MONTEPULCIANO, TI AMO!

Miami - South Beach

This year, I spent my birthday in South Beach, Miami, and had the chance to dine at “Quattro Gastronomia Italiana”, an authentic Northern Italian restaurant. The owner, Nicola Carro, is a superb Italian chef who offered us a wonderful menu with an extensive list of Italian wines by region. The service was fantastic, and he also has another restaurant in Manhattan, New York City; two great options to keep in mind if you enjoy authentic Italian food and wine.

Speaking about Italy, one of my favorite red wines is Montepulciano, which is produced in the town of Montepulciano in the province of Siena, and should not be confused with the Montepulciano grape, which is a different varietal altogether.

This red wine is known as the “Vino Nobile di Montepulciano”, and it is a blend of Sangiovese and Caniolo Nero grapes that could sometimes include 20% of an international variety of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. The Montepulciano must be aged for two years and it usually shows a solid ruby color, with a rich cherry aroma, violets, and leather accents which make it a full rich red wine.

When there is an excellent vintage, and the quality of the fruit is high, the wine is known as “Riserva”. This means it was aged for three years to keep the highest maturation, producing a better, more polished wine. If the wine is only aged for one year, it could become a Rosso di Montupulciano, which is less bold, and much lighter than the Riserva.

For food pairings, you could match a Montepulciano with rosemary grilled lamb chops, garlicky grilled chicken, or a roasted turkey breast.

This fall, enjoy the richness of Italian red wines!

 

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana - South Beach