I was given a wonderful opportunity a couple of weeks ago, to take a wine trip through northern Italy with Nadia Galati of Alberello Wine Importers. Nadia has been an integral part of our putting together the fantastic Italian wines portfolio at ABC. She invited me to take part in the trip she put together for four of our well-deserving wine consultants who won this trip through a sales contest. Each of the wine consultants, Daniel Eddy, Scott Carter, Roland Gigandet and Gary Tatum, along with fellow wine supervisor Jim Greeley set out on an amazing trek to some of the most beautiful sights in Italy.

 

We started the trip landing in Milan, where we met up with Nadia and her protégée Katrina. From there we traveled outside Verona to visit Giovanna Tantini at her winery. Giovanna is a very special person, achieving her degree in law before realizing her true passion lie in the vineyard. Her DOC wines, Bardolino Chiaretto and Bardolino along with the two very special IGT offerings: Ettore, named for her son, and Greta, named for her daughter, are exceptional wines. Ettore is a blend of 80% Corvina and 10% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, a very intense wine of ripe, red fruits and spices. The Greta is 100% Corvina. Complex and elegant, this is a wonderful wine.

 After spending the afternoon strolling through the vineyards, we were invited to Giovanna and her
husband Marko’s home to enjoy a "light" Italian dinner of assorted cheeses, dried sausages, vegetables, breads, pasta and the largest steaks you ever saw, grilled perfectly by Marko. The meal would have easily of fed thirty people…there were ten of us! Did I mention a bottle or two—or was it three?—of Giovanna’s wines and her husband Marko’s Cosi wines accompanied the meal. A memorable night that will stay with me for many years to come.  

  The trip continued for five more days, that I will be writing about in future blogs...you can also follow along with blogs by the rest of the group. Until then, cheers!

 Ken Amendola, North Florida Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinekena