VIAS imports wine tasting, New York May 7th

In the collective imagination, Italy is immediately associated with breathtaking natural landscapes, awe-inspiring works of art, delicious cuisine and, of course, the finest wines.

If fact, each year Italy produces thousands of bottles of the most famous and appreciated red and white wines in the world.  Names such as Brunello and Barolo evoke images of the rolling hills of Tuscany and the lush vineyards and stone farmhouses of Piemonte.

If you are a wine enthusiast and enjoy the flavors of Italy, you can experience the diversity of  Italian wines on May 7th at the Altman Building with the Vias portfolio of Wines. Vias Imports, a company that for over thirty years has specialized in importing the wines of small, high-quality wineries, will gather a total of 40 producers from 19 regions of Italy, from Piedmont to Sicily , passing through Tuscany and Umbria. During this special event,  guests will have the chance to experience a selection of the best Italian reds, whites, rosés and sparkling wines such as Moscato, Passito di Pantelleria, Greco di Tufo, Nero d’Avola, Negramaro, Barbera d’Asti, Nebbiolo d’Alba, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Gewurtztraminer, to name a just a few.

In addition, Amaro Montenegro, a much beloved digestivo, will create a "Montenegro Bar" to launch this  product in America. A Grappa Bar featuring a variety of the most famous Bertagnolli Grappe will also be on hand.

VIAS Imports Ltd., established in 1983, is one of the most renowned Italian wine importers in the US market. Its portfolio is one of the richest and most complete in the industry, representing the finest wineries throughout the country—over 800 different wines from more than 90 producers. In addition to this already noteworthy portfolio, VIAS imports wines from Argentina, South Africa, France, North America and Turkey.

The VIAS Portfolio wine tasting will take place on Monday, May 7, 2012 at the Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street New York, NY 10011 from 1.00pm to 7.00pm.

Interview with EATALY'S Wine Director

"Interview with EATALY'S Wine Director

This month we spoke with Dan Amatuzzi, Wine Director for Eataly in New York City. Dan tells us about his experience and tips for selling Soave wine.


Tell us about Soave month at Eataly (May 2011).
In May, 2011, Eataly and Soave teamed up for a memorable month of Soave-related events. More than 12 different Soave wines were featured throughout the restaurants and the Eataly wine shop. Included in the promotion were consumer tastings and classes, special food and wine pairings, and wine-related conferences. On display were the versatility, approachability, and elegance of one of the most important appellations in Italy. We estimate that more than 50,000 people were exposed to the splendors of Soave during the promotion in the store alone.

Who is the typical Soave drinker these days?
The beauty of Soave is that it's seemingly timeless. In the United States, Soave was one of the appellations that provided the foundation for the Italian wine market, and the name, "Soave", conjures up great memories for the baby boomers who indulged in Soave wines during the 60s and 70s. Now there's a new generation of twenty-somethings discovering Soave wines. Those who stay loyal to the appellation are those who prefer, enjoy, and appreciate clean, mineral, fresh, and exuberant whites.

How do you make the sale with Soave? What is its biggest selling point?
While I find that many northern whites are expressive of their climate and soil, Soave wines seem to cater to the crowd that prefers more floral and aromatic qualities. Grapes like Friulano, Sylvaner, Trebbiano, and Arneis often produce racier and more mineral-driven wines, which are excellent in their own right, but Garganega is unique in that the and intoxicating aromas always put it over the top.

Do you recommend Soave as an aperitivo wine?
Soave is exceptional as an apertivo as well as a first or second course wine. I prefer to serve Soave with passed finger foods, cheeses, cured meats, and grilled fish dishes.

Do you notice Soave wines selling better with screwcaps or corks (or no difference)?
No difference

Have you seen sales of Soave rise in recent months/years?
Soave is a bit cyclical. In the past few years it's been more popular, in part, because demand for Pinot Grigio and other white wines has waned.

How are Soave wines priced compared to other Italian white wines?
For the most part, Soave wines are still priced very competitively compared to other northern white appellations and they're good additions to any serious wine list or retail shop.

