The Event: Wines of Puglia – the heel of Italy's boot. June tasting

The Date and Time: Friday, June 6, 2014  5PM to 7PM

The Event: Wines of Puglia – the heel of Italy's boot.

The Venue: Bata Shoe Museum

The Target Audience: wine writers and consumers

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available through LCBO or consignment, as noted.

The Quote/Background: It was appropriate to hold the tasting at the Bata Shoe Museum, which was used once before for a Puglia event. Sommelier Antonio Mauriello led a seminar presentation which described seven of the wines that we tasted.

The Wines: We began with a tasting of Tormaresca Chardonnay IGT Puglia 2013, +751882 $13.95 (rated: 3 stars, 85 - 87), coming soon to the LCBO. Otherwise, all the other wines were red.

 

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

-Varvaglione Vigne & Vini Zinfandel Primitivo del Salento IGP 2012, $15 Caliber

-Varvaglione Vigne & Vini Il Papale Linea Oro Primitivo di Manduria DOP 2010, $19.95 Vintages

-Leone de Castris 50 degrees Vendemmia Salice Calentino DOP Riserva 2010 [negroamaro, malvasia nera], $19.95 Halpern

-Duca Carlo Guarini Boemondo Salento IGP 2010 [primitivo], $14.80 A Mano Import

 

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

-Tormaresca Torcicoda Salento IGP 2012 [primitivo], $21.95 Oct 11 Vintages

-Tormaresca Neprica Rosso 2011 Puglia, +692771, $14.95 Aug 16 Vintages

-Tenute Emera Sud del Sud Salento IGP 2012 [negroamaro, primitivo, merlot, syrah], 6.5E FOB, no agent

-Carvinea Sierma Salento IGP 2009 [aglianico], $16 Cavinova

-Rivera Il Falcone Castel del Monte DOP Riserva 2008 [nero di troia, montepulciano], $23.90 Lifford

 

The Food: Italian cheeses, fresh cheeses, breads, bread sticks, crackers, fresh fruit, veggies.

The Downside: it was late on Friday night, and there were a lot of consumers crowding the tables.

The Upside: a chance to taste some Puglian wines and the informative seminar.

The Contact Person: dsanzone@rogers.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 86.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com