Primitivo is a grape that causes a lot of debate.  Wine connoisseurs used to believe that it was the exact same grape as Zinfandel.  Research has shown that while they are both clones of a Croatian Grape (Crljenak), they are not exactly the same.  So what is the difference...

Primitivo's rough translation is "early one".  (Fun Fact, Tempranillo means the same thing in Spanish.)   Not just being a clever name, Primitivo tends to ripen earlier than Zinfandel.  The plus side of this is that it usually produces wines with lower alcohol content that are easier to drink.  For me, I used to love a huge zin that gave me a headache in the morning.  Now a days, this is not the case.

Primitivo in my opinion shows more fruit and it a plumper wine than your California Zinfandel. Don't get me wrong, it is no pushover.  There is still a little spice on the finish. Because of the fruit that it shows, it pairs easier with more foods.  I always pull out Primitivo whenever my family is eating a pepperoni or sausage pizza.  

Primitivo is finding it's place in more vineyards these days.  There are plantings in California (You actually may find Zinfandel/Primitivo blends these days) as well as Washington state.  The traditional Primitivo comes from Puglia, Italy.  If you are a visual person, it is the heel of Italy.

Petraio Primitivo in a Nutshell:

Description:  100% Primitivo. Deep purple in color. Blackberry and Black Cherry fruit shown.  A touch of clove and spice on a smooth finish.

Pairings:  My favorite is pizza with meat and red sauce.  Also would go great with Lasagna or a big bowl of Spaghetti and Meat Sauce.

Vintages/Price:  Current vintage is 2010.   One of the best parts of this wine is that you'll find it for less than $9 a bottle. 


For more information, please visit http://www.tmarchettico.com/Petraio_PrimitivoDiPuglia.pdf 

My wife and I took a trip last summer to Niagara Falls.  We had some friends tell us that we needed to take a day and tour the Ontario wineries in and around Niagara on the Lake.  We did not expect much....

We were delighted with the experience that ensued.  We visited about 6 wineries and their tasting rooms.  We were surprised with many wines that we tried and ended up filling our trunk.  There was one wine thought that stuck out in both of our minds when we got home.  At Reif winery, their specialty is Kerner.  I had never tried it before but thank goodness I did.  It has become a staple in our house.

Kerner is a hybrid of Riesling and Trollinger.  It is a white grape that is not grown many places.  You will find small plantings in it's native Germany as well as Canada.  The one that you will be predominantly in the United States though is from a favorite winery of mine. 

Abbazzia Di Novacella is found in the Alto Adige region of Italy.  It is just south of the Alps and it provides interesting climates that allows them to grow varietals that are uncommon in Italy.  They produce Lagrein, Sylvaner, Kerner, Gewürztraminer and Veltliner.

My wife and I differ on our taste in wine as many couples do.  In terms of whites, she likes sweeter varietals such as Riesling and Pinot Gris.  I tend to lean more towards wines with more minerality. Kerner is a perfect middle ground for us.  It is not too sweet and not too dry.  It is very light and crisp while also providing bright acidity on the finish.  It is perfect for sipping in our hammock on a hot day.  Please, do yourself a favor and introduce yourself to this grape.  It is a friend that will be in your life for a while!

Abbazia Di Novacella Kerner in a Nutshell:

Description:  Pale Straw in color and floral on the nose.  Light and crisp with great minerality.  Nice touch of ginger on the finish.  Fruit here is apricot and stone fruit.

Pairings:  Perfect for a picnic that includes a Caprese Salad and Prosciutto wrapped Melon.    

Vintages/Price:  Current vintage is 2010.   Everywhere that I have seen this wine, It is right around $20.  You may also find 2009 vintage on sale around the $15 range which is well worth it.


For more information, please visit http://www.kloster-neustift.it/en/wine-cellar/wine-cellar.html

In my last post, I wrote about a Moscatel that surprised everyone that tasted it because it was not stereo-typically sweet.  Today, I am going opposite. Most times, when someones speaks of an Italian Red, they first conjure up Chianti or even a Super Tuscan.  The stereotype is big and bold.  That all changes when you pop open a bottle of Voulet Antichi Giochi Piemontesi Casorzo.

The first thing that I noticed about this wine is that it is made in a Frizzante style.  Frizzante means Semi-Sparkling.  Yes, you read that right.  It is a red wine with effervescence. After the initial shock of the tongue tickling you experience, more surprises come.

This wine is low alcohol and it is very sweet.  I would almost describe it as a sparkling sangria of sorts. It has a ton of fruit and goes more towards a sparkling grape juice rather than wine.  The bonus is that is does have alcohol!

 This is the wine for the non-wine drinker.  People who say I don't like wine will not say that when this is their glass on your patio!

Voulet Antichi Giochi Piemontesi Casorzo in a nutshell:

Description:  Extremely easy to drink due to very low alcohol content. Surprising effervescence gives an added source of conversation.  Tons of fruit consisting of mostly raspberry, elderberry and concord flavors.  

Pairings:  A perfect wine to accompany chocolate based desserts.  Also, would be great with spicy BBQ on the grill during summer months for something different.

Price: Varies per website/market.  Should be in the $11.99 to $17.99 range.