02 Mar Please the Palate Pick of the Week: Discovering Six Indigenous Italian Varieties at Gambero Rosso’s 2024 Tre Bicchieri Showcase

Gambero Rosso, which translates to “red prawn”, is an Italian food and wine magazine and publishing group founded in 1986. Each year Gambero Rosso publishes the annual guide to Italian wines. Thousands of wines end up in the guide each year, and the very best wines of the vintage receive the Tre Bicchieri (three glasses) designation. This past week, the 2024 Tre Bicchieri wineries were on tour, showcasing their winning wines, as well as a few additional bottles. There were many delicious wines to try. There were familiar wineries and new wineries and there were familiar grapes and interesting indigenous grapes. Discovering Six Indigenous Italian Varieties at Gambero Rosso’s 2024 Tre Bicchieri Showcase is the Please The Palate pick of the week.

Tenuta Viglione Mailoiche Verdeca, Puglia IGP

Verdeca is a rare white wine grape from Puglia. Tenuta Viglione is a family-owned organic winery established in 1937. The Maioliche collection is their line of wines that balances tradition with modernity. The Verdeca is a bright straw-yellow color with a beautiful aromatic nose with notes of citrus and herbs and bright acidity.

Crespaia 2022 Bianchello del Metauro DOC, Marche

Bianchello del Metauro is a DOC (denominazione di origine controllata) wine made in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, in the region of Marche. Bianchello is a white grape that has been used for centuries in central Italy. It also is known as Biancame. Crespaia is located in Fanu, a town in the province of Pesaro and Urbino. Established in 2011, the winery is located less than two miles from the Adriatic sea. The Bianchello del Metauro is fresh and fragrant.

Casale del Giglio 2021 Cesanese, Lazio

Cesanese is a red grape found in the Lazio region, south of Rome. Casale del Giglio is located in the Agro Pontino valley, 30 miles south of Rome. The winery was founded in 1967 by Dr. Berardino Santarelli. The Cesanese is a deep ruby red color with notes of violets, cherries, and white pepper. It is elegant on the palate with balanced acidity and tannins.

Casale del Giglio Anthium 2022 Bellone, Lazio

Bellone is a white grape variety that dates back to Roman times. It is a vigorous variety that is resistant to drought. The Anthium Bellone is rich with tropical fruit and floral aromas and intense acidity.

Belisario Valbona Verdicchio di Matelica DOC, Marche

Verdicchio di Matelica is a dry white wine produced in Italy’s Marche region. Verdicchio di Matelica DOC is the lesser known of the two Verdicchio DOCs in the Marche region, the other DOC being Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. While Castelli di Jesi is close to the Adriatic Sea, Matelica is landlocked. Belisario, founded in 1971, is the largest producer of Verdicchio di Matelica DOC. The Belisario Valbona Verdicchio di Matelica is fragrant with floral aromas. It is a structured wine with fresh acidity and a lovely saline finish.

Cantine Lunae Ciliegiolo

Ciliegiolo is a red grape variety, named after the Italian word for ‘cherry’. It is a grape that is typically used in traditional blends, such as Chianti. Cantine Lunae, located in the Colli di Luni in Liguria, has been owned by the Bosoni family for four generations. Liguria is a small region that extends from the border with France to the norther part of Tuscany. The Ciliegiolo comes from a single plot located between the Ligurian Sea and the Apuan Alps. The wine is medium bodied with fresh fruity notes of cherries, raspberries, and blueberries, as well as floral and black pepper notes. Tannins are smooth and acidity is alive, leaving a juicy finish.

There are more than 2000 indigenous varieties in Italy and approximately 400 of them are in commercial production. There are so many to discover and I loved discovering these six varieties.