Questioning how running 26.2 miles and drinking wine go together? Please allow us to explain…
Fact 1: The marathon race commemorates the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield near Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C., bringing news of a Greek victory over the Persians. Wine relevance: The Ancient Greeks pretty much invented wine as we know it today, so I assure you wine was flowing aplenty when this news arrived. Perhaps if someone had gotten a refreshing goblet into the hands of poor Pheidippides fast enough things might have turned out differently for him…
Fact 2: The first annual Boston Athletic Association marathon was conducted on April 19, 1897, the date chosen to commemorate the famous ride of Paul Revere in 1775.
Wine Relevance: It’s well known that the Sons of Liberty held their secret meetings at a distillery and also at The Green Dragon Tavern - drinking, toasting to freedom and plotting revolution. A less well-known fact is that they would often come around the corner to The Wine Bottega. Paul Revere particularly insisted on never missing a Friday night tasting.
Conclusion: It’s all about respecting the history of this great race. In fact one might say that we have a responsibility to keep the tradition of wine and the marathon alive!
Not yet convinced? Well, you’ll just have to check out our Boston Marathon inspired line-up.
2006 Cave Cooperative Coteaux du Vendomois Pineau D’Aunis Rose, Loir et Cher, France
What better way to put a little spring in your step, or stride in this case, than with an ultra-refreshing springtime rose! This is one of the first 2008’s to cross our paths and we were instantly enchanted. The region of the Coteaux du Vendômois is located along about a 40 minute TGV ride southwest of Paris. It sits along the Loir River, which in this spot branches into many tributaries that cut through the charming town. The grape of choice is the not particularly well-known pineau d’aunis. Pineau comes from the same root as pinot as in pinot noir. It is a reference to pinon or pine cone which looks similar to the shape of the grape cluster; however, the grapes are not related. Pineau D’aunis was a favorite of noble families throughout France and Englanf from the 13th to the 15th centuries for spicy reds. In this example, the wine is made by the regional cooperative into a lovely fresh citrus-y rose. It reminds me of a delicate ruby red grapefruit ice that you might have to cleanse your palate between courses at a très schmoozy restaurant. This wine would be a delight on its own for a picnic or I have heard a raving review of its ability to pair with simple spaghetti aglio olio.
2007 Fattoria Laila Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Le Marche, Italy
Veni, Vidi, Vici, Verdicchio! As, I always say, “If it was good enough for Alaric, King of the Visigoths, it’s good enough for me!” Of couse I am referring to the legendary powers of verdicchio. Barbarians on their way to sack Rome would stop to fortify themselves along the way. They (including good ol’Alaric) became particularly fond of verdicchio, thinking that it gave their soldiers extra strength and stamina. As they plundered farther and farther, they spread the reputation of this white. Today this ancient grape varietal is the star white of Italy’s Le Marche region and a favorite of ours. Fattoria Laila lies among the Marche’s rolling hills in Corinaldo. It has a stunning spot overlooking the Adriatic. Purchased in 1990 by Andrea Crocenzi, who is ably assisted by winemaker Lorenzo Landi, the estate balances tradition with modernity to produce a wine of elegance and exuberance. They are quickly becoming a leader in the region! Try this wine with fried calamari or next time you want to vanquish your enemies.
2007 Domaine Pinon Vouvray Sec Tendre, Loire Valley, France
Francois Pinon is one of our heroes. A former child psychologist, he has the soft voice and caring, open personality that you’d expect. It’s apparent that he takes the same approach to listening to what his vines tell him. His wines are textbook Vouvray, extraordinarily able to reflect their terroir. He plows his (certified organic) vineyards, without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides, then picks the grapes by hand and ferments with indigenous yeasts. The Cuvee Tradition is sec tender, which is just a touch sweet – somewhere between a sec and a demi-sec. This is just the bolt of sweetness you need to give you an energy boost for the big race! It is capable of aging beautifully (the 2002’s are drinking very well right now), but are hard to keep that long because they are so delicious when young. We’ve got a bit of a Chenin Blanc addiction here at The Wine Bottega and we’re not ashamed to admit it. These are some of the greatest food wines in the world and remain a superior bargain.
2007 Roagna Az. Agr. Paglieri, Dolcetto D’Alba, Barbaresco, Italy
The Roagna family has been at winemaking for more than 150 years through 5 generations. They are located in one of the most historic wine towns in all of Italy, Barbaresco. Here the king grape, like in the not so far away town of Barolo, is nebbiolo, a native to these parts. The family has a very strong sense of tradition and only creates wines in this way, the old way. When Alfredo Roagna finished his enology studies he began to give the maximum interest to the native land and grape varietals as well as realize a family dream, to own a piece of land in the mighty town of Barolo. Today young Luca Roagna, just 28 years old or so, has taken the reigns with the constant objective to listen to the land and craft traditional wines. While the estate’s real job is to make exceptional Barbaresco and Barolo, they do have a couple of young, fresh wines that can be consumed on a daily basis, like this dolcetto. Vinified in a huge barrel and then left to rest in stainless steel, this is a perfect wine for everyday eating and drinking. So as you “carbo load” for the big race with mountains of fresh pasta, enjoy this little beauty, we’re sure you’ll be back for more.
2007 Raptor Ridge Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
What’s in a name? Well for Raptor Ridge it has to do with sharing their 27 acre estate with diverse families of raptors, birds of prey, such as Red-tailed hawks, Kestrels, and Owls. Heartbreak hill, however, is just that, a grinding slope that makes you wonder why you started this marathon in the first place. And what grape is more heart breaking than good ol’ pinot noir. While capable of displaying terroir nuances like few others, pinot noir is notorious for its ability to disappoint. Whether it is from grey rot or under/over ripeness, pinot noir is fickle. Luckily the Raptor Ridge winery is one of the few in the new world that have worked hard to give Oregon pinot noir a great name, deservedly so! A dedicated team headed up by master wine maker and owner Scott Shull strive to harness the particularities of the rugged and diverse soil. As a part of the Chehalem Mountain Winegrowers this band of 80+ vintners has a lot to deal with. Being in the cool north of the Willamette they deal with harsh winds and sometimes hail. But the soil is worth the work. Deep volcanic ash and Laurelwood soil give the wines a distinct aroma and flavor profile. Raptor Ridge is a small winery, dedicated to quality productions. This vintage they made less than 2150 cases of this cuvee and about 5000 cases total. They also donate a portion of their proceeds to the “Salud” health benefit program for the support of the seasonal workers that make American winemaking possible. This pinot will not break your heart!!
2005 Foradori Teroldego Rotaliano, Trentino, Italy
In the spirit of rooting for the underdog, we thought we would salute all the close second place finishers out there (or wherever else you might finish in the pack without a ribbon breaking across your chest. This wine always comes in a close second just behind the estate’s flagship wine the Granato. In addition the teroldego grape itself, while fabulous, often gets lost behind the big names of Italian wine. Fortunately teroldego has a worthy champion in Elisabetta Foradori, the force of nature who is passionately committed to getting this grape the respect and attention it deserves. The ideal location for this grape is in the alluvial, gravelly soils of the Noce Valley on the Campo Rotaliano, a plain nestled in the shadows of the Dolomite Mountains in Northern Trentino. Elisabetta takes this perfect location and through biodynamic farming, massale selection plantings, hard work and determination produces stunning wines. The teroldego grape is related to syrah and similarly produces wines of incredible dark richness and complexity, with hints of olives, leather and roasted meat. A truly special wine that deserves to stand high on the podium next to the Italian greats!
