Q. My wife just read in “A Thousand Days in Tuscany: A Bittersweet Adventure” (by Marlena de Blasi) where every local farmer made wine simply by “picking the grapes, fermenting the grapes, drinking the wine.” I’d like to find something like this to give to her. Can you suggest a source?
–David Layton, Wauconda
A. Sounds as though she’s looking for a basic, lusty “country” wine. Ask your local merchant for a good, cheap sangiovese. Or, if she’s willing to “travel” farther south, consider choosing a primitivo or nero d’avola from the boot of Italy or Sicily.
One very tasty and inexpensive Sicilian red to consider is the 2003 Corvo Nero d’Avola-Perricone-Nerello Mascalese. Priced around $7, this blend scores with an easy, fresh, yet polished style. There are touches of cherry, pepper and menthol to the wine. Serve with minestrone, beef ragu over polenta, spaghetti and sausage in tomato sauce.
Q. We recently spent two weeks in Italy and were quite taken with the local white wines in the Cinque Terre region. Are these available in the Chicago area, and, if not, can they be shipped from Italy?
–Barbara Segel, Hinsdale
A. Sam’s Wines & Spirits carries four wines you might be interested in from Cinque Terre and the surrounding region of Liguria in northwestern Italy. All are made by Domaine Enoteca Bisson. They are: 2004 Bianchetta Genovese U Pastine, $19; 2004 Pigato Riviere delle Ligure Ponete, $25; 2004 Marea Cinque Terre, a blend of bosco, vermentino and albarola grapes, $25; and a rose, the 2004 Ciliegiolo Rosato Cinque Terre, $19.
Efrain Madrigal, Sam’s wine director, said these wines are all very good, with an appealingly bright freshness. The wines are a bit pricey, yes, but Madrigal said the cost is in line given that the Cinque Terre is a popular tourist region where most of the wine is enjoyed.
Sam’s Downers Grove store has the Marea in stock but can order the others for you.
Madrigal also confirmed my hunch that while it is technically possible for you to order the wine from Italy, the logistics, the paperwork and the expense would all be daunting. I think it best to leave the importing to the pros.
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Send wine or spirit questions to Bill Daley, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, or e-mail wdaley@tribune.com.
