The Event: We Are d'Abruzzo Americas Tour 2018 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC.Toronto was their only Canadian stop

The Date and Time: Wednesday September 12 11:30 - 5PM

The Event: We Are d'Abruzzo Americas Tour 2018 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC. Houston and Boston were the USA cities.

The Venue: George Brown College for the seminar; Terroni for the lunch and walkaround.

The Target Audience: wine trade.

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines were not commercially available in Ontario, but wineries were hopeful of picking up agencies.

The Quote/Background: There was a seminar led by Michael Fagan with seven producers showing off their wines (I've folded their wines into the rated listings below). The wine bones of the Abruzzo region were discussed and commented on (32,000 hectares of vines, 3.5 million hectolitres of wine of which 800,000 Hl is Multipulciano d'Abruzzo DOC/DOCG. There are 10,000 producers; most white wine is Trebbiano, but Pecorino is their best white wine. Minor conflict of interest: my Italian grandparents came from Abruzzo.

The Wines: I did not try all the wines. Many prices were vague or lacking.

 

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

-Tenuta Ulisse Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOP Amaranta 2015

-Valle Martello Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC Prima Terra 2012

-Fontefico Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC Riserva Titinge 2014  $50 USD [organic]

-Codice Citra Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC Riserva Caroso 2013 $29.95 Authentic

-Collefrisio Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC Semis 2011

-Il Feuduccio Colline Teatine Pecorino IGT Feuduccio 2017 $28 Woodman

-Dora Sarchese Colline Teatine Pecorino IGT Mimi 2017

-Tenuta Arabona Colline Pescaresi Pecorino IGT Organic Mia Natura 2017  Vino Allegro

 

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

-Azienda Tilli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC Lupus 2016

-Cantina di Ortona Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC Gustav 2013

-Di Sipio Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOP Riserva Di Sipio 2013

-Bosco Nestore Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOP Riserva 110 2012  Mavirosa Imp

-Azienda Tilli Terre di Chieti Pecorino IGT Concetto 2017

-Bosco Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOP Riserva Pan 2013  Mavirosa Imp

-Casal Thaulero Terre di Chieti Pecorino IGP Mr. Peco 2017 $13.95 Authentic

-Ciavolich Colline Pescaresi IGT Pecorino Aries 2017

-Codice Citra Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOP Ferzo 2016  $17.95 Vintages October

-Codice Citra Terre di Chieti Pecorino IGP Ferzo 2017 $17.95 Vintages

-Collefrisio Terre di Chieti Pecorino IGT Vignaquadra 2017

-Fontefico Abruzzo DOC Pecorino Superiore La Canaglia 2017

-Dora Sarchese Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC Mimi 2015

-Tenuta I Fauri Abruzzo DOC Pecorino 2017

-Tenuta Ulisse Terre di Chieti Pecorino IGP Ulisse 2017

-Valle Martello Colline Teatine Pecorino IGT Brado 2017

-Valori Abruzzo DOC Pecorino Organic Valori 2017

 

The Food: most of the stand-up luncheon finger food was also presented at the walkaround function. We were enticed by Italian pre-cut cheeses, croquettes, fish and tomato stew, spiducci (arrosticini) lamb skewers, pate on crostini with caramelized onions, white anchovies on crostini, grilled cheese and tomato open faced sandwiches, fresh fruit,  and more. The breads were from their SudForno bakery.

The Downside: the seminar started late, but as there was another tasting, it ended abruptly by 1PM.

The Upside: a chance to taste many Pecorino wines not normally listed by the LCBO, plus a few red reserve wines.

The Contact Person: p.titone@ice.it

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com