20 Nov The Labels Caught My Eye, And The Wines Were Perfect with Pizza
When my friends invited me over for dinner, I offered to bring the wine. They told me it would be a casual night and we would make pizza. So, naturally, I thought about Italian wines. And what did I pick? Not wines from Piemonte or Tuscany or Sicilia, but from Umbria. It was the catchy labels of Madrevite Winery that caught my eye. And the wines were a perfect pairing with pizza.
About Madrevite
Madrevite Winery is in Umbria, a small region in the center of Italy, bordering Tuscany and north of Rome. Umbria has been called “Italy’s Green Heart” as it is mainly agricultural, and more sparsely populated than its western neighbor, Tuscany. Umbria has no access to the Mediterranean but is home to one of the largest lakes in Italy, Lago Trasimeno.
If you have heard of wines from Umbria, it is likely the white wine Orvieto (made from Grechetto and Trebbiano) and the red wine Sagrantino. But Madrevite Winery produces other wines. Madrevite is based in the municipality of Castiglione del Lago, near the border between Umbrian and Tuscany, within the Colli del Trasimeno DOC.
Madrevite was founded in 2003 by Nicola Chiucchiurlotto who restored his family business that dated back to 1978. Nicola has 39 acres of vine, 37 of which are planted to vines. There are also olives and beans planted to maintain biodiversity. The main red grape varieties cultivated at Madrevite are Gamay del Trasimeno, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, and Syrah; the white ones are Trebbiano Spoletino and Grechetto.
Aperitivi
Upon arriving at my fiends’ house, we opened the two white wines that I had brought.
‘Elvé 2022 Trasimeno
‘Elvé 2022 Trassimeno is made from 100% Grechetto. “Elvé” is a word in Umbrian dialect that means, “ah, she’s/he’s arrived.” Grechetto is a traditional Umbrian grape that has had a reputation as a cheap wine. But if you invest in it, it produces a delicate and fresh wine. This wine spent six months in steel on the fine lees and then three months in bottle. It has aromas of white flowers, white fruits, almonds, and a touch of herbaceous notes. Aromatic and fresh, it was a perfect way to start the evening.
Il Reminore 2022, Umbria
Made from 100% Trebbiano Spoletino, the wine spent six months in stainless steel on fine lees and was then aged in bottle for six months. Trebbiano Spoletino produces a more structured, aromatic wine with a more distinct character. This wine had notes of citrus, tropical fruits, white flowers, and minerality. The wine is rich and complex as it hits the palate, but then a rush of vibrant acidity.
Both of these wines were lovely wines to start our evening but could easily be paired with charcuterie, appetizers, fish or seafood.
Wine and Pizza
I had brought one rosé wine and two red wines with me. All three were made from Gamay del Trasimeno, one of Umbria’s most important varieties. It turns out the Gamay del Tasimeno is the same grape as Grenache, which is also Cannonau in Sardinia and Tai Rosso in Veneto. I knew these wines would be perfect for pizza.
Our first pizza was a classic Margherita pizza and we paired it with the La Bisbetica Rosato 2022 made from 100% Gamay del Trasimeno. The wine had vibrant strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and floral notes and a bright yet savory finish.
The Opra Gamay del Trasimeno 2021 had rich red fruit aromas, notes of black cherries, plums, and spice, and silky tannins and vibrant acidity. It was a perfect pairing with a pepperoni and olive pizza.
The C’OSA Gamay del Trasimeno Riserva 2018 had a lovely nose with aromas of raspberry, strawberry, and cherry, as well as floral notes. Although it was a reserve wine, it was fresh and light with a savory finish that paired beautifully with a mushroom pizza.
We enjoyed all of the wines of Madrevite with our pizza and I look forward to exploring the wines of Umbria more in the future!