Agreed. You can literally spend a lifetime exploring just the wines of Italy…and probably still not taste them all. I believe that after France, Italy is the greatest wine producing country hands down… with varietals that most haven’t heard of yet, let alone tasted. I’ve been buying & drinking Italian wines (both red, white, & sparkling) for 30 years and have just scratched the surface! ;-}

QOTD1: I’ve had many Italian whites over the last few months. They have all been good but I can’t recall any specific brands or varietals. QOTD2: Ghost Adventures

I had some nice Roer Arneis wines from Piedmont last year. We also started to like Moscato a lot.

Better yet, he should do a tasting with one of the hosts (maybe Jeremy?) WHILE rideing in the reasonably priced car. Or perhaps some less dangerous version of my suggestion; either way, with the entertainment value of all the hosts of Top Gear (UK) and GV it would be insane!

Thanks, G. A new region to seek out…cool.

QOTD: I’m seeing more Alto Adige in my cart as of late. Campania is a close second.

Me too. I really love this format because it informative but as the week progresses, get us some deep episodes and for the love of Pete bring back the couch!

Well said D.

Good point but I’m a broke ass student living in the sticks right now, so good, cheap, Italian wines don’t come my way very often.

Nice episode, Italy is great hunting ground for flavours, grapes and terroirs that are simply unexplored by most wine media. In 2010, had a chance to try some aged Negroamaro, in particular a 1997 Notarpanaro from Taurino that was delicious and had character similar to a young Grenache from a hot vintage like 2003. Lots of Blood Orange and Red Candies, melted over some unwashed mushrooms. In 2011, I need to finally track down some good Lugana, which I’ve always heard is like the White Burgundy of Italian Whites.

QOTD: Modern Family, the show that makes both my neice and my grandma laugh

The show is like sex, gotta have at least two wines so there is a conversation happening but 3 is even more fun! Just kidding but not really.

Mad Men by a landslide.

Thanks Mott. But I haven’t been able to get a show onto my iPod since 962 (Cava). They seem to download fine into iTunes but no matter what I do, they won’t synch with my iPod.

Congrats on the win G!

2010 was the year I started exploring Nebbiolo. Watch out Bordeaux!

This year I’m adding Barolo’s & Barbaresco’s to my cellar (w/ a healthy dollop of CdP).

Favorite TV show: Top Gear.

~ John D.

Teroldego is a great wine for roasts!

QOTD: The most intriguing Italian wine I had last year was a wine called From Black to White. It’s produced with 60% Rondinella bianca, 15% Golden traminer 15% Kerner, 10% Incrocio Manzoni. Produced by ZYME. The winery of the former enologist of Quintarelli, Celestino Gaspari. This year I’m leaning a little toward Piemonte for reds, but sticking to Soave and Lugana for the whites.
My favorite TV show is the Wire, hands down.

Enjoyed the show. That varietal is new to me. Agree with JayZee would be good to try more than one.

QOTD: Did not have anything “out of the box” from Italy in 2010 that I can recall.

TV show: I don’t watch tv much, cooking shows on Create mostly. Current show fav would have to be The LXD, cause its different.

I love Teroldego! I was on the hunt for some last year and have found 2 wineries in California that do a really nice job! Amphora in Healdsburg and Urban Legend in Oakland. Urban Legend has an amazing 2008 Teroldego! Amazing! Thanks Gary for exposing more people to this wonderful varietal!

QOTD: As far as the most outside the box italian wine I’ve tried I’m going to have to say Nerello Mascalese from Sicily in the Etna DOC, great region. I’m trying to get myself more educated on Burgundy, Bordeaux, and German riesling right now and see myself delving into those categories in 2011.

This was the perfect show to mention the “Mendoza” line because it is a close reference to MY favorite TV show “How I Met Your Mother” because Barney Stinson mentions the “Vicky Mendoza diagonal” in his hot/crazy scale in one of my favorite episodes of the show!

My most outside the box Italian wine in 2010 was a Groppello from the Southern shores of Lake Garda. It was amazing. You can get it here http://www.turinaitalianwines.com/products/Wine/Groppello.htm. The 2007 was awarded best of the vintage by the Brotherhood of Groppello Producers. The Marzamino and the Chiaretto (both pretty “outside the box”) are great too.

QOTD — Sicily. Nerello Mascalese. It is more Burgundian or Barolo in style.

Or any wines from COS. They are made in old fashioned anfora, instead of oak barrels.

one wine show definetly too short. I like it more when you have the chance to compare the wines, it seems easier to understand the characteristics of the wines that way. anyway great show and i will continue to watch!

First — go Jets! I love near Cleveland, so any opponent of the Steelers is a friend of mine. We also have MANY Italians in my area (did I mention my last name is Lapmardo?). We taste lots of Italian wine, and the most bitter, lean and chewy Italian reds (like Terolgedo?) are always the BEST with food. Viva Italia…

Answering your question of the most interesting out-of-the-box wines from last year. There are two that I will be looking for . One is a Marzemino (related to the Teroldego) and the other was a blend of Carmenére and Oseleta (Campo-Buri on the label) both from NE Italy.

QOTD: in 2010: Elio Monti Montepulciano D?Abruzzo 2005 was awesome. In 2011 I want to try more teroldego and aglianico.

QOTD 2: Seinfeld

qotd1: I love Brunellos, tho I wouldnt say that is a nerdy region, digging Chianti classico’s too recently
qotd2: Just finished watching reruns of Project Runway ! season 5? or was it 6.

Hey gary

Good Show. I love the Italian love; so much variety and so many wines to which food is essential.

QOTD 1: 2010 was the year I really fell in love with Barolo, but there’s nothing nerdy about that. Probably the most interesting Italian wine I tried in 2010 was Ribolla Gialla from Collio, though I tried a few interesting wines.

Cheers
Andrew

89/100

Short sharp episode most notable for the worst pronounciation of a wine of all time!

The Larry Sanders Show