romano wrote:
Dr. Vino,
I am looking foward to your book.
Bets of fortune with the muse.
Hey, I won something!
Marco Romano
On January 17th, 2008 at 9:39 am ,Marco Romano wrote:
When I’m excited I should use spell check.
On January 17th, 2008 at 6:33 pm ,Dave S. wrote:
Not exactly on the cheap end but one of my favorite wines is (1) a Merlot! and (2) from Italy. The Falesco Montiano 1998 or 2001 although most vintages are very good.
On January 18th, 2008 at 10:48 am ,David McDuff wrote:
Thanks for spreading the word and adding a little excitement to boot, Tyler. I’m a bit late for the contest but no worries. I drank a few glasses of the 2004 Chianti Classico from Isole e Olena ($23) last night and am looking forward to the remainder this evening.