The Invasion of French Varietals into Italian SoilMatteo’s Reflections from the Glass 2009
For me 2009 was a big year of great wine tasting, drinking and celebrating with friends and family. I felt that I cemented some loose ends in my wine knowledge while at the same time discovered that I (and most everyone) was merely at the beginning of a great journey through the wine world. I shared many a great, and some not so great, glass of vino, whether it was here in the Bottega, out at a local restaurant, at our wedding dinner in Italy or simply, and most often, at home around the table with a couple friends and a nice meal. Picking the “Top Five” wines of the year is a difficult and in some ways unrealistic task, so I simply looked back at the first five wines that brought a smile to my face when I thought back about them. Here’s the list:
The wine industry is buzzing about a genre of wine that defies most conventional categories. From NYC to San Francisco, avant-garde restaurateurs, wine critics and wineshops are embracing a concept that is at once revolutionary and uber-traditional. The result is what has been dubbed “orange wine”, not quite red, nor white, nor rose. These wines are a particular breed of deeply colored, intensely flavored wines, created only by the most artisanal producers looking to capture the essence of ancient winemaking techniques; extended skin contact.
With all the mayhem surrounding the holiday season, it can be difficult to find time to step back and reflect. Each of us at the Wine Bottega owes a huge debt of gratitude to the people that surround us at the store every day. From our lovely friends and neighbors in the North End, to the talented salespeople who bring us their stories and cheer along with their wares, to our loyal customers who inspire us with their passion for the wines we love to share. We wish you and your family a relaxing and delicious Thanksgiving.
