![\"massimago\"](\"https:\/\/www.mostlyfood.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/massimago.jpg\")
It\u2019s been a strange year, but it has had the bonus of allowing us to appreciate such things as one\u2019s garden, home-cooked meals \u2013 and wines. Italian wines are getting noticed again!<\/p>\nIt\u2019s been a strange year, but it has had the bonus of allowing us to appreciate such things as one\u2019s garden, home-cooked meals \u2013 and wines. Italian wines are getting noticed again!<\/p>\n
Italian wines have often been overlooked and that is a shame as there are many superb bottles to explore. Massimago Profasio 2013, a UK-exclusive Passito Valpolicella Superiore DOC, is 100% organic, low-sulphite and ideal for long ageing (ageing potential: 10 years). This would be a perfect Christmas gift for any wine lover!<\/p>\n
This Passito Valpolicella Superiore has a delightfully concentrated flavour, simply packed with red cherry, luscious red fruit, chocolate and delicate spices. It\u2019s one of my favourite reds from any country and well worth a try. Usually the Passito method, which dates back to Roman times, is used to make expensive Amarone wine. Amarone is unique and typically very alcoholic, full-bodied and juicy.\u00a0 Camilla Rossi-Chauvenet, the winemaker at Massimago, is known as an innovator. Her winery is 100% organic and sustainable, generating 80% of their electricity from solar panels. She decided to make a Valpolicella with richer and deeper flavours, as a more refreshing twist on traditional Amarone. This wine has received a seriously impressive 92\/100 accolade from wine expert James Suckling.<\/p>\n
Unusually, to make a Passito wine, grapes are harvested by hand before they are fully ripe, so they are still full of natural fresh acidity. Then they are then dried indoors, in a fruttaio, (a well-ventilated drying room) for a month in order to concentrate the natural sugars and to promote flavours. The fruit is then crushed and macerated for four days to extract a richer colour. The juice is then fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve aromas and develop flavour.<\/p>\n
The new wine is left to mature for five months in stainless steel tanks, and then aged in French oak barriques for a year which adds still more depth. It is rested for another year or more to mature in the bottle. This gives all the flavours time to marry and balance. The resulting wine is characterful with flavours of berries, spices and herbs. The wine has pronounced aromas of fresh red cherry, redcurrant and liquorice, with tannic hints of cedar, warming pepper and dark chocolate.<\/p>\n
![\"spera\"](\"https:\/\/www.mostlyfood.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/spera.jpg\")
Balanced hints of minerals<\/h4>\nSidd\u00f9ra Sp\u00e8ra 2018 is a Vermentino di Gallura DOCG \u2013 \u2018Sp\u00e8ra\u2019 means \u2018beam of light\u2019 in the dialect of Northern Sardinia, from where this fabulous wine hails. As the name suggests, it is bright and fresh, with white blossoms on the nose and flavours of fresh green apples and balanced hints of minerals on the finish. It\u2019s Sardinia\u2019s signature white grape and these wines are worth seeking out.<\/p>\n
The grapes for this wine are picked by hand in a vineyard in the foothills of the island\u2019s fertile mountains. They are stemmed and gently crushed, with the free-run juice fermented at just 12-13\u00b0C \u2013 a very low temperature \u2013 in stainless steel tanks. Dino Dini, the winemaker at Sidd\u00f9ra, uses this technique to preserve the flavours of the grape. The wine is matured sur lie for a short time to develop a more complex texture. ‘Sur Lie’ or ‘ageing on the Lees’ is the ageing of wine on dead yeast sediment which remains after the fermentation process. This wine will be a good match to hard cheeses or even Cheddar on Boxing Day. Serve chilled.<\/p>\n
Christmas might be a very different affair this year, but it will still be a special time. Some well-chosen wine to complement your food will elevate the festive dinner. Italy produces wines to enhance food of every kind \u2013 and at reasonable price too!<\/p>\n
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