We haven’t done one of these for a while. So when I saw this photo today in a producer’s presentation, I thought it was about time. (Click to enlarge)
Hit the comments with your thoughts. Guess correctly by 11:59 PM (wherever you are) on Thursday and you will be entered into a drawing for a signed copy of my new book, A Year of Wine: Perfect Pairings, Great Buys, and What to Sip for Each Season.
Blog posts via email
One of the “fresh voices taking wine journalism in new and important directions.” -World of Fine Wine
“His reporting over the past six months has had seismic consequences, which is a hell of an accomplishment for a blog.” -Forbes.com
"News of such activities, reported last month on a wine blog called Dr. Vino, have captivated wine enthusiasts and triggered a fierce online debate…" The Wall Street Journal
"...well-written, well-researched, calm and, dare we use the word, sober." -Dorothy Gaiter & John Brecher, WSJ
Saveur, best drinks blog, finalist 2012.
One of the "seven best wine blogs." Food & Wine,
One of the three best wine blogs, Fast Company
On February 4th, 2009 at 11:14 pm ,luiz wrote:
Grapes for Vin Santo resting in straw in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
On February 5th, 2009 at 12:01 am ,AJ wrote:
Traditional appassimento of Corvina and Rondinella grapes letting nature work it’s magic in Veneto, Italy.
On February 5th, 2009 at 12:48 am ,Fred Swan wrote:
I believe Vin Santo is hung from the rafters, not dried on straw mats. And, since the grapes are red, that means either Amarone or Recioto, depending on the fermentation. Both are both made in Valpolicella in the province of Verona.
I don’t know how specific you’d like us to be… The best vineyards for this style of wine are in the hilly Classico, Valpantena and Val d’Illasi zones and mostly the valleys of Fumane, Marano and Negrar. I can’t tell if the grapes shown include a lot of Molinara. If yes, the area would probably be Negrar. If not, then it’s probably either Fumane or Marano.
On February 5th, 2009 at 1:43 am ,Vinoroll wrote:
Easy!
Pedemonte, Valpolicella
On February 5th, 2009 at 2:52 am ,Wink Lorch wrote:
Certainly, previous guesses for Tuscany (Vin Santo) are possible in particular because the grapes are dried traditionally in the attics.
It’s interesting that the grapes are ‘red’ – they may not be of course, because in the drying white grapes will become quite dark in appearance …
So, just to be different and because it’s possible (just), I’m going to guess that we’re in the Jura, France (do I need to be more specific – hmmmm … could be Arbois or nearby because in the southern Côtes du Jura fewer red grapes are used). Grapes for Vin de Paille are a mixture of white (Chardonnay & Savagnin) and red (Poulsard/Ploussard and occasionally Trousseau) and they are nearly always dried in the attic in little boxes (wooden or more often plastic), very occasionally on straw or just in the boxes.
Of course the other place they make Vin de Paille is Hermitage, Northern Rhône – but have never seen them there …
I’ll stick my neck out with Jura.
On February 5th, 2009 at 3:06 am ,Brett Jones wrote:
Mmmm. Looking through the window I see a vine training system as is used in the Veneto, so I say, er, Veneto.
On February 5th, 2009 at 7:43 am ,Matt Olson wrote:
I’m going with Veneto as well…
On February 5th, 2009 at 8:31 am ,JAGA wrote:
My vote is for the Veneto as well
On February 5th, 2009 at 8:49 am ,Bryan wrote:
My gut says Veneto, the wall looks Italian, lol.
On February 5th, 2009 at 9:04 am ,Dave H. wrote:
Ok, I guess I’m convinced. Veneto it is.
On February 5th, 2009 at 10:07 am ,Paula Cook wrote:
We have been getting loads of snow this year in Italy and so I’m convinced also that it is the appassimento of those great native venetian red grapes in Valpolicella.
On February 5th, 2009 at 10:12 am ,Steve Snyder wrote:
I would say that it’s Valpolicella…
On February 5th, 2009 at 10:14 am ,Jon Bjork wrote:
I agree with drying racks in the Veneto!
On February 5th, 2009 at 10:48 am ,Franco Ziliani wrote:
we are in Valpolicella with grapes in “appassimento” for Amarone or Recioto wines
On February 5th, 2009 at 11:01 am ,Wink Lorch wrote:
OK, I give in … if Franco says it’s Valpolicella then it absolutely must be. No, the Jurassiens don’t pay me to promote them, I promise and had it not been so early in the morning, I’d have clicked the picture to make it better and seen a) what the vineyards look like and b) how red the grapes are!
On February 5th, 2009 at 11:05 am ,Yasmin wrote:
Corvina grapes under-going recioto for Amarone in the Veneto
On February 5th, 2009 at 11:05 am ,Maria wrote:
My guess is Corvina grapes in Veneto for Amarone or Recioto wines – Like Franco stated…
On February 5th, 2009 at 11:54 am ,Scott wrote:
Veneto
On February 5th, 2009 at 1:01 pm ,Ross wrote:
Piemonte, Italy
On February 5th, 2009 at 2:04 pm ,Saul wrote:
The Veneto–looks like Amarone in process to me.
On February 5th, 2009 at 2:49 pm ,Mark Henderson wrote:
The Veneto in northern Italy seems the most likely option although I thought the grapes for Amarone were dried on racks which I cannot see here? Still; I’ll stick with the Veneto.
On February 5th, 2009 at 2:59 pm ,Fermented Thoughts wrote:
Sagrantino Passito – Umbria
On February 5th, 2009 at 3:55 pm ,jason carey wrote:
Valpolicella
On February 5th, 2009 at 4:19 pm ,Dylan wrote:
I agree with many of the above: Amarone di Veneto.
That’s my final answer. It also could be recioto della Valpolicella as some are saying, but it comes from the same place, being Veneto.
On February 5th, 2009 at 5:06 pm ,MrTaz wrote:
Amarone from the Veneto sounds right. Unless it’s that new red from Alaska.
On February 5th, 2009 at 7:43 pm ,Michael Wangbickler wrote:
Just because, I’m going to say Valpolicella Classico zone.
On February 5th, 2009 at 7:51 pm ,Ryan wrote:
Valpolicella
On February 5th, 2009 at 8:17 pm ,Michael wrote:
Valpolicella. The grapes are drying for Amarone or Recioto.
On February 6th, 2009 at 11:37 am ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Congratulations to all those who guessed any derivation of Venento, Valpolicella or Amarone. This picture is, in fact, from the traditional drying racks at Masi where the grapes are undergoing appassimento, soon to take the next step to becoming amarone. The lunch and tasting were very interesting and I will post more details next week (if all goes according to plan).
Anyway, on to the prize! If it were for quickest precision, it would go to Fred Swan. If it were for humor, Mr Taz has it with the Alaskan winery comment.
But the random number generated was #9 so Bryan in Niagara is the winner! Come on down! Send in your address and have fun with your signed copy of A Year of Wine.
Cheers,
On February 6th, 2009 at 6:36 pm ,Bryan wrote:
Thanks! Drinking my homemade cab franc and checking one of my favorite blogs to find out I won something…does it get any better in february?
On February 8th, 2009 at 7:10 pm ,shari wrote:
I vote for the Dolmites