Alto Adige - A Gem Of Northern Italy |
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The Alto Adige/Südtirol is considered the 'gateway to Italy', positioned directly south of Austria. This Alpine land became part of Italy in 1919, after the first world war. Here German is still the principal language, and it is actually one of the oldest German-speaking winegrowing areas — dating back to the Etruscans! Over 60% of the region is dedicated to white wine production, but there is FAR MORE to enjoy than just Pinot Grigio. This week we explore the mouth watering wines of Alto Adige.
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LAST CALL: SPIRITS SALE!
For the first time ever, NLW&S is having a SPIRITS SALE. This is the best time to stock up and save on your favorite essentials and all the specialty items on your wish list. This sale ends Sunday, August 13th — so replenish your home bar before the sale
10% OFF ANY 2+ BOTTLES
(Must be 375mL or larger to qualify. Offer does not extend to mixers or THC products.)
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Terroir
The Alto Adige is backdropped by the beautiful Dolomites and Italian Alps, positioned just South of Austria. It is Italy's northernmost region, and translates to 'Upper Adige' in English, referring to the Adige River that runs through it. This region is also known as Südtirol, or 'South Tyrol', referring to it previously being the southernmost part of Austria.
The Alps to the north protect Aldo Adige from cool northernly air currents and excess precipitation. Sunny days warm the soils of Alto Adige, and cool nights, along with strong wind currents, keep the grapes fresh. Speaking to the soil, we will now provide a quote from geologist Carlo Ferretti, "this winegrowing region is so varied in its geology that the classic definition of terroir is nearly too narrow for it. Even vineyards in the immediate vicinity of one another have such different geological and microclimatic features that they decisively shape the identity of the wines." Exciting, no?
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White Wines of Alto Adige
While this region is best known for its Pinot Grigio, which are crisp and light bodied, many other delightful wines can be found here — 98% of which are designated of DOC quality. Other principal white wines include Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Müller-Thurgau. The white wines share a crisp, fresh profile featuring elevated acidity, rich minerality, and intense aromatics. We highly suggest you explore the dry Gewürztraminers of the Alto Adige for their distinguishing levels of acidity.
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Red Wines Of Alto Adige
Schiava, Pinot Noir and Lagrein are the red stars of the Alto Adige, but you will find some Bordeaux varietals planted here as well. Schiava and Lagrein are indigenous to the region. Schiava is a light bodied, low tannin red wine with notes of violets & red berries. Schiava makes a fun substitute for Pinot Noir at the dinner table. Lagrein, in contrast, has robust tannins with black fruit qualities, pepper and violet notes — often seeing aging in oak barrels. Enjoy Lagrein in place of Cabernet Sauvignon.
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Drink Alto Adige
If you're in an Italian rut, try Alto Adige! This region is where North meets South, and you will find light Germanic styles alongside wines made in a robust Tuscan style. It's true, the Alto Adige makes some of the best Pinot Grigio in the world — but there is so much more to explore. This region is also known for its high concentration of Michelin Star restaurants — and Alto Adige produces a wide range of gastronomic wines to match! Try a racy Gewürztraminer and Schiava with your SE Asian take-out order, and thank us later.
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Cocktail of the Week: Blackberry Cobbler
This is not only my favorite of the cobbler drink but also my favorite of the desert category. It uses fresh blackberries, lemon, orange, orange curacao and gin. Sherry cobblers were popular and have been around since the 1800's. There is a claim that they were sipped on through dry macaroni and that they led to the invention of the straw.
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INGREDIENTS
2oz Gin
1oz Orange Curacao
2 Lemon Wedges
One Orange Slice
8 Blackberries
INSTRUCTIONS
Add fruit into a shaker, muddle the hell out of it! Add liquid ingredients, add ice, Give it a nice hard shake strain into a rocks glass over ice (Crushed preferred). Garnish with blackberries and mint sprig.
Cheers,
Nikola
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Friday Tasting Table
Friday, 08/11/23, 4 - 8 p.m.
Join Pat of Bourget Imports for a FREE wine tasting this Friday!
Get 10% off any single bottle of wine from the tasting table.
