WINE REVIEW Italy's Most Exported White Wine, January 2015

by The Chicago Wino

(that we may have forgotten about)

Look, I love a good Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling (amongst several other popular whites) just like the rest of you, but sometimes I just want to taste something different. I am always on the hunt to taste a grape and/or region I’ve not had, to further expand my palate. I came across two Soave (pronounced so-ah-ve) wines which I’ve not had in such a long time. Seems silly though since it is Italy’s most exported white wine. Soave is a dry white wine from the Veneto region in northeast Italy. Typically it is made with the native grape Garanega, and Pinot Bianco, Trebbiano di Soave, and Chardonnay in varying percentages.

It was great to taste these two Soave wines in particular because they were both 100% Gaganega grape and 2012s. It led to a more interesting comparison.

Rocca Soave D.O.C. 2012 ($15): Aromas of bright fruit, cantaloupe, minerals, and stone fruits. Flavors of apples, honeydew melon, minerals. Although it has some nice acidity, it was deliciously rounded. This is very approachable!

Dalcero Vigneto D.O.C.G. 2012 ($28): Aromas of oak and butter. Flavors of tart green apple and minerals. It is very crisp but definitely fuller bodied than the first one. It kinda reminded me of a Chardonnay. Please note that this should be left out a bit as it’s much more expressive when warmer than the usual temp.

They were both tasty wines but different styles, Rocca being a lighter, more approachable wine versus Dalcero being a fuller, more complex wine. Depending on my mood or what I’m serving I would easily drink these both! Don’t get stuck in a rut; try some new wines. With over 10,000 different wine grapes in the world it’s not hard to do. Sláinte!

ABOUT THE WRITER Eric McMillan, The Chicago Wino, is your source for lighthearted reviews of wine. thechicagowino.com also features links to fun tools like wine/food pairing, ideal serving temperatures, and "must try" bottles! Visit thechicagowino.com for a simple look at some complex flavors. "Like" Eric on Facebook–The Chicago Wino

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