Ten wines for Ferragosto

Drinking wine even during the mid-August Ferragosto holiday is something that die-hard wine lovers do, those who cannot go without wine even when it is 40°C outside.

But then there are those who spend their holidays in the mountains or others places to avoid the heat.

This being the case, here I have drawn up a very personal Top Ten list of wines to drink and celebrate the holiday. They are all white wines because during this period one eats lighter, more than often fish, and plus it is cool to drink. Enjoy.

Number 10 

Sicilia Catarratto Shiarà 2016 Castelucci Miano –Sicily 

Made from Catarratto grapes and aged sur lie in stainless steel for six months. The wine has a clear, straw-yellow color and a bouquet of rare finesse with notes of citron, lime, wild flowers, yellow plum and a hint of flint. The mouthfeel is taut, very elegant, agile and composed, saline and fresh making this deliciously drinkable. Surprising.

22 euros

Number 9 

Colli Tortonesi Filari di Timorasso 2015 Luigi Boveri – Piedmont 

A Timorasso varietal wine that is made only in stainless steel and is aged for 11 months. It has an intense, straw-yellow color and a wrapping aroma with smoky notes and scents of grapefruit and exotic fruit. The pronounced mouthfeel is saline and warm with an excellent acidity supporting the significant body and long persistence. Bold.

32 euros

Number 8 

Alto Adige Gewurztraminer Kastelaz 2016 Elena Walch – Alto Adige 

Made using only Gewürztraminer grapes in stainless steel and aged sur lie for five months. The wine has a bright, golden-yellow color and fragrant and aromatic scents of dog rose, jasmine and lychees with typical and clear notes of the varietal. The mouthfeel is saline, pleasing, fine, elegant and warm with a finish that is a tad bitter while the persistence is exceptional. Fragrant.

21 euros

Number 7

Friuli Isonzo Pint Grigio Gris 2015 Lis Neris – Friuli Venezia Giulia 

A Pinot Grigio aged in tonneau barrels for almost a year.  The color is golden-yellow and the bouquet has classic aromas of Williams pear and white peach together with hints of spice and citrus. The mouthfeel is very taut and agile, despite a bold body, warm and saline and upheld by the acidity. The finish is long and persistent. Wrapping.

20 euros

Number 6 

Le Vignole 2015 Colli Picchioni – Lazio 

A blend of 60% Malvasia de Lazio, 20% Trebbiano Toscano and 20% Sauvignon Blanc that ages in barriques for ten months. The wine has a golden-yellow color and intense notes of yellow peach, acacia honey and white flowers on a light background of spice. The mouthfeel is saline and warm with an excellent body and persistence. Soft.

11.50 euros

Number 5 

Bolgheri Bianco Criseo 2015 Guado al Melo – Tuscany 

A blend of 80% Vermentino and a 20% mix of Fiano, Verdicchio and Petit Manseng that ages for a year sur lie in stainless steel. The color is a clear, golden-yellow and the aroma has a formidable complexity with notes of flint, citron, fresh almond and hints of exotic fruit. The full and saline mouthfeel has an excellent body and is warm yet agile giving it a very pleasing drinkability. One of the best Tuscan whites of the year. Complex.

20 euros

Number 4 

Malvasia Il Bardughino 2016 Alessio Brandolini – Lombardy 

Made from Malvasia di Candia from a vineyard of the same name that has vines that are over 40 years old. The wine is made only in stainless steel and ages sur lie for five months.  The color is straw-yellow and that aroma has the usual scents of hydrocarbons, almost like a Riesling, together with notes of grapefruit, citron and summer pear. The taut and saline mouthfeel is very pleasing and is typically bitter in the finish. Aromatic.

8 euros

Number 3 

Offida Pecorino Reve 2015 Velenosi – Marche 

Made from Pecorino grapes with half the wine aging for six months in barriques and the other half for six months in stainless steel. This has a clear, golden-yellow color and a very citrusy aroma with notes of citron and grapefruit along with those of exotic fruit and a hint of fresh almond. The full and saline mouthfeel is fresh and while pleasingly drinkable it has body and is very persistent. Elegant.

15 euros

Number 2 

Trentino Superiore Pinot Grigio Rulendis 2016 Cavit – Trentino 

A pure Pinot Grigio varietal made only in stainless steel. The wine has an intense, straw-yellow color and typical scents of Williams pear and white peach, which are very characteristic of the varietal. The mouthfeel is warm, very saline and rich yet easy and pleasing to drink and the finish has an excellent persistence. Delicious.

14 euros

Number 1 

Custoza Superiore Amedeo 2015 Cavalchina – Veneto 

A blend if 40% Garganega, 30% Bianca Fernanda (Cortese), 15% Trebbiano Toscano and 15% Trebbianello all which are fermented separately and left to age on the lees for a few months before being blended the following July. The wine has an intense and bright straw-yellow color and the aroma has an excellent complexity with a light smoky note and one of flint along with those of citron and aromatic herbs and hints of wild flower. The pronounced mouthfeel is saline and has an excellent tension between the acidity and the body that make this easy to drink but without being commonplace, subtle yet elegant and persistent. A small champion, the product of wise winegrowing and winemaking. Formidable. 

12 euros