Lidia Bastianich’s latest in a long line of cookbooks, Mastering the Art of Italian Cuisine, just hit the shelves in time for the holiday season. If you’re planning to pick up a copy (you should), then you may consider pairing Lidia’s own regional wines with one of her rustic Italian dishes. Yep, she has a winery, too.
Lidia established Bastianich winery in Friuli in 1997 with her son and famous restaurateur, Joe Bastianich. The winery is located in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, close to Lidia’s childhood home in Istria. This Northeastern corner of Italy is bordered by the Adriatic to the south, Slovenia to the east and the Austrian Alps to the north.
Bastianich makes a collection of distinctive wines using indigenous grapes grown on 28 hectares of estate vineyards. Crumbly sandstone soil (ponca) lends the wines their mineral backbone. The expressive, aromatic nature of these wines makes them approachable and wildly popular. High acidity keeps the wines fresh and allows them to pair brilliantly with a range of food. Please your guests’ palates with something different this year! Here are two of our favourites.
Bastianich 2013 Friulano ‘Adriatico’, Friuli Colli Orientali
Retail: $23.95 / bottle (12 btls/cs)
Friulano is an indigenous grape variety grown in Friuli, an area known for its unique terroir. This distinctive wine is aromatic and rich (though not oaky) on the palate with notes of ripe peach, oily citrus peel and almond wrapped up in a clean, mineral finish.
Le Mozza 2013 ‘i Perazzi’ Morellino di Scansano
Retail: $23.95 / bottle (12 btls/cs)
The Bastianich family also owns La Mozza winery in Maremma. 28 hectares of vines sprawl out along the Tuscan coast, about 100 kilometers south of Siena. Morellino is the local clone of Sangiovese. Think of it as a juicy, fruit-forward, more velvety version of Chianti. The 2013 vintage is spectacular and one of the best in memory.
91 Points, Antonio Galloni
…Sweet floral notes meld into a core of black cherry, hard candy, lavender, mint and sage. In this vintage, the Perazzi has a bit more energy and acidity than is the norm, which perks up the flavors and balances some of the natural richness of this site. The 2013 is quite possibly the most refined Morellino from La Mozza yet.
91 Points, James Suckling
A firm and velvety Morellino di Scansano with shaved chocolate, blueberry and walnut aromas and flavor. This is a wonderful Tuscan red for everyday.
The Vine represents Bastianich and La Mozza wineries. We deliver to your home or office within a few days. Hosting for the holidays? Cross wine of your list and let us bring it to you.
To place an order:
Call 416-693-7994 or e-mail wine@thevineagency.ca
