It’s not everyday that one receives a wine shipment directly from Italy, therefore I am quite excited to share these wines with you from Venturini Baldini.
Venturini Baldini is located on a 130 hectare estate, which dates back to the 16th century. The estate is located in Emilia-Romagna, in the north of Italy, outside of Bologna. The Venturini Baldini family began producing organic wines on the estate in 1976. Today the estate is managed by the Prestia family. Giuseppe and Julia Prestia took over the estate from the Venturini Baldini family in 2013. They continue the work of the previous owners, producing organic sparkling wines. Venturini Baldini has only been producing organically certified products since the early 1990’s. It was one of the first wineries in Italy to do so and the first winery in the region.
Venturini Baldini produces Lambrusco. Lambrusco is a red or rosé wine made in a semi-sparkling or frizzante style. Lambrusco is also a red wine grape, of which there are many varieties. There are however five commonly used Lambrusco grapes, which include Lambrusco Grasparossa, Lambrusco Maestri, Lambrusco Marani, Lambrusco Salamino, and Lambrusco Sorbara.
Lambrusco developed a bad reputation in the 1970’s for cheap, sweet, sparkling wine, but that has since changed. Most Lambrusco is now dry or semi-dry and it is extremely food friendly. I am excited to see more Lambrusco in the Vancouver market, including those from Venturini Baldini, which are now available at Liberty Wine Merchants.
I paired the four wines that I was sent from Venturini Baldini with lasagna and charcuterie. This was my very first time making lasagna and I have to say that this recipe is a keeper! The recipe uses béchamel sauce instead of ricotta cheese, and it is so creamy, rich and delicious. The recipe is from Nicole Dickerson at Palm & Vine and you can access a copy of it here.
Montelocco Rosé Lambrusco Emilia IGP $28.99
The Montelocco Rosé is made form Lambrusco Grasparossa and Lambrusco Sorbara using the short charmat method. With the short charmat method the final wine is ready in approximately 30 days, while the long charmat method can take up to 6 months. The long charmat method generally produces a higher quality wine with more structure, body and superior perlage.
After being open for two hours, this Lambrusco has aromas of cherry, vanilla, strawberries and cream. This is an off-dry, frizzante wine with medium acidity. The palate offers strawberries and cream with herbal/earthy cherries and a medium finish.
This is a delightful wine that would pair very well with charcuterie.
Montelocco Lambrusco Emilia IGP $28.99
This wine is made from Lambrusco Salamino using the short charmat method.
After the bottle was open for four hours, this wine has aromas of violet, vanilla, dried cherry, black plum jam, dried figs and baking spice. This Lambrusco is off-dry but the medium+ acidity and medium tannins keep the sweetness very much in check. The palate offers bready notes with flavours of black cherry compoté, vanilla, black plum jam, dried fig and baking spice with a juicy, medium+ finish.
A great pairing for meat-filled ravioli or a rich lasagna.
Cadelvento Lambrusco Spumante DOP
This sparkling wine was made from Lambrusco di Sorbara and Lambrusco Grasparossa using the long charmat method.
The Cadelvento has a delicate nose and palate. After the bottle had been open for four hours there were aromas of blossom, apples, grapefruit and bread with hints of strawberry and cherry. This is a dry, sparkling wine with medium+ acidity. The palate offers flavours of apple, bread, grapefruit and grapefruit pith leading to a mouth watering, savory, almost bitter, medium finish.
This Lambrusco would make a wonderful pairing for shellfish and other seafood.
(Not available at Liberty Wine Merchants)
T.E.R.S. Ancestrale Lambrusco Emilia IGP $49.99
The T.E.R.S Ancestrale is made from Lambrusco Montericco using the ancestral method.
After the bottle had been open for two hours there were aromas of dried cherries, leather, dried strawberries and raspberries. This is a dry, semi-sparkling wine with high acidity and medium- tannins. The palate offers cassis, strawberries, cherries, raspberries and a bitterness reminiscent of cranberries, with a medium+ finish.
This Lambrusco paired well with lasagna and prosciutto.
References
Beavers, K. (June 10, 2021). Wine 101: Lambrusco. Retrieved from: https://vinepair.com/articles/wine-101-otello-lambrusco/
Massanois Merchants of Fine Wine. https://massanois.com/brand/venturini-baldini/
ITC Administrator. (April 14, 2020).Charmat, Champenoise and Ancestral Method – All the Ways to Have a Sparkling Wine. Retrieved from: https://integralewine.com/charmat-champenoise-and-ancestral-method-all-the-ways-to-have-a-sparkling-wine/