Old World wine blends with New

table top by Myrna Robins

Not far in African terms, but the journey from the Rhine to the Venetian and Sicilian winelands presents a huge change in wine varietals^? and styles. It's surprisingly easy to access affordable imports of Italian labels that will add style^? to your antipasti and pizzas, polenta^? and risottos, panna^? cotta and zuccotto. Importers Melgab International have an impressive list of labels, with retail prices ranging from R22 to R650 a bottle.
 
Having been advised by several colleagues that I missed out on a great feast of Italian specialities at Magica Roma that were matched to the imported white, pink and red wines, I can report on a few that will partner seasonal rustic Med feasts very well. Starting with a rosy sparkler from Veneto (R49), the Prosecco Raboso Sole^? Novi is an easy-drinking dry^?, fruity^? aperitif^? with alcohol^? levels of just 11.5%. Delicate fish and seafood dishes are usually partnered by pinot grigio in Italy, a dry white food wine with mineral^? notes, and the low-alcohol Santepietre (R49) is a good example.
 
Staying with products from the north, the 2005 Valpolicella Ripasso^? Classico^? (R80) is a dry red blend^? of corvina, rondinella and a little molinara, a spicy, smooth^? wine to complement meat^?, poultry and some mature cheeses, or compare this with the Sicilian cultivar^? nero^? d'Avola, in the 2005 Chiaramonte, a dark, fruity, mouth-filling wine from fairly new producers down south.
 
There are super Tuscans and Barolos, chianti and merlot, sangiovese and marsalas, grappas and more on the list. Go to www.melgab.co.za for more info.
 
» Le Contesse (Rosé) Prosecco Raboso Sole Novi
» Lamberti Pinot Grigio Santepietre
» Montresor "Capitel Della Crosara" Valpolicella Ripasso Classico
» Firriato Chiaramonte Nero D'Avola

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