Tasting Interesting Italian White Grapes in California

Tasting Interesting Italian White Grapes in California – Episode #835

March 19, 2010

Gary tries 3 unusual white wine grapes that are planted in California and are of Italian origin.

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Comments on this episode(243) Post a comment ›

“love me some Arneis and have been crushing Kerner lately too….” by Palmer
“qotd: haven't had many Italian whites, don't really have a fav…” by John_Kenneth_J
View all 243 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Eyrie Pinot GrisWillamette Pinot Gris
2008 Palmina ArneisSanta Barbara Other White
2008 Seghesio FianoSonoma Italian Varieties

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Palmina Wines

Posted in Fiano di Avellino, Pinot Gris, Video, california, white, wine, wines

View Comments

March 22, 2010

jimford
QOTD: Verdicchio!
March 22, 2010

dcrob
gavi
March 22, 2010

BradVinNH
What's with the dissing the shirt thing??? So it doesn't have a logo; isn't it about the wine?

QOTD: Scacco Matto – it's an Italian dessert wine that is as unctuous and delicious as a great sauternes and has a fantastic nose and length. Expensive, but worth the search to find.
March 22, 2010

Lvine
Italian whites are hard to find here in Chile. It'd be interesting to see how they'd do here.
saludos!
March 22, 2010

Allan
Now this will be exciting to see; Will Gary use the same shirt this week (did he tape this weeks shows, last week?) otherwise he will get pretty hammered on this friday's show, again (nice spotted B Murray) ; )

If he does, we will have to rename this show; “Gary Vaynerchuk's Booze-Cruise”. ; )
March 22, 2010

peaceloveandpinstripes
I don't have a lot of experience with italian whites i do enjoy gavi's
March 22, 2010

EricD
My favorite Italian white wines in general are Gewurztraminers of the Alto Adige, but I also tend to enjoy anything by Anselmi.
March 22, 2010

Steve D
Gary. Your question of the day was what was your favorite Italian white wine? Probably Asti Spumante. I have a question, you cover Italian wines pretty well but the Valle d Aoste region gets very little coverage. Someday could you do a show on Fumin (red) and petite arvine(white.) I am dying to find out what your opinion of these wines are before I go out and buy them… Cal Seal
March 22, 2010

Mike in C-town
Got to meet Jason Lett last September. Great guy. His take of the vineyard gives you the best product, after that you can only make it worse was classic.
And I agree that PG and Oregon will become synomous, but overtake PN? Uh, not sure of that.
QOTD: Just started teying Italian whites in the last year. No fav yet, but thanks to good tips from WL I've snagged some Pecorino, Verdiso and Falanghina. Picked up a grechetto that was solid too (from Goretti, you've reviewed their Sagrantino di Montefalco).
March 22, 2010

Plaid Avenger
This may be the first episode that I actually laughed out loud about…”this show has taken a very shocking turn for the worse”…hahahahaah oh wow.

Bam! Calling out the oyster/acidic white wine pair up! Classic awesomeness! You were so motivated about that wine and the Kumomatos that I am now salivating and have to head to the local oyster bar right now. Smoky and acidic? Damn, that sounds like money. And then the key lime lemon pie on the Palmina? This sounds like a whole dinner/white wine pairing. Too bad about the Fiano, but really, what could you expect after the first two wines?

Honestly, you were totally in the zone for this show. And the previous episode. It like watching performance art at its best.

QOTD: ORVIETO, ORVIETO, ORVIETO! Rock out on the small town in central Italy!
March 22, 2010

Allan
Look at his eyes! Plain to see isn't it. He was under the influence..

Haven't you read the previous comments???

Bill Murray has it right!
March 22, 2010

Allan
The next ep should be all about tracking down that Brandon guy!!
March 22, 2010

mattgmann
no comment section is showing up in the new episode
March 22, 2010

TommyB
QOTD: This is my favourite WLTV QOTD ever – why? I'm writing a thesis on Italian white wines next year. I love them more than life itself.. this question is too difficult – I'll come back to you on this one. I haven't found my favourite yet – thats my answer.
March 22, 2010

Wana
QOTD: Vernachia di San Gimignano
March 22, 2010

leeinsb
I love the Palmina Tocai Friulano
March 23, 2010

manonthemoon68
Nice show on some odd whites.

