Italy, Land of the vine.
We taste through the rustic hills of Italy. Let us whisk you away to Northern Italy, for 2 wines that are racy and classy. Then to Tuscany for the classic grape Sangiovese. And we take a left turn at Albuquerque, and head for Washington state for a tri-blend of Cab, Sangiovese, and Nebbiolo!! 2 Italian grapes, one French, grown in Columbia Valley?! My mind is blown!!!
Try them all on for size.
THEN… Jump into a cider tasting from hyper-local cider house “Dragon’s Head Ciders” outa Vashon Island. Save yourself the swin and taste these dry, crisp, and extra delicious ciders……
@ Humble Vine, Saturday, June 29th , 4pm
Muzic, Ribolla Gialla, Collio Italy $16
The Ribolla Gialla by Muzic winery is a white wine from Collio characterized by a vibrant and refreshing energy. It is vinified and aged in steel tanks. It expresses scents of wild flowers, citrus and white fruits and on the palate reveals complexity, freshness, minerality and typical savory aromas
Terlato Family Vineyards, Pinot Grigio, Friuli Italy, $21
This Pinot Grigio comes from the Friuli region, which is widely recognized as one of the best regions for luxury Pinot Grigio in the world. The fruit is handpicked from hillside estate vineyards that are carefully tended to create a fuller-bodied Pinot Grigio with expressive fruit and mineral character. the 2016 vintage has bright aromas of white peach, pear and spring flowers. It is complex and layered with ripe peach, apricot, and pear. A mouth filling texture and crisp, mineral finish.
Maria Galassi, “La Ca Storta” Sangiovese, Romagna DOC Sangiovese Superior, Italy $18
Female wine maker. Organic, sustainable, and sooo good. It is a perfect start to the evening all alone, but also to accompany a hearty entree or the traditional Romagna “Piadina” accompanied by cold cuts and fresh cheeses. Thanks to its freshness it also goes well with veggie dishes.
Upsidedown Wines, Method Red, Columbia Valley WA $29
Their Method Red is a tip of the cap to Super Tuscans, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Nebbiolo (33%) and Sangiovese (22%). It opens with fruity and alluring aromas of blackberry and cherry cola and follows through similar ripe and delicious flavors, backed by black cherry-skin tannins that show refinement. Proceeds of this wine benefit The Chill Foundation, which helps youth overcome challenges through board sports.
Dragon’s Head Cider
Here are some words from the winemaker.
Dragons Head Cider, Wild Fermented Cider, Vashon Island Washington, $16
This is the Dragon’s Head Cider version of a farmhouse cider. Rather than carefully selecting a yeast strain for the fermentation, we allowed the wild yeast present on the skin of the apples to ferment the cider. It’s a bit of a fun gamble, but one we believe is worth taking.
Dragons Head Cider, Columbia Crab Apple Vashon Island $16
At Dragon’s Head Cider, we have a history of working with crabapples, coaxing these high acid, boldly flavored fruits into lovely fermented beverages. The Columbia Crabapple is our latest foray into the world of producing cider with crabapples, and it makes a bold statement. Dragon’s Head is known for producing dry ciders, and this cider is sweeter than any other we have produced before. The sweetness is countered by the tartness of the crabapple, producing a flavorful delight to the palate. While this cider drinks nicely on its own, we also find ourselves particularly inspired by it to create new and lovely cider cocktails.
Dragons Head Cider, Heritage Rose, Vashon Island $21
Our Heritage Rosé Cider gets its lively pink color entirely from the Redfield and Mountain Rose apples we use to make it. Unlike typical apple varieties, in the Spring the blossoms on these trees are pink, the leaves are even a reddish bronze, and amazingly the flesh of these unique apples is red in color. When the apples are pressed the juice is a crimson color that lightens and clears into the beautiful rosé that you see in the bottle.