Nov 2/10Tasting with Dr. Franco Giacosa of Zonin

2. The Time and Date: Tuesday, November 2, 12:30 – 3 PM

The Event: A tasting with Dr. Franco Giacosa, director of Viticulture and Winemaking for Casa Vinicola Zonin, repped in Ontario by Impress Inc.

The Venue: Mistura

The Target Audience: wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: scattered, see below

The Quote/Background: Zonin produces wines in seven different regions through nine properties. One of these is Barboursville, Virginia, a former estate of Thomas Jefferson. The company employs 32 winemakers and viticulturists looking after 1800 Hectares. 40% of their wines are exported. Today, there was a sustainable viticulture presentation, for those properties that were "near organic". The company professes to be more concerned about the environment of the estate rather than the vineyard by itself. In collaboration with Professor Denis Dubourdieu (Oenology, University of Bordeaux), Dr. Giacosa has worked on the new MAGIS project to promote viticulture that respects the environment, ensures a sustainable production with healthy and high quality grapes, while reducing and minimizing water, soil, and air pollution. Two of their wines were here, the Aquilis and the Rocca di Montemassi (see below).

The Wines:

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Rocca di Montemassi Maremma Toscana 2008 (Bordeaux blend) $35 est.

-Principi di Butera Symposio 2007 Sicilia (Bordeaux blend) $30 est.

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Zonin Chianti DOC 2008, $12.55 GL – declassified Chianti Classico

-Tenuta Ca'Bolani Aquilis Friuli Aquileia 2009 (Sauvignon Blanc), $30 est.

-Rocca di Montemassi Maremma Toscana Le Focaie 2009 (Sangiovese), $16.30 in PQ

-Masseria Altemura Saseo Salento Puglia (Primitivo), $15 est.

-Castello D'Albola Chianti Classico Riserva 2006, $26 est.

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Zonin Sauvignon Blanc DOC 2009, $11.65 GL

-Zonin Valpolicella Ripasso DOC 2008, $15.95 GL

-Zonin Prosecco NV, $13.95 GL

 

The Food: absolutely scrumptious dishes, including appetizers of cheese balls, Portobello crostini, squash and olives, and chicken. We had these with the General List wines. I then had a scaloppini di vitello followed by a baked apple and pumpkin crumble. Others had Mediterranean sea bass filets or squash gnocchi, and ice cream. And of course all the wines went very well, since they are Italian…

The Contact Person: sebastien.ouellet@zonin.it

The Marketing Effectiveness of this Event (numerical grade): 90.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com