This is set in view of the beautiful town of Ascoli Piceno with the Monti Sibillini mountains spread along the horizon behind. The winery is larger than the other two but still places a great deal of emphasis on quality. This is evidenced by the long corridor adored with awards as we walk down to the tasting room.
The founder of the winery, Angela Velonosi, is one of the pioneers of Pecorino and we were proudly shown an example of the first vintage when Pecorino was produced under the Velenosi name in 1983. Unfortunately we didn’t get to taste that bottle but we were treated to a taste of the current range, which was impressive.
Villa Angela, Pecorino, 2014
Pale in colour compared to the other pecorinos we’d tasted. Very tropical aromas with an great acidity, making the side of the mouth water with each sip. Wonderful easy drinking make this an ideal party wine!
Villa Angela, Offida ville Angelo 2014
Much more intense nose. Full bodied, rich, banana and honey. Still good acidity that makes the wine so drinkable. I enjoyed this on its own. Perhaps some slices of bread with fresh green olives would be nice but the wine needs to be centre stage!
Velenosi 'Reve' Pecorino Offida DOC 2011
Amber in colour. Strikingly golden. Rich flavours of caramel, white flowers, vanilla and yet with a good acidity that swept the palate clean after every mouthful.
The acidity is the key that would make this an adventurous pairing for food. I’d love to have this served with lobster and chips. The richness of the lobster making a luxurious partner to the wine!
Visit the winery online: http://www.velenosivini.com/
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Discord in Odesa; pruning at Shabo goes on!
Last week a picture was posted on Twitter of vines in Shabo, a large estate that lies to the west of Odesa on southern Ukraine’s Black Sea coastline. The image seemed benign at face value but the reality, of course, is that the city of Odesa has been bracing itself for attack by Russian forces.
An aperitif by the coliseum
As COVID-19 conspires with the grimmest of winds and rain to force a societal retreat behind our own front doors, the word ennui springs to mind. The muddle of displeasure is pierced when Natalia hands me a large bulbous glass of a liquid I do not recognise.
Artichoke pasta and very fine Pigato
Britain’s lamentable exit
On the eve of Britain’s official departure from the EU, my partner and I decided to explore a small town on the Italian Riviera where thewintry cold doesn’t feel so much like cold war bite.
I had warned my significant other that I would be having an inverse departure party, a release of the sanity valve if you like!
Soave: volcanic wines with elegance and longevity
Sitting inside the ancient castle walls inside the town of Soave, a short drive from Verona in northern Italy, the unique slightly almond aroma of the indigenous grape, Garganega, rises gently from my glass. The castle sprawls up the side of an extinct volcano that gives the region its variant soil structures that mark out the better quality of Soave wines.
An American In Paris; Tanisha Townsend (@GirlMeetsGlass) discusses podcasts, Paris wine bars, & what she's drinking at the moment
Tanisha Townsend decided to move to Paris 4 years ago after regularly passing through the city en route to the world’s most famous vineyards. In fact, it was about 2 years ago at the Printemps de Champagne Bouzy Rouge tasting in Reims that I saw (who we shall now refer to as) GirlMeetsGlass chirpily speaking to her web followers on Snapchat.
Wine tasting in Galicia: The pilgrims search for Albarino
The cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, the final resting place of Saint James, rises out of the landscape, infested with antiquity. The rambling steep streets give way to shafts of dramatic light, emblazoned chapels, and tightly packed tapas bars, dusty, as old novels pressed together in antiquarian bookshops.
