Cellar Raid Highlight: An Italian Contrast - North vs. South
Cellar Raid: Half Priced Bottles of 750ml Wine Every Tuesday in our Enoteca.
Italy’s wine landscape is a patchwork of climates, soils, and winemaking traditions, each region contributes its unique personality to the bottle. This Cellar Raid, we invite you to explore a tasting that highlights two iconic northern and southern airs: the alpine elegance of Alto Adige vs. the volcanic depth of Campania, and the refined, floral Nebbiolo from Piemonte vs. the bold, fruit-driven Montepulciano from Abruzzo. Dive into how Italy’s diverse terroir shapes each wine in a truly distinct way.
This Week’s Featured Selections:
Alto Adige: Burrowed in Italy's mountainous north along the Austrian border, Alto Adige has a unique combination of high altitudes, cool alpine air, and sunny days, creating an ideal environment for crisp, aromatic white wines. Originally part of Austria, this region maintains a Germanic influence in its language, culture, and wine styles. While the region is renowned for its crisp whites like Pinot Grigio and Kerner, it is also gaining acclaim for its Pinot Noir (known locally as Pinot Nero), which thrives in Alto Adige's alpine conditions.
Alto Adige's Pinot Nero is delicate yet expressive, with bright red fruit flavors, floral notes, and a touch of spice. The cool climate allows Pinot Nero to ripen slowly, resulting in wines that are beautifully balanced with refined tannins and lively acidity. These Pinot Neros are often lighter-bodied than those from warmer regions, showcasing an elegance and precision that mirrors the region's terroir.
With its blend of Italian and Germanic influences, Alto Adige is a region that celebrates precision and craftsmanship in winemaking. Its Pinot Nero is a testament to the unique character of this northern Italian landscapes, capturing the essence of the Alps in a glass - elegant, structured, and refreshingly complex.
Pinot Nero, J. Hofstätter “Barthenau – Vigna S. Urbano” 2017
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Campania: Located in Italy’s south, Campania is a region where volcanic soils, Mediterranean breezes, and abundant sunshine create wines of rich intensity and depth. Historically influenced by Greek settlers, Campania is one of Italy’s oldest wine regions and is known for its ancient heritage. The region produces some of Italy’s most intriguing and full-bodied white wines, particularly from native grapes like Greco and Fiano. These wines are marked by complex layers of ripe stone fruit, honeyed notes, and a distinctive smokiness, a reflection of the mineral-rich volcanic soils that characterize the region.
Campania also shines with bold, structured reds, led by the powerful Aglianico grape. Wines from Aglianico, such as Taurasi, offer deep flavors of dark berries, earth, and tobacco, with firm tannins and impressive aging potential. These reds capture the warmth and rugged beauty of Campania’s landscape, balancing ripe fruit with a smoky, mineral backbone.
With its winemaking traditions deeply rooted in ancient history, Campania celebrates a unique combination of coastal influence and volcanic terroir. The region’s wines are robust and layered, offering a taste of southern Italy’s sun-soaked vineyards and complex soils that make each bottle a journey into Campania’s storied past and vibrant present.
Irpinia Aglianico, Feudo di San Gregorio “Serpico” 2015
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Piemonte: Found in the foothills of the Alps, Piemonte is a region where cool temperatures and misty landscapes create wines of finesse and complexity. Known as the home of Nebbiolo, this region produces some of Italy’s most revered wines, including Barolo and Barbaresco. Piemonte’s Nebbiolo grapes develop slowly in the cooler climate, resulting in wines with high acidity, firm tannins, and elegant bouquets of rose petals, cherry, and earthy truffles. These reds are structured and age-worthy, celebrated for their ability to evolve gracefully over decades.
Piemonte also shines with Barbera and Dolcetto, two approachable reds that offer a more relaxed take on the region’s winemaking. Barbera brings vibrant acidity and notes of red fruit, while Dolcetto offers a softer profile with blackberry and a touch of almond, making both wines flexible and equable.
With its foggy vineyards and rich winemaking heritage, Piemonte is a region that celebrates balance and sophistication. Its wines capture the cool elegance of northern Italy, combining finesse with a sense of place, making Piemonte a treasured region for wine lovers around the world.
Barbaresco Riserva, Produttori del Barbaresco “Rabajá” 2019
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Abruzzo: Along the Adriatic coast, Abruzzo’s rolling hills and Mediterranean climate make it an ideal region for producing bold, approachable wines. Known for its signature red, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, this region is celebrated for wines that are fruit-forward, full-bodied, and easygoing. Montepulciano, grown in Abruzzo’s sun-drenched vineyards, yields wines with lush flavors of black cherry, plum, and hints of spice, along with softer tannins, making it a versatile and food-friendly wine.
Abruzzo also produces Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, a white wine that is fresh and often marked by citrus and almond notes. Trebbiano d’Abruzzo provides a refreshing contrast to the region’s robust reds, reflecting the coastal breezes and fertile soils that shape Abruzzo’s terroir.
Defined by its rugged landscapes and warm, sunlit vineyards, Abruzzo’s wines capture the spirit of southern Italy, offering bold flavors, accessibility, and a reflection of the region’s laid-back, rustic charm. With its wines, Abruzzo brings a taste of the Italian south that is both generous and inviting, celebrating the warmth and vitality of the region’s culture and climate.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Emidio Pepe 2014
______________________________Each wine tells the story of its region, shaped by climate, landscape, and generations of tradition – from the cool, alpine elegance of Alto Adige to the warm, volcanic depth of Campania, and from Piemonte’s refined Nebbiolo to the bold, approachable Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. This journey across Italy reveals the incredible variety and vibrancy of Italian wines, and we hope it has inspired a new appreciation for the flavors, history, and character that each region brings to the glass. Here’s to discovering more of Italy’s unforgettable wines, one bottle at a time. Salute!
