26 Feb Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tansy 2023 Fiano, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County

In Italy, Fiano is an Italian white wine grape variety that is grown primarily in the Campania region of southern Italy and on the island of Sicily. In fact, it is the grape used to make the DOCG wine Fiano di Avellino. While it is easy to find Fiano di Avellino, it is not so easy to find the grape grown outside of Italy. In fact, in California, there is so little Fiano planted that it does not even get listed  on the California Acreage Report. But there are approximately six acres planted in California and one winery making Fiano in California is Tansy. And this week the Please The Palate wine of the week is the Tansy 2023 Fiano, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County.

About Tansy Wines:

Tansy Wines was established in 2020 by restauranteur/sommelier Shelley Lindgren and friend Kitty Oestlien. Owner of A16 in San Francisco, Shelley is a respected restauranteur who is known for introducing southern Italian wines to diners. She received the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Program and has been knighted by the Italian government, receiving the prestigious “Cavaliere dell’Ordine Della Stella Italia” (Dott.ssa) distinction for her work promoting Italian wine in the United States. During a conversation around a table at A16, Shelley and Kitty, who is originally from Australia and worked in technology, they decided to try to make these varieties themselves. With winemaker Megan Glaab, who has worked at Torbreck, Peay, Marcassin, and Pisoni, and has her own winery, Ryme Cellars, with her husband Ryan, Tansy Wines was created. It is women owed, and made by women, and celebrates what they hold dear – community, sustainable farming, and sitting around a table enjoying wine, food, and conversation with friends.

The wildflowers growing in the vineyards was the inspiration for the name for Tansy Wines. Tansy is a wildflower that grows in Northern California and in Italy. And each wine label includes a hand-painted wildflower representing the flower that grows in the vineyard of that variety.

Tansy has a focus on Italian varietals, working with grapes including Pinot Grigio, Vermentino, Falanghina, Fiano, and Aglianico. They specifically source grapes from growers in California who are organic, practicing responsible farming. In the winery, there are no additives in the wine and no temperature controls. The wines undergo native fermentations and the resulting wines are low in alcohol with good acidity. Tansy Wines pay homage to the grape, bringing together the best of Italy and California.

Tasting Notes:

If Shelley had to pick one wine to drink, it would be Fiano. It is an all-time favorite of hers, and I understand why. It is a grape that can achieve high acidity, minerality, and body. The Tansy Fiano comes from one acre planted in the Bowland Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. It is fermented in stainless steel and neutral oak and sits on the lees for 11 months in oak. The resulting wine is lively and bright, with aromas of citrus peel, honeydew, apple, and Asian pear, as well as hazelnut, herbal, and mineral notes.

Food Pairing:

Like Chardonnay, Fiano is an incredibly versatile wine and a crowd pleaser. Fiano can be enjoyed with everything. Enjoy it with delicate dishes like oysters, steamed mussels, and salads. Or try it with richer dishes like stewed and braised meats, roasted vegetables with grilled vegetables, or tuna or halibut with olives, lemon, and capers.

Where To Purchase:

The Tansy 2023 Fiano retails for $36 and can be purchased directly from the Tansy Wines website.