Day Seven: Zenato, Le Donne Del Vino, Lake Garda

"Adventures In Wine Country" with Co-Hosts Chuck Byers and Greg Rist is a new series airing in April 2010 on CHEX Television Channel 12 Durham and the Greater Toronto Area."


Making Pasta

We took off early in the morning to visit the Dalla Rosa Alda restaurant in the little village of San Giorgio where the powers to be were waiting to show Greg how to make pasta and cook a donkey roast (again, sorry Shrek). I am sure that somewhere, someone shudders when the word "beef" is mentioned. Regardless, the production went well and Greg did enjoy the fruits of his labour.

Then we were off to Lugana where Nadia Zenato and her brother, Alberto, were waiting to give us a tour of the premises. Nadia was the picture of loveliness and sophistication. Tall, slim and blonde she walked with an air of elegance. Her attire was impeccable. Alberto also looked the success that he is and both he and his sister had an excellent command of the English language.
We toured the extremely pretty and well organized winery with a barrel cellar that was picture perfect, a well constructed and eye catching tasting room and of course the main production facilities that were so very clean. Both Nadia and Alberto assist their mother int he running of the winery. Alberto handles the production plus European sales while Nadia handles the Public Relations and sales in Italy and the United States.
Nadia was interviewed regarding not only the winery but her involvement with "Le Donna Del Vino" a women's' wine society in Veneto (800 members of women from all walks of life). The organization has branches in many parts of the world. I suggested that I send her the name of one of the areas most exciting sommeliers, Lindsay Groves, who would probably wish to start a chapter here in Canada.
Surrounding the winery were beautifully kept vineyards which had roses at the beginning of every row. There are a number of theories why roses are kept---the most frequent being that roses are susceptible to the same diseases as the grapes but reflect the problems sooner and if they are doing poorly then this may in turn affect the grapes. Some say that this is now not necessary. Regardless, they do look nice in front of the vineyard rows.
Lunch and tasting were held outside next to the winery and some vineyards.
Lunch
Lunch was a mixture of cold cuts, prosciutto, vegetables, cheeses and salads. It was just what the "doctor" called for.
We started with a Method Classico Sparkling wine made from 90% Trebbiano de Lugana and 10% Chardonnay. The wine has infinitely small bubbles which lasted in the glass. The nose was a mixture of Toast, Yeast, Apple and Citrus. The palate was fruity with apple/citrus notes and a great zesty mouth feel.
Being in Laguna and having vineyards in Valpolcella, gave Zenato a unique ability to produce wines from both areas. The Valpolicella Classico Superiore made from 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 10% Sangiovese. With a dark red colour, cherry/vanilla nose and a nice, soft, spicy mouthfeel.
The Ripassa was a dark red colour with a cherry/dark fruit mix. It was very elegant with a long finish on the palate. Then we were introduced to a wine called "Cresasso" .
This single vineyard wine was made from 100% Corvina grapes. It had a nose of dark fruit, plum, spice and pepper with a reciprocal palate. It was round and full with a nice mouth feel and a lingering finish.
The Amarone Riserva was typical in that is was very soft fragrant wine with dark fruit and ripe red on the nose as well as a ripe red/dark fruit palate. The wine has power and is still young. It could easily do 15 years in the cellar if not more. This wine is only made in the best vintages.
The lunch went very well but it was time to leave as the same day we had an interview with Luca Sartori President of the Cosorzio Per La Tutela Dei Vini Valpolicella.
We passed by Lake Garda before heading to Byblos Art Hotel (Villa Amista) for the interview. Surprisingly it was not far from our hotel Castelrotto or Castrum.
The interview went very well with Mr. Sartori being very eloquent in his depictions about where wine and the wine industry were going in Veneto.
Then it was time to go back to the hotel and start packing for the morning flights to Rome and then Toronto.
Boath Greg and I would like to thank the Consorzio Per La Tutela Dei Vini Valpolicella, Mr. Luca Sartori and Mr. Accordini as well as the Italian Trade Commission in Canada namely Mr. Paolo Ponti for assisting us in coming to Veneto. Big thanks to our "Bulldog" Cecci, without whom our trip would only have been a shadow of itself.
A couple of plane rides to Rome and Toronto and we were then home.
End Of Day Seven