Wine Library TV

Search

EP 835 Tasting Interesting Italian White Grapes in California

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

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.


Latest Comment:

View More

luca bercelli

89/100

line of the day – ‘ I’m pretty much crushing it’

GV almost chased Brandon out of the office to get him on camera – I wish he had

Tags: california, Fiano di Avellino, Pinot Gris, Video, white, wine, wines

Related Stories & Episodes >

Episodes >

←  Older Comments
Newer Comments  →
  • grellot

    Angimbe' from Cusumano 70% insolia and 30% Chardonnay and Anselmi's Soaves

  • Darlene O.

    Hey, Gary! Love Prosecco….

  • QOTD: Cortese as in Gavi.

    Speaking of which we're lucky here in Calif. to have so many vineyards/wineries with Italian plantings. Among the whites I like are the Cortese and Traminer from Mosby in Buellton (Sta. Barbara Cty.), just down the road from Sideways. But more amazing is Mosby's 80 proof cortese grappa, which will grow hair on any chest, male or female.

    Carlo P.

  • Allan

    YEEEEEEEHAAAAAAWWWWW!

    Hello wayno

  • Allan

    I’m just gonna stick with Allan now, but the new avatar i’m proud of. Googled it. Cool?

  • scottEJ

    Thanks for content, G. Other than the standard Pinot Grigio, it hasn't really occured to me to go the white Italiano/Americano route. I will certainly seek these out.

    QOTD: Cabanon Bianco. Solid, solid, solid. A big white, but, not in the “red drinkers white style”. Just big, fruity, zippy, creamy, and an all-around treat.

  • 2nd time commenting… but since I used to live in Southern Switzerland and drink almost only italian wines… I felt compelled to post…
    QOTD Favorites would be arneis and gavi. Soave coming in a close 3rd.

  • Gary, Dude, ya know I think ya great but dude who taught you how to roll up sleeves?
    Great selection of wines. When I think of spring, I think white wine, front porch sitting, kicking back with friends. Maybe break out my guitar and sing a few country tunes.

    QOTD: too many to list. Chianti's, Prosecco. Hell. I'm the Cosican Bandit! I like all Italian wines. Though, Amarone I'm very selective.

  • Dude? You always crack me up.

  • Anthony Terlato won't be happy with you. Ah the heck with him. I'm with you.

  • jsums

    Good show. You hit on my weak (and by that, I mean relatively ignorant) spot with the Italian wines. Besides the obvious stuff like Piedmonte and Tuscany, Italy is just so intimidating with all its micro-regions and unique indigenous grape varieties. I need to just get over it and dive in, right? My GV resolution: for the next year, in every case I buy there will be at least one Italian wine I've never even heard of. That should help! QOTD – In my limited experience with Italian whites, I've really enjoyed some Friulano and Falanghina.

  • KVM1985

    QOTD: As always, I need to try more of the wine mentioned. As of now, I like prosecco and pinot grigio, if in the mood.

    Have a great weekend everyone!!!

  • ErieWineGuy

    Interesting show.

    QOTD: Amid all the Soave, Roero Arneis and Orvieto, I remember most the 5 or 6 year old Sylvaner from the Abbazia de Novacella.

    I thought that it was a perfect wine, doing exactly what it was supposed to be doing, for the amount of talent it was given.

  • QOTD: does a prosecco sparkler count?

  • Favorite Italian White Wine… Aminea Greco di Tufo… great example of what Campania can produce, as long as they can keep the cost low to me!

    Hey Gary, while I was watching this (random side note)… ever drink any Romorantin? I used to handsell a lot of it back in South Carolina as what I would call “the wine of the summer.” Well, that and Picpoul de Pinet… Enjoy the weekend!

  • Michael C in MKE

    I have always leaned towards the Soave's and Trebbiano's myself.

  • Michael C in MKE

    Verdicchio I almost forgot.

  • zwillusd

    To your question… two come to mind, one of which I'm drinking right now and I believe was a recommend from your book. That is the 2003 Moncaro Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico — beautiful balance. The 2nd is the 2006 Bragato Colli Orientali del Friuli Tocai Friulano that you had on WLTV a while back and scored 94 points. I agree it deserves it. I'm glad to have crossed your path on these two.

    Here's my note from tonight on the Moncaro:
    90+ min in med-base decanter @68F. COLOR- gold turning amber with age. NOSE- super nose full of spritz and acid and minerals that make your nose hairs stand on end. White peaches and canned tangerine slices covered in granulated sugar come to mind; add that on top of a bowl of vanilla yogurt and you've got the gist. PALATE- my is this supremely good wine. It's so light on the tongue but caries so much character, just utterly charming. Sweet, but with the sweetness that biting into a fresh pear or peach offers. Cream and blue stones on the mid-palate. Long finish that starts sweet and turns more bitter — remnants of a lighted match or burnt bread crumbs in the toaster. Impeccable balance. This seven year old white is drinking in it's prime; not the least bit tired and perhaps only 5% faded. I must try more of this Verdicchio grape. Really tastes like a killer Chardonnay. This is well worth buying if you can find it. I think I paid a mere $16 bucks, but it's well worth 30-40 for my tastes.

  • Hahahaha that Brandon escapade was hilarious….how about an extra battery Mott??

    QOTD: Probably Moscato, yah it's sweet but sometimes you want that sweetness, you know? You can only drink so much Coke with high-fructose-corn-syrup.

  • Great Show Gray!
    QOTD: Fiano di Avellino

  • Marc

    QOTD: donnafugata anthilia

  • castello

    Wow, I can almost taste it.

