If the snow and ice of January and February have you dreaming of all things summer – like the light, white wines we associate with warm weather, sun and fun – consider a wine from Friuli! It is a region in Italy’s northeast corner bordering Austria and Slovenia known for the wide array of white wines produced. The winemakers there are a select group, all working on a smaller scale and able to concentrate entirely on the quality and diversity of their wines. The region is home to three DOCG titles, all for whites.
One of these producers, Vie di Romans, has a family history of over a hundred years and has been managed for the last 35 or so by Gianfranco Gallo. Their Piere vineyard is nearly 20 acres at 33 meters elevation with well drained pebbly soil. The vine age averages 18 years and all of their whites are released two years after harvest.
On a recent weekday evening, when I had planned chicken in a light cream sauce served over puff pastry squares, I opened a bottle of 2010 Vie di Romans Sauvignon Blanc Piere. I let the wine warm just slightly rather than sipping it straight from the wine fridge, and the flavors benefitted from the 30 minutes or so that I let it sit on the counter. The aromas will transport you to summer in an instant! The floral notes are very much to the forefront with tropical fruits following - think of a banquet of white blossoms, pineapple and green pears.
Antonio Galloni rated this wine a solid 93 points and states, “The 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Piere is the brighter of the estate's two Sauvignons … All the elements are in the right place.” And it is a great value – in fact, our price is 25% below release price at only $29.95 per bottle. With just a few cases in stock, they won’t last until the official start of summer, so consider a purchase now and have your favorite season arrive early!