QOTD: Pinot Gris
March 23, 2010

mloagogo
Great show, been loving Italian whites for quite awhile. Had an '08 Ischia Bianco from Pietratorcia at the delicious flour + water in SF tonight that was excellent — and was a new varietal for me. Also tried a Coda di Volpe for the first time during this past weekend and was impressed. Of course I always love the Falanghinas, Fianos & Grecos and the minerality in all the Campanian varietals. In fact, I have rarely been disappointed when I order any Campanian white!
March 23, 2010

winemonologues
QOTD: Falanghina, by far for me! Great show. . . lots of energy. Hope your weekend was good!
March 23, 2010

Christophe
Great show. Nice that you are changing things up a bit

QOTD Verdicchio

Cheers
March 24, 2010

Illegal_Formation
QOTD: I've only had a few Vernaccias, but I've loved them every time.

Gary, you talk a lot about non-PG Italian whites, but looking through the archives, it doesn't seem like you've tasted a whole lot other than Greco and Falanghina. I cannot believe you have never done an Est! Est!! Est!!! With 6 exclamation points, the DOC name alone definitely brings the thunder.
March 24, 2010

A dumb Rhein king
Dude. If Brandon has an office, totally walk the show in there and do an ad-hoc episode with him sometime. The win will go to the patient one.

QOTD: I had a Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio the other day with chicken and asparagus and it totally pwned the asparagus.
March 24, 2010

DCaragher
GV – Exciting to see some “nerdy” whites on the show, especially one that showed well!

QOTD: I am a big fan of Soave.
March 24, 2010

BOLTViper
Argh! The day you talk about Italian white wines I miss it! I know this is a late post because I watch my WLTV on iTunes… but vermentino di gallura from Sardinia is hands down my favorite Italian white wine… Love it way more than Vernaccia and Soave. Gary, I know you've tried it… any from America? How about a tribute to Sardinia some day with some Vermentino and some Cannonau?
March 24, 2010

BOLTViper
Argh! The day you talk about Italian white wines I miss it! I know this is a late post because I watch my WLTV on iTunes… but vermentino di gallura from Sardinia is hands down my favorite Italian white wine… Love it way more than Vernaccia and Soave. Gary, I know you've tried it… any from America? How about a tribute to Sardinia some day with some Vermentino and some Cannonau?
March 26, 2010

david schwimmer
Raffaldini’s 2008 Vermentino
March 26, 2010

MJ
Good show. Grazie mille. Interesting to get into some of these less known wines & 2 good ones @ good prices is good

mjr
tokyo
March 26, 2010

davebedini
Argh! Visit Mom in Fl, miss your show. That's life. Favorite Italian white? Prosecco! Dry prosecco is food friendly, yet great as an apertif or just a sit and sip wine.
March 27, 2010

Jason Armes
Great show. Really interested in that Arneis.

QOTD: I just havent kept up with the few itallian white wines I have had to name a favorite. Soon though. Soon.

Jason
March 28, 2010

Weston3220
qotd: Verrichio however you spell it, well then there is Prosecco…
March 28, 2010

DrewM
Mott…no more A/C!!

QOTD…I love me some Soave….
March 28, 2010

wesleymcallister
Ok this is probably on of the best episodes ever. Gary I think you should just put up Brandon's email so we can all hammer him with emails.

QOTD: Ok I have a question for the question if you have only had 3 Italian whites can you claim a favorite?
March 28, 2010

RiesligRich
Boy if you like Palmina whites, youll really enjoy their REDS!
From So Cal and drink their Italian Reds, Very Good and Value.
March 29, 2010

JayZee13
Interesting topic for this episode. I am intrigued by some of these “lesser known” varietals turning up in California.

QOTD: Italian whites? I like Arneis quite a bit, although I must say that I have only had 3 or 4 different producers. I certainly haven't had any from the U.S.
March 30, 2010

Matt Theophilos
aaawww you had me so excited about the last wine…oh well.
April 2, 2010

Aaron
QOTD – Never had an Italian white. I'll make it happen within the week.
April 5, 2010

stanthewineman
Argiolas Costamolino Vermentino
April 5, 2010

stanthewineman
Argiolas Costalomino Vermentino
April 5, 2010

PSPatrick
QOTD: Generally speaking, I am very attracted to Vermentino. Funnily, I agree with Stan – from a QPR point of view I particularly like the Argiolas Costalomino Vermentino.
April 7, 2010

Cheryl S.
Living in Utah, I usually can't get the wines you review, but I did find the Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Gris. We found it delightful! I'll definitely be buying more.
April 12, 2010

richardvinifera
QOTD: Soave, producer is Suavia, retails for 10 british bones!
April 16, 2010

John_Kenneth_J
qotd: haven't had many Italian whites, don't really have a fav yet.
August 5, 2010

Palmer
love me some Arneis and have been crushing Kerner lately too.