WINE TOURING IN
ITALY & GERMANY
Spring 2006
Page 1
I arrived in Pisa on a sunny day in late March
of 2006 and immediately drove to Badia di Morrona.
The cellar...
The wines.
After a nice visit and tasting, I motored to the Chianti Classico town of
Tavarnelle in the Val di Pesa.
The Masi family hosted a wonderful dinner...Chef Anna Masi and her lovely
daughter, Giulia and Angela served a fantastic meal.
Prosciutto from a Tuscan producer.
Anna's Risotto.
Angela Masi.
The next morning I motored to Umbria and visited some wineries...
Nearby is a town with a curious name...I don't know if it got
its name based upon the inhabitants, or what.
Montefalco is the name of a town and there's a lovely Sangiovese-based wine
produced here. But the real star is the red wine made of the Sagrantino
grape. That's what put Montefalco on the map!
It's a nice little town.
A local enoteca...
Having to be in the Marche region by early evening, I realized I was not going
to be far from our friends at the Sportoletti winery...
They make a wonderful pair of red wines...a delicious
"Assisi Rosso" and their special bottling called "Villa
Fidelia."
After a tasting of Sportoletti wines, I drove over to the
Verdicchio estate called Colle Stefano.
Don't you just love Italian "art"?
Fabbio and Silvia Marchionni, the "team" at Colle Stefano.
I drove to Morro d'Alba to visit the winery called Marotti Campi who make some
splendid Verdicchio and the outstanding Lacrima di Morro d'Alba.
Vineyards were being pruned and trained for the 2006 growing season.
We tasted some terrific wines, especially a 1999 Verdicchio!
I was stunned to taste such a good Verdicchio. The wine reminded me more
of a nice white Burgundy than anything Italian!
We drove out to the coast to a town called Senigallia. It's right on the
east coast of Italy and has a few noteworthy restaurants. We dined at
Savini and ate marvelously well (as you will soon see).
http://www.ristorantesavini.it/
An amuse-bouche of gazpacho!
Pinzimonio di gamberi verdura e frutta con intingolo di "Sapa" e piccolo bicchiere di succo di cocomero.
Red Mullet, I think, with a 'crust' of potatoes and provolone.
Sardines with pistachios...Yum!
This
following plate was the highlight.
Raviolini stuffed with artichokes and some micro-thin sliced, fried artichokes
on top.
Sensational.
I was so knocked out by the raviolini, I forgot to photograph the next pasta
dish which was also very fine. We then moved to dessert...
The
chef came out to speak with Signor Marotti.
And I departed for Le Caniette winery farther south in Le Marche.
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