What do you make of the idea of white wines for winter? When is it appropriate to drink Soave in winter?
Just because the mercury drops doesn't mean it's exclusively red wine season. Crisp whites like Soave are great accompaniments to hearty stews and broths, and other rich comfort foods. Soave is also a great option when you're cuddled up by the fire with a loved one.

Are you seeing any trends in white wine, generally?
A lot of producers seem to be scaling back on oak aging for white wines. Many wines that were once hit with smaller, newer oak barrels are now seeing larger and neutral wood. The resulting wines are lighter, fresher, and the acidity shows better in the first few years after bottling.

Dan Amatuzzi is the Beverage Director at Eataly in Manhattan. He's authored a book, Italian Wine For The Student, and also writes a blog, wineforthestudent.com. He was selected for Zagat's inaugural class of "30 under 30" restaurant professionals in New York City in 2011. He's the wine professor at Eataly's La Scuola, where he teaches a variety of wine and food classes. He also conducts charity wine tastings for food charities supporting hunger and homelessness. He's currently pursuing his MBA degree from the Stern School of Business at NYU focusing his studies on environmental sustainability and entrepreneurship. You can sometimes find him Sunday evenings at Eataly's Birreria where he plays in a band with other members of the Eataly family.

Meet La Strada del Vino di Arezzo

"La Strada del Vino Terre di Arezzo is a breathtaking luxury destination in Tuscany that offers everything you are looking for in the perfect getaway: delicious food, gorgeous scenery, and full-bodied local wines.

"La Strada del Vino Terre di Arezzo is an organization that began in the year 2000 to bring together vineyards and wine companies and, as of today, has expanded to 180 participants. Among them are wine producing farms, inns, farms specializing in traditional production of foods and wines, wine bars, restaurants and other businesses and attractions. A total of 124 miles (200 km) of vineyards spread throughout 19 towns in the Tuscan countryside, La Strada brings together all of the wonderful products of Tuscany. La Strada is a magnificent region in Italy that covers 124 miles in the heart of Tuscany and includes 19 cities, such as Cortona, Arezzo, and Valdarno. Delicious and full-bodied wines are produced in this region, Vinsanto di Chianti, Chianti DOCG, and Cortona DOC among them.

"The Baracchi Estate is located on a beautiful slope just east of Cortona with a wonderful view of the Valdichiana Valley and Under the Tuscan Sun. A typical Tuscan villa which dates back to the 17th century, it is now completely restored and transformed into a countryside Relais. The old olive groves and the new vineyards surround the property. The grapes that liven up their wines are: Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet and Trebbiano. They are a tribute to the land of Cortona and to the pleasure of good wine, an invitation to taste the evolution of an ancient family tradition."

Notes on Soave

The most widely accepted explanation of the name, Soave, is that the beautiful Soave area took its name from the Suevians, a Germanic people who came down into Italy with Alboin, the Longobard king.

Even if evidence of winegrowing in the Soave area dates back to ancient times, this wine's fame especially developed in the early 20th Century. This happened when the larger Veronese wineries promoted Soave on all the national and foreign markets, and today this wine has earned the coveted description “Classic eminent Italian white wine” and the prestigious status as the most exported Italian white wine.

Back in 1931 Soave was the most important Italian wine and was recognized as a “typical and prestigious” wine. Its identity was definitively protected by recognition of the controlled designation of origin in 1968 (DPR August 21, 1968).

The basic grape varieties used in Soave are Garganega (gar-gah-NAY-gah) and Trebbiano di Soave, which are both cultivated by the impulse of nature and the patience of wine growers. Trebbiano di Soave has traditionally always been present in the vineyards, though it has gradually given way to the more exuberant Garganega.

Eons ago, the Soave area was covered by a tropical sea, as evidenced by saline sediments in the soil that are expressed in Soave wine, with its rich mineral quality and distinctive fresh, clean and fruit-forward flavors. The tufaceous volcanic terroir of this area also lends to the development of complex and multi-faceted white wines.

The use of the specification “Classico” with the designation “Soave” is reserved for the product made from grapes harvested and vinified in the municipalities of Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone, i.e. the oldest, original “classic” zone.