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6oz Pour
Wine Education Classes
You Can't Make Great Wine If You Don't Have Great Grapes
Thursday, August 24th
7 p.m. - 9 p.m., $55
Join us at North Loop Wine and Spirits for our Wine 101 Class: "You Can’t Make Great Wine If You Don’t Have Great Grapes." While this is a stand alone class, it could also be considered Part 2 of our Introduction to Wine Series. In Part 1, Vineyards, Varietals, and Vintages, we focus on the classics. In this class, we stray a bit off the straight and narrow and dive deeper into the relationship between vineyard and winery - wherever and however that may lead us. We'll investigate classic, trendy, and under-the-radar wines. This is a great class to supplement any level of wine knowledge from beginner to connoisseur.
Reserve your seats on Tock
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Staff Picks - What to Drink this Week
Try these special, staff-selected libations!
2022 Limited Addition Red - $27.99
Bree and Chad Stock started Constant Crush to showcase the forgotten grapes of Oregon. Their LTD+ line of wines are new to Minnesota and we had the opportunity to meet Bree and taste her incredible wines. Bree is a Master of Wine (and the only female MW in the Pacific NW) and if you know anything about the process, it's no small feat! Her LTD+ Red is a blend of Trousseau, Gamay and Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley. Notes of strawberries, beets and spice in the glass, this red does best with a slight chill and pairs with smoked chicken and grilled sausages.
-Angie
2022 Domaine Rossignol-Fevrier Passetoutgrain - $33.99
This Red Burgundy is absolutely stellar right now. It is a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir from a small family producer dedicated to organic and biodynamic viticulture. The nose shows notes of dried rose and red berry and the medium bodied palate is silken with wild cherry fruit, mineral, and a savory
earthiness. Try this delicious wine with some venison chops in a wild mushroom cream sauce. Unfortunately there is not a lot of this wine to go around, so get it while you can!
-Rob
2020 Feudo Montoni, Grillo 'Timpa' Sicilia - $26.99
Wine making has been practiced on the grounds of this estate since 1469. The original stone court-shaped winery building and cellar, known as a Baglio, still stands and is at the center of the Sireci family's Feudo Montoni vineyard estate. The estate is located in the rugged western interior of Sicily, with well sloped vineyards at a high elevation, ensuring cool nights and enough rain to balance out hot sunny days. Fully certified Organic viniculture is adhered to strictly. Fabio Sireci, and his family, grow only ancient Sicilian grape varietals like Perricone, Inzolia, Catarrato, and Grillo. The vines are kept rustic so the foliage is free to express itself. The land and vines are naturally supported and kept healthy through sowing of broad beans and peas in the vineyard. This is their 2020 vintage of the indigenous heat-resistant white grape, Grillo. After fermentation in concrete containers with the skins left in contact for part of the process, the wine is aged on the lees in cement for 6 months. The result is a wine full, rich, aromatic, and bright.
Notes of peach, apricot, tangerine, and white flowers open up to a palate full of tropical fruit, matched by bright acidity. The finish is long with vibrant tension pervading to a thirst-quenching end. This wonderful white wine will make a great match with Mediterranean sea bass, Branzino, fresh from the sea.
-Patrick
Paulaner Munich Lager - $10.49; 4-pack cans
The season is fast approaching where beer coolers across the world will be littered with Oktoberfest beers. As a kind of preamble to Oktoberfest season, Paulaner Munich Lager is a very solid European brew from a storied German brewery. You can expect the mild sweetness typical of a lager along with a very smooth maltiness. A tad bit of hoppiness serves to crisp up the beer. All these elements put together make for a delightful beer that can (and, arguably, should) be enjoyed any time of year. Begin your Oktoberfest prep today!
-Nick N
Barker's Marque 'Woolpack' Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough - $15.99
This surprising wine has a somewhat typical NZ nose but is exceedingly fresh, clean and cutting on the palette. The gooseberry is present but more ripe than the average and doesn’t wander off into grapefruit territory. Additional fruit notes are somewhat reminiscent of Bordeaux Blanc from Graves with Meyer lemon notes in place of the typical tropical fruit. It’s certainly been awhile since I’ve been enamored with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. That’s probably due to exposure and personal taste but this wine really got my attention and seems like too good of a deal to pass up.
-Dave
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VERY IMPORTANT - Furry Friend Visits! |
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Cheers, Everyone!
The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits
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