2021 SancerreDaniel Chotard
France | Loire
$39
Producers
One of the more thrilling aspects of Italy’s countless grape varieties is that the best examples resist facile comparisons. Take this crisp, zesty white wine from the Veneto, for example, made from Manzoni Bianco, a variety bred by Luigi Manzoni in the 1920-30s. After a few sips, I was ready to pronounce Gregoletto’s Manzoni Bianco “Italy’s Muscadet.” Then, I took another couple of sips and thought: or is it Italy’s answer to Chablis? Upon even further reflection, I wondered if this bianco, made in the gorgeous hills of Conegliano—aka Prosecco territory—was actually most similar to the driest examples of Alsatian Riesling or Pinot Blanc, given Manzoni Bianco’s ancestry.*
The truth is, it’s somewhere in between and, therefore, imitates none of those, which is great news because if you want Muscadet, Chablis, or a dry Alsatian white, buy those. Buy this Manzoni Bianco, meanwhile, to add a dose of stimulating diversity to your rotation of chiseled white wines that serve equally well as an apéritif as they do alongside shellfish or a piece of grilled chicken. I poured a glass to go with an easy, but dangerously good dish of pasta with spinach and ricotta—courtesy of Marcella Hazan—and I could not have been more pleased.
*In Native Wine Grapes of Italy, Ian d’Agata writes that while Manzoni Bianco “was long believed to be a crossing of Riesling and Pinot Bianco, recent genetic studies suggest that Chardonnay may have been used instead of the latter.” The jury, however, is still out on this matter.
—Tom Wolf
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Manzoni Bianco |
Appellation: | Colli Trevigiani |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Veneto |
Producer: | Gregoletto |
Soil: | Sandstone, marl |
Farming: | Traditional |
Alcohol: | 13% |
Gregoletto Italy | Veneto | Colli Trevigiani
Gregoletto Italy | Veneto | Prosecco Treviso
Gregoletto Italy | Veneto | Colli Trevigiani Verdiso
Gregoletto Italy | Veneto | Colli Trevigiani Verdiso
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto | Gambellara Classico
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto | Gambellara Classico
Italy’s most prolific wine region by volume, the Veneto is the source of some of the country’s most notorious plonk: you’ll find oceans of insipid Pinot Grigo, thin Bardolino, and, of course, the ubiquitous Prosecco. And yet, the Veneto produces the highest proportion of DOC wine of any Italian region: home to prestigious appellations like Valpolicella, Amarone, and Soave, it is capable of excelling in all three colors, with equally great potential in the bubbly and dessert departments.
With almost 200,000 acres planted, the Veneto has a wealth of terroirs split between the Po Valley and the foothills of the Alps. While the rich soils of the flatlands are conducive to mechanization, high yields, and mass production of bulk wine, the areas to the north offer a fresher climate and a diversity of poor soil types, ideal for food-friendly wines that show a sense of place. Whether it’s a charming Prosecco Superiore from the Glera grape, a stony Soave or Gambellara from Garganega, or a Corvina-based red in any style, the Veneto’s indigenous grape varieties show real character when worked via traditional production methods.
Since his first visit in 1979, Kermit has regularly returned to the Veneto to enjoy its richness of fine wines and local cuisine. Our collaboration with Corte Gardoni, our longest-running Italian import, is a testament to this. The proximity of beautiful cities like Verona and Venice, with their deep culinary heritage, certainly doesn’t hurt, either.
Gregoletto Italy | Veneto | Colli Trevigiani Verdiso
Corte Gardoni Italy | Veneto | Corvina Veronese IGT
Sommariva Italy | Veneto | Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto | Gambellara Classico
Corte Gardoni Italy | Veneto | Bardolino
Gregoletto Italy | Veneto | Colli Trevigiani
Corte Gardoni Italy | Veneto | Bianco di Custoza
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto | Gambellara
Corte Gardoni Italy | Veneto | Bardolino
Gregoletto Italy | Veneto | Colli Trevigiani Verdiso
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto | Gambellara, Veneto Bianco
We only import wine we drink and enjoy ourselves, directly from the source.
Our wine tastes the same in your home as it did where it was bottled in Europe.
Like the long-term relationships we build with growers, we build long-term relationships with our clients. Have a question? Need wine advice? Just give us a call—510-524-1524.
Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk, and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/alcohol
Many food and beverage cans have linings containing bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical known to cause harm to the female reproductive system. Jar lids and bottle caps may also contain BPA. You can be exposed to BPA when you consume foods or beverages packaged in these containers. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/bpa