Three Italian Winemakers

Written by Allison Levine on April 27, 2017

Wine

This story originally appeared in the Napa Valley Register.

Italy is made up of 20 regions, each of which produce wine. Three of the most well-known regions are Piemonte, Tuscany and Veneto and within these regions are the famous areas of Soave, Barolo and Tuscany.

When I was invited to lunch to meet three winemakers from these regions, I could not think of a better trio of wines to take us through a meal — from the crisp whites of Soave, to the earthy elegant wines of Barolo to the bold fruity wines of Tuscany.

And while these three regions are independent, as are the winemakers who were in town, what they share is a connection to history, a passion for flavor and a story to tell.

Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Renato Ratti Langhe Nebbiolo 2014

Written by Allison Levine on March 11, 2017

Wine

I first began drinking, and enjoying, wine when I was living in Italy twenty years ago. I lived in Piemonte in the north of Italy. While I lived in a town considered the “rice capital” of Italy, I was living just a short drive from the famous wine towns of Barolo and Barbaresco. But, I did not know this at the time. What I did know is that the wine my friends would open for us to drink were tasty. And, in hindsight, we were drinking barbera and dolcetto, and on special occasions, nebbiolo.

As I began learning more about wine over the years, I have always found myself drawn to the wines of Piemonte, especially nebbiolo. Nebbiolo is a noble grape. It has aromas of roses and red fruit, earthy flavors and great acidity and tannins. It is a wine that pairs with all types of foods. And Barolo and Barbaresco are the “king and queen” nebbiolos. These wines require some time in the cellar and can come with a hefty price tag.

So what if you want to drink nebbiolo more often? Well you can! Barolo and Barbaresco are towns located in the Langhe, an area of rolling hills in the Piemonte region. Grapes are grown all over the hills and many of the vines do not fall within the town lines of Barolo and Barbaresco. And here is the secret – if you want to drink nebbiolo that is a bit more ready-to-drink and at an affordable price, then look for a nebbiolo from the Langhe region and not specifically from the famous towns. And this is what brings me to the Please The Palate “pick of the week” – Renato Ratti Langhe Nebbiolo 2014.

Renato Ratti is a winery started by iconic visionary Renato Ratti and is today run by his son Pietro Ratti. Located in Barolo, they believe that “wines of remarkable character come from great vineyards.” With six vineyards covering 86 acres, each wine represents the place from which it comes.

The Renato Ratti Langhe Nebbiolo comes from the Ochetti vineyards in the sandy hills above the Tanaro River. The wine is aged in oak barrels for one year. The wine is elegant and accessible with red fruit aromas of strawberry and raspberry as well as savory, earthy notes. The wine has bright acidity and soft tannins. While the wine will evolve over time, it is ready to drink now. And it costs $25 or less.

So, if you want to drink nebbiolo tonight, find a bottle of Laghe nebbiolo, especially the Renatto Ratti Langhe Nebbiolo 2014, and enjoy!

Eating and Drinking Around Acqui Terme, Italy

Written by Allison Levine on March 21, 2014

Travel Lifestyle Food Wine

A couple decades ago, when I was just out of college, I moved to Italy to work as an au pair. Unlike most travelers, I did not end up in a city like Florence or Rome but rather a small town in the region of Piedmont where no one spoke English. I knew nothing about wine at the time but everyday day I would meet my new Italian friends at the local bar for aperitivi and they would do the ordering. And, each day a glass would be placed in front of me filled with a red wine that was slightly sweet and slightly sparkling and very delicious. It was Brachetto d’Acqui.

A recent trip took me back to Piedmont, to the heart of where Brachetto is from, Acqui Terme. This ancient Roman town, an 1 ½ hour southeast from Milan, became my home base for three days. We settled in at the Grand Hotel Nuove Terme which overlooks the town square and began the tour of eating and drinking and eating and drinking some more.