White Wine Nals Margreid Sirmian Pinot Bianco 2020. No need to decant. Located in Nalles, a small town at the foot of the Sirmian hill, the Nals Margreid winery was born in 1985 from the merger of two historic wineries in the region: Cantina Nalles and Cantina Magrè-Niclara. Today the consortium has 140 winegrowers with 150 hectares of vineyards, which produce a great variety of grapes, in total respect for nature. The grapes come from the historic production area of Sirmian, on the slopes of Nalles, west of the Adige, along the road that connects Bolzano with Merano, in a splendid setting made up of steep slopes and gentle hills, impervious peaks, and fascinating ridges. Here the soils have a vast geological profile with porphyry, marble, and limestone, and the climate is alpine, with cool summers, and mild autumns. The wine is vinified in steel tanks and only a small part in large wooden casks so that there is a particular focus on its fruitiness. After fermentation, the wine matures for a while on the lees before being bottled. The Pinot Bianco Sirmian shows a bright yellow hue and light green reflections. On the nose, there is a beautiful aromatic complexity of herbs, apple, ripe quince and melon. On the palate, it is incredibly dense and balanced. Its fresh acidity ensures a long finish of lemon balm and thyme. Try it with vegetable soups or veal.
2020
White Wine Nals Margreid Sirmian Pinot Bianco 2020
White Wine Cannonball Chardonnay 2020. The striking name of this brand comes from the curled-up cannonball” position that kids often adopt when jumping into water to make the biggest splash they can. Just like the picture on the label, this Chardonnay is fun and light-hearted at its core and is perfect for sharing with friends and family at casual gatherings and impromptu meals. On the nose there are tempting notes of green apple, pear and lemon zest while the palate reveals more tropical fruit character with hints of mango, white peach and a touch of vanilla. There is plenty of freshness to balance the ripe fruit and a long finish. The easy-going nature of this Chardonnay makes it ideal to drink on its own or as a partner for pasta, pizza, or summer salads. Other excellent pairings include smoked and grilled fish, fresh seafood, and a generous platter of cheese and charcuterie. Fruit for this delicious Californian Chardonnay is predominantly sourced Carneros along with smaller quantities from the Russian River Valley and Sonoma County. Following vinification 50% of the young wine is aged in oak barrels with the remainder matured in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and emphasise the pure varietal character.
2020
White Wine Papari Valley 3 Qvevri Terraces Chinuri-Rkatsiteli 2020. Papari Valley winery is named after the Georgian word for horse’s mane” in honour of the valley’s wavy hills where their vines grow. In total they have 93 hectares planted with indigenous grape varieties which are farmed organically. Once in the winery the fruit is fermented using wild yeasts and fermented in large clay pots called qvevri which are thought to have been used here in Georgia since ancient times. This cuvee is crafted from the Rkatsiteli and Chinuri grapes and is particularly unusual due to its naturally-occurring high alcohol level. Scientists believe that this is caused by a rare yeast called Saccharomyces Oviformis found in the Papari Valley which is only found in a handful of wineries in the world. This punchy white wine is fermented and matured in qvevri for 6 months to create a balanced and harmonious wine with plenty of character. In the glass there’s a striking deep amber hue and hints of green apple, pear and citrus with undertones of cedar, dried herbs, and bay leaf. On the palate you can expect a punchy full body matched by a solid core of orchard fruit flavours and a long, lingering finish with gentle tannins throughout. A great wine to cellar for a few more years or enjoy now alongside roast chicken, grilled fish, or creamy pasta dishes.
2020