Votto Vines

Leah’s Wine of the Week: Mid-Winter Wine

LVotto — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:42:24 +0000

For many of us, January can sometimes feel like the longest of months with not much to celebrate especially if you’re like me, and cold weather does not excite you. There are, however, a few things we can do keep our spirits up. On a chilly, January day a hearty meal enjoyed with an even heartier wine, can be just what we need to ease our minds and warm our hearts. So what wine should we look for to cure the January blues? Tenuta Vitalonga’s Terre di Confine is an 80/20 blend of montepulciano and merlot, delivers mouthfuls of black currant, licorice and dried leaves and positively begs to be paired with a rich stew. With powerful tannins and teeth-staining richness, this wine is not for the faint of heart, however, on the right occasion Terre di Confine can be as comforting as a warm fire and a kiss from a loved one. A family-operated estate since 1950, Maravalle brothers, Gian Luigi and Pier Francesco, grow both native and international varietals, resulting in wines that are exciting and approachable, while classically Italian in the best possible sense. So wrap yourself up in a warm blanket and open up a bottle of Terre di Confine, and perhaps the winter won’t seem so long:)

Leah’s Wine of the Week: The Bargain Wine

LVotto — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:38:53 +0000

Now that the holidays are over and our wallets are feeling smaller than ever, purchasing wine seems like an indulgence that we be avoiding at this time. Not so. While there has indeed been a rise in the price of certain wines, particularly California Cabernet, red Bordeaux and Champagne, countless other wine-producing areas that have since been overlooked are stepping into the limelight by introducing higher quality wines at lower prices with each new year. Votto Vines’ most recent addition, the Portugese blend “Val Da Cigana” is a perfectly delicious example of high quality and low price at its best. A blend of Portuguese indigenous varieties including, Castelao, Tinta Miuda and Alicante, this wine is overflowing with ripe strawberries and blackberries and is just plain lip-smackingly delicious! It is the perfect wine to sip on while preparing dinner, and its lively acidity lends itself to all kinds of dishes including roasted vegetables, fish, chicken and simply prepared red meats. And best of all, at just around $10 a bottle there is no need to feel guilty about this wonderful little indulgence. Whether it’s a simple dinner at home by yourself, or a post-holiday gathering with friends and family, this wine is sure to please.

Leah’s Wine of the Week-Cold Weather Wines

LVotto — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:52:20 +0000

Now that December is finally upon us, which means short days and long, chilly nights, a glass of wine and a roaring fire may be our most welcome companions especially amidst the holiday frenzy. So what kind of wines should we look for to warm our bodies and ease our minds? Italy’s Veneto region, on the northeastern corner of the country, produces wines that seem made for just such occasions. Their most prized (and naturally most expensive) Amarone delle Valpolicella is a wine like no other. Rondinella and Corvina grapes, native Veneto varietals, are dried on mats left in the sun before they are pressed to release their now highly concentrated juice. The juice is then fermented and aged for no less than 2 years in oak barrels, resulting in a dense, high-alcohol wine. These wines bring to mind notions of dark chocolate, leather and fruit preserves and beg for a rich stew and a cold, winter night. While some amarone can be a bit over-powering with a port-like richness, our Monte Del Fra Amarone delivers concentrated fruit and depth of flavor, without sacrificing grace and finesse. If you like Amarone, but are not feeling quite so extravagant, look for a Valpolicella Ripasso. This wine boasts the same blend as amarone, however, rather than made from the juice of dried grapes, the wine is infused with the leftover grape skins and seeds used for the amarone, thus the name ripasso or “repassed.” This imparts a very similar flavor profile as amarone in the wine as well as a deepened concentration of fruit and tannin. Monte Del Fra’s Valpolicella Ripasso is positively oozing with blackberry jam and chocolate dipped cherries and will warm up even the coldest of winter nights. Happy Holidays!

Leah’s Wine of the Week-The Holiday Party Wine!

LVotto — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:41:28 +0000

With holiday parties imminent many of us are finding it a bit tricky to choose the right wine to serve to our guests. In my experience, holiday parties, especially large ones, call for a wine that is ripe, fresh and accessible. While we want a wine that adds an element of surprise, we don’t want one that perplexes our guests with its complexity. Bardolino, which comes from Italy’s Veneto region on the northeast side of the country, is what I would consider to be the perfect party wine. Primarily a blend of Rondinella and Corvina, native Veneto varietals and the same grapes that are responsible for Valpolicella and the famous Amarone, Bardolino is fermented in stainless steel tanks and drunk relatively fresh, ensuring a light-bodied wine. With loads of ripe fruit and a good dose of acidity, this wine is wonderful by itself or as a willing companion to a variety of dishes including fresh cheeses, vegetable tarts and simply dressed pasta. And while your guests may feel an initial anxiety at the thought of something other than California Merlot, one sip of Bardolino is sure to put their worries at ease. Look for our Monte Del Fra Bardolino, produced by one of the Veneto’s top, family-operated estates. This wine delivers a mouth full of strawberries laced with hints of mocha and is sure to be everyone’s favorite party guest!

Leah’s Wine of the Week

LVotto — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:11:14 +0000

With the memory of Thanksgiving dinner still fresh in our minds (and perhaps our bellies) and the next few weeks promising an even greater superfluity of wining and dining, many of us (myself included) feel inclined to devote this week to at least a partial detox before the feasting begins again. So why not start with the wine? Pinot noir is the perfect wine for just such a feeling. A light-bodied, red wine with a delicate balance of fruit and earth, pinot noir is wonderful drunk on its own or partnered with simple dishes such as salads, fish and white meats, just what our bodies are craving right now. And the icing on the cake? Pinot noir boasts the highest level of Resveratrol, a naturally occuring enzyme in the skins of red grapes that has been linked to life extension and cancer prevention. Try our new Nelson Bay Pinot Noir, which delivers a mouth-full of ripe strawberries and tart cherry pie, and just the right amount of acidity to entice you towards the next sip!

Piccolo Principe (Vol. 3; Issue 1)

Steve Votto — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:29:23 +0000

Votto Vines’ November Newsletter:

vvi newsletter november 2011

Italian Wine Tasting at the High Lane Club

Steve Votto — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:28:30 +0000

Votto Vines Importing is pleased to host a wine tasting party featuring wines from
our new fall portfolio. Open tasting and light hors d’oeuvres will be served from 7:00
to 10:00 P.M. Please register in advance by emailing us at info@vottovines.com.
Grazie!

High Lane Tasting Flyer

Researching Italian Ancestry

Steve Votto — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:33:11 +0000

Researching Italian Ancestry

Ambassador Magazine Dual Citizenship Publication

Steve Votto — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:30:47 +0000

Ambassador Magazine_Dual Citizenship Publication_mpv

2011 Wine Estate Tour Itinerary and Dates

Steve Votto — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:15:01 +0000

2011 Wine Estate Tour Itinerary and Dates_with booking form_final