Dinner #2: Homemade Italian Night!

Italian Dinner Night!

This week, a couple of friends and I decided to do an Italian themed wine dinner! We paired three different Italian wines: Villa d' Rosso Toscano (Sangiovese), Fabbrica (Moscato), and Caparzo (Sangiovese Toscana) with three foods: a beef-based lasagna, spaghetti carbanera, and some bread and butter. Each of these items can be seen in the photos above and below. 

Villa d' Rosso Toscano

Fabbrica Moscato

Caparzo Sangiovese Toscana

Buttered Bread

Lasagna

Spaghetti Carbanera

First I tried the wines without food. The first wine that I tasted was the Caparzo Sangiovese Toscana, and I wasn't really a fan of it. This wine was very dry and tart, and I honestly couldn't taste many flavors because I was overwhelmed with the tartness. The only flavor that I could really pull from this wine was that of a berry. I then tried the Villa d' Rosso Toscano, and it was kind of dry and had a bit of a spiciness to it. There were some sweet undertones to this wine, which tasted a little bit like a blackberry or a plum. I then tried the Fabbrica Moscato, and I was caught by surprise because I actually didn't really like it that much. I usually love Moscatos, but this one lacked a lot in the fruitiness and it wasn't as sweet as other Moscato wines that I've had before. It had a slight pear taste to it with slight pineapple undertones. 

Me with the three foods and the Sangiovese

Now it was time for the wine pairing with the food! I first tried the lasagna with the Villa d' Rosso, and I actually really loved these two together. I thought that the two complemented each other very well, and the cheese in the lasagna was accentuated by the dry Italian fell of the red wine. I then decided to pair the spaghetti carbanera with the Caparzo Sangiovese Toscano and I thought that these also went well together. The wine really brought out the bacon flavors of the sauce and the pasta, and it was just right. The pasta was not overpowered by this wine, which was a good thing. The wine paired with this food was very well balanced overall. Finally, I decided to pair the Fabbrica Moscato with the bread. Again, I was pleasantly surprised by this pairing because I did not originally love the wine. I thought that this wine made the bread taste like a very sweet desert. The Moscato seemed to soak into the bread and make for a sweet treat. Overall, this dinner was a success! I originally did not like the wines, but pairing foods with them actually enhanced their flavors and brought out tastes that I hadn't previously pointed out upon my original tasting. 

The three wines

The three foods!

Friends with their food and wine!

Friends with their food and wine!

Friends with their food and wine!

Friends with their food and wine!

Tasting- Jam Jar

Name: Jam Jar

Variety: Moscato
Region: Westem Cape

Country: South Africa

Year: 2014

Price: $8.95

Shop Review: "This charming, easy-drinking Moscato offers flavors of peach, apricot, lychee and orange blossom. A lively jolt of acidity keeps it fresh and fruity. Fancy enough for a special occasion toast, yet sweet-natured enough to enjoy every day, our bright and cheerful sweet wines are sure to capture your heart." - Vintage Cellar

My Review: I really liked this wine and I actually ended up purchasing it. This wine obviously had a very fruity taste to it since it is a sweet white Moscato. I could taste some flavors of either strawberry mixed with a bit of pineapple and I also pulled the floral flavors from this wine that tasted a little bit like a peony. This wine was sweet, but it wasn't overwhelming because the floral flavors kind of balanced it out. This wine would be perfect for a spring day. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Rare Red

Name: Rare Red

Variety: Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, Petite Verdot, Merlot
Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2013

Price: $9.95

Shop Review: "A multi-vintage blend of Zinfandel, Petite Verdot, Petite Syrah, and Merlot that is full-bodied and fruit forward with a spicy and complex finish. This wine has been partially barrel aged for eight months in American and French oak." - Vintage Cellar

My Review: This wine was a tiny bit dry, but not as dry as the Becca wine. Again, this wine had pepper-like hints to it and was a little bit spicy. I did not taste any of the fruitiness to this wine because the other flavors seemed to be more profound and "in your face".

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Becca Tovana

Name: Becca Tovana

Variety: Old Vine Garnacha
Region: Munebrega

Country: Spain

Year: 2013

Price: $8.95

Shop Review: "Gnarled vines, grown without irrigation, are a mainstay of Spain’s winemaking tradition and produce small clusters of perfectly ripe Garnacha grapes. Aromas of blackberries, plums, and cherries fill the glass and develop into luscious flavors of black stone fruit. Long, supple tannins complete this extraordinary wine." - Vintage Cellar

My Review: This wine was very very dry. It tasted a little bit smokey with a hint of blackberry to it. The finish on this wine tasted almost like caramel or a chocolate to me. It also had a tiny hint of pepperiness to it, which made it unique. Overall, I thought that there were too many flavors going on in this wine, and it wasn't one of my favorites. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Marques de Caceres

Name: Marques de Caceres 

Variety: Verdejo
Region: Rueda

Country: Spain

Year: 2013

Price: $9.95

Shop Review: "Vivid straw colour. Fresh, clean and intense bouquet enlivened by notes of citrus fruit with a depth of pears and apples. Deliciously fresh and full in the mouth where racy, focused flavours deliver notes of minerals, lemon rind and green apples. Good length and a refreshing finish. Has all the character of the best from its appellation." - Vintage Cellar

My Review: My first impression of this wine when I was smelling it was that it was going to be kind of tart. It almost smelled a little bit yeasty. When I tasted it, I was surprised because I actually liked it. I thought that this wine was very unique. It had a little bit of a bite to it and it tasted maybe like and apple or a pear, or even a dried peach or apricot. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Dibon Cava

Name: Dibon Cava 

Variety: 25% Xarel-lo, 45% Macabeo, 30% Parellada 
Region: Catalonia

Country: Spain

Year: not listed

Price: $9.95

Shop Review: "88 points – Wine Enthusiast
Made from 45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada, the nose offers regal yeast and richness, while the palate has complexity to prop up apple, citrus and grapefruit flavors. Solid from front to back, with health and freshness. Cava, Catalan sparkling wine, is made mostly in the regions of Penedes, and the capital of cava is Sant Sadurni d´Anoia. Dibon is located in Vilafranca del Penedes, aproximately 20 Km from Sant Sadurni. The Dibon vineyard is in the process of becoming fully organic. It consists of 75 hectares of trellised vines 1000 feet above the Mediterranean Sea. " - Vintage Cellar

My Review: I liked this wine, but it was a little more tart than I would prefer. There is only one way to describe this wine to me. Safe. With a light gold color and body, green apple and floral nose nothing stood out at first. The taste had a slightly bitter bite almost immediately, followed by the tingling effervescence and a grapefruit finish. Unless you’re a fan of grapefruit, I’d pass on this one.

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Hahn Piesporter Michelsberg Riesling

Name: Hahn Piesporter Michelsberg Riesling 

Variety: 100% Riesling 
Region: Piesport

Country: Germany

Year: not listed

Price: $9.95

Shop Review: "This wine’s light, airy mouthfeel belies its sweetness and intensity of flavor. Honeyed pineapple aromas; similar flavors on the palate, adding gentle citrus notes toward the long, sweet finish." - Vintage Cellar

My Review: I was excited to taste this wine because I typically like Rieslings, and this wine did not let me down. I loved all of the fruity flavors to this wine both when smelling and tasting it. I primarily tasted a honey tropical fruit from this wine, and it was extremely refreshing. This wine also had a slight floral finish to it, which made this wine go down so smooth. I think this wine would be perfect for a summer night, and I would definitely consider purchasing it in the future. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine.