On October 27th BWine had the opportunity to sample 6 wines across 3 locations on our Wine Crawl. As we journeyed from one bar to the next our palettes toured across Italy, experiencing Trentino’s freshness in Caracristi’s Mezzesangue and Piedmonte’s crispness in a Nebbiolo rosé from Viberti.  

We began our evening at Vinodromo, where we were offered a 2023 Caracristi Mezzosangue and Franciacorta Brut from La Fioca. The Caracristi comes from Trentino’s Vigneti delle Dolomiti and uses Pinot Grigio. Through natural vinification Caracristi produces a dry white, whose floral notes of jasmine and elderflower with orchard fruit undertones and a saline finish allows for a variety of pairings. La Fioca’s Fraciacorta Brut offered a slightly more exciting sip. From Lombardy, the Brut reminds drinkers the success of Metodo Classico, a natural re-fermentation in the bottle. La Fioca’s Brut predominantly features Chardonnay, with Pinot Nero and Bianco components and ages at least 18 months on the lees, producing delicate citrus and yeast aromas. La Fioca’s Brut’s balances acidity to create an Italian wine reminiscent of Champagne.

At our second location we were offered a slightly more prominent Lugana from Pietro Zardini. Produced from Trebbiano near Lake Garda, the Lugana delivers crisp minerality and bright fruit. It’s fermentation of 2-3 months in exclusively stainless steel, preserves the grapes purity. From the first sip, the drinker is met with a wine bursting with citrus, white peach, and subtle florals. A medium bodied, wetter-white, the Pietro Junio Lugana makes for a great option for those who enjoy a wine with dessert.

At our final location of the night, Enocentrico, the wine crawl ended with a burst of flavor across three offerings. Michele Chiarlo’s Gavi Le Marne and Barbera d’Asti “Le Orme” are awarded the highest level of Italian Wine classification DOCG for good reason. Both wines come from Michele Chiarlo’s famous Piedmont estate. The Gavi Le Marne showcases 100% Cortese providing drinkers with aromas of acacia, apple, and lemon zest. Chiarlo’s other wine on tap, the Barbera d’Asti “Le Orme”, is fermented in steel and aged for over a year. The “Le Orme” conveys notes of juicy cherry and plum. Coupled with supple tannins, and vibrant acidity, the Le Orme is a definite standout of the night. For members less enthusiastic of reds, Enocentrico’s final offering was a rosé, produced by Viberti.  The Winery’s “Le Gemella” was another standout.  Made from Nebbiolo, the rosé brought notes typical of Barolo’s nobel grape along with bright strawberry and grapefruit notes. Such a combination produced a crisp and dry, wine with lingering freshness to end the night.

The October Wine Crawl offered a true journey through regions, flavors, and stories. A reminder of how every sip carries the essence of its land and the passion of its makers.