  • castello

    I'll join you with some Truck Driving Music.

  • castello

    Grappa! Love it,,,,,,when it's good. Can I get some Mosby's? I'll look it up.

  • medo303

    Very easy QOTD:

    Fianio di Avelino

  • maxinvegas

    QOTD: By far it is Arneis. It is aromatic, floral and most of all produced in Piedmont.

  • bethiflorist

    I have been visiting your blog much often. I am impressed with the way of presenting the tasting notes. Your blog is the best. Keep on posting 🙂 Colonialgifts.co.uk

  • agreed!

  • Allan

    I'm back!

    Check out the new avatar, cool huh?

    Didn't catch the new ep last night… was in the cinema watching Shutter Island, great film.

  • Allan

    Sooooo sweet

  • Allan

    Qotd: Moscato. Because of my gf, she's a sugar-holic. I havn't actually tried that many italian whites. Note to self; DO IT!?

    Recommendation for this weekend: Go watch the new Scorsese pic. It's a classic.

    Question for the weekend: What is your favourite Scorsese movie?

    Brandon! Grow up!
    Mott! Charge it up!

    Have a great weekend all! ; )

  • YoungDave

    I gotta echo the great quote by Allan:

    Mott! Charge it up! (Classic!!)

    QOTD: I've always been a big fan of Fiano, Arneis, Soave Classico, etc. However, lately I have been seeking out different Erbaluce, Franciacorta, and I even came across a pretty solid Albana di Romagna (2008 Vigna Rocca Albana Secco) that was quite unique.

    PLEASE EITHER DO AN ERBALUCE OR FRANCIACORTA EPISODE SOOON! GREAT PALATE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY AND VALUE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHAMPAGNE QUALITY (FRANCIACORTA). Cheers!

  • Richie

    QOTD: Greco. Though I have not had that many others.

  • RocketRon

    Good show. Enjoyed the part with Brandon bookin it out of there. Too bad they couldn't go after him.
    QOTD- Never had a Italian white wine yet.Might have to change that this weekend.I'm a bit of a Newb in the wine world. Closes thing I had was a desert wine called Pantelleria. It had a black licorice orange peel taste that I didn't care for.

  • BruceS

    QOTD is easy. It's the Bragato Tocai Friulano featured on the Laid Back Friday ? Episode #471. GV rightly raved about this beauty giving it a score of 94 points…something you don't see too often. We bought a few bottles and it turned out to be exactly as Gary explained. Paired heavenly with crab cakes. Then POOF..it disappeared. I've periodically searched for this beauty and continue to come up empty handed. It's like the aliens came in the night and beamed Bragato right off the planet. 🙁

  • vintage59

    Qotd: Tocai Friulano .

    GV- great show, so cool when stuff happens, man would have wild to see you chase Brandon down. Gary, you has great enery in this show, good job!, Great topic.

    Got a comment- Italy seems to be one place in the world holding on the the old world of wine making, not bowing to the fruit bomb style of the new world. Man thank god for that!

  • Vintage59 thnx so much, yeah I was into this show 🙂

  • I know BruceS the wine was Insane 🙁 so sad it gone!

  • CHARGE IT UP!

  • Thnx beth!

  • I love that Sleeve move!

  • Agreed ScottyB they make sick wines!

  • “…Went from a kiss on the cheek to doin the nasty!” -Luda

  • winesurfer

    Qotd: Frascati

    Nice show Gary – you do continue to crush it. Kudos!

    -WineSurfer

  • QOTD Tocai Friulano
    at the end of may in italy for one day almost all the wineries open their doors too everyone and let you taste all their wine for free. yes u have read right for free

    It s something you can't miss

    http://www.movimentoturismovino.it/cantine_aper…

  • MarcBelgium

    Very interresting show. Italian grapes in the US.
    I liked it.

    QOTD. I have a lot of Italian white wines I adore. Cervaro is one of them .
    But another one is Balciana, Verdicchio from teh Marche region. And Falanghina, Cesco dell' Eremo from Campania.

    The one I love the most is …….. Falanghina.

  • waynoooo daaaaa winoooo

    Yo G , What da Heck did You SCARE poor Brandon for ?????? I never seen a person
    run sooo fast in me life !!! :o)

    qotd: Favorite Italian White??? Ain't got None…. Zip, Zilch, Nada, Zero, Nyit…….

  • Not surprised on the Seghesio. I've been underwhelmed by all their wines aside from their zinfandel's (really dig their home ranch). Have had their regular zin, home ranch, omaggio, venom and arneis. The latter three were all let downs.

    QOTD: Jermann's W…Dreams. Killer Chardonnay. Have had it about 5 times. One night I put it up against Vogue's white burgundy from musigny, and jermann pile drove vogue into the ground. Killer stuff.

  • I love your energy totally excited when you do Italian whites…you started me seeking out these way back when.

    QOTD: 06 Caldora Colle dei Venti Pecorino Abruzzo aromatic concentrated citrus with some nuts on the finish – reviewed on your show got me sooo hooked cuz I can drink it with my fish but it will stand up to my meat loving friends too!!! – the Friulano is one of my favorites too!!

  • JiminAtlanta

    Lots of energy on the show to wake me up this morning. I do not drink many Italian whites, but I have enjoyed some of the frizzante, sweeter wines such as moscato.

←  Older Comments
Newer Comments  →

Close

Not Subscribed to WLTV yet?

Never miss an episode and get notifications on the hottest wine deals!

No thanks.