Italian Wines & Festa Fun
Plans are just about completed for the coming together of a leading wine shop, a leading winery and a leading Italian cultural organization in San Diego County, to bring Italy to Carlsbad, Saturday, July 12. It’s the 4th annual “Festa Italiana” and the Wines of Italy, in cooperation with the Sons of Italy, Carlsbad Wine Merchants and Salerno Winery of Ramona.
Admission is free at the Island Shopping Center at Faraday & College from 10am to 5pm. Scheduled attractions include: opera singing, music and dance exhibitions in full costume, Italian food, art, craft and even a bocce ball booth. Carlsbad Wine Merchants will have an Italian Wine Tasting in their shop from 2 to 5pm, for a $10 tasting fee per person. Call 888-750-WINE for details.
In a typical Italian party atmosphere, a pre-event gathering was held at the Salerno Winery off Highway 67 just south of Ramona. The “maestro” of wine, owner Herman Salerno, who is also an Italian trained opera singer, broke out a sample of his latest releases. He is known for his Petite Sirah, a more concentrated, fruit forward version of the more popular Syrah.
But on this day, the big buzz was his venture into the traditional Italian grape-growing area of Piedmont, to present Salerno Barbera. The Barbera grape is Northern Italy’s answer to Tuscany’s Sangiovese grape, a foundation for the Chianti and Chianti Classico wines. Unlike its more expensive, moody cousins, Barolo and Barbaresco, Barbera is the everyday star grape, full of structure and accent but without the highly tannic power of the other two.
The rustic taste shows through, but it is a “drink now,” delicious wine. No aging needed here. It is the most widely planted grape in the Piedmont district, but here in California, it has not yet caught on. Salerno Winery’s goal is to change all that. Angelo Abril, a Spaniard who has embraced the Italian style of winemaking, is General Manager of Salerno, and even though he has high praise for the signature Petite Sirah, feels that Barbera will be conquering many wine aficionados given the time to catch on.
“If there is a red wine for summer, it would be Barbera with its smooth, low tannin entry and slight acidic mouthfeel, ready to pair with a summer salad, hard cheese, olives and a rustic loaf of bread” he said. The grapes are sourced from Paso Robles, and the Salerno touch in making the wine is what makes this Barbera music to the taste. The 2006 and 2007 is being barrel tasted with 2006 bottles available soon.
Contact the winery for details at 760-788-7160. For more information on the Italian Festa event on Saturday, July 12, call Joe Zazzaro, chairman, at 760-438-0554. Red Wine Consumption Can Extend Your Life It happens time and time again and with more credible reports: red wine consumed in moderation can lengthen your lifespan through the anti-oxidant Resveratrol.
The latest findings came as a result of work with living organisms. Resveratrol is an active ingredient, found in the grape tannins cultivated in red wine. Health officials conclude that this ingredient may extend life by cutting down on the degenerative diseases of aging. Still another reason to consider wine as the beverage of choice. Drink to your health!
The Local Sip
- Callaway Vineyard & Winery in Temecula Wine Country hosts an “Under the Sea Fling” Saturday, July 12 from 6 to 9pm. Lovely fish menu from Executive Chef Mike Henry with Callaway paired wine. Music and dancing. $55 pp. RSVP at 800-472-2377.
- A Bastille Day Celebration for charity happens Saturday, July 12 from 4 to 8pm at the Fairbanks Ranch Clubhouse in Rancho Santa Fe. Enjoy wine tasting, appetizers, live band and wine and gift auctions. $125 ea. Call 858-268-4432.
- The 6th annual Wine & Food Festival is again at the Del Mar Plaza on Sunday, July 13 from 4 to 7pm to benefit City of Hope. Silent auction for valuable take-homes. $55 in advance by calling 858-452-6846 or $65 at the door.
- July 18 and 19 is the 5th annual “Reds, Whites and Blues” at the pier in Santa Barbara. Nearly 400 wines are available from over 100 wineries. Hot and cold appetizers and red-hot blues bands are on hand. Friday night is the rare/reserve wine tasting from 6:30 to 9pm. Total VIP pass for both events is $135. The Saturday event is $60 in advance. Call 805-223-1880 for the full story.
Frank Mangio is a renowned wine connoisseur certified by Wine Spectator. He is one of the top five wine commentators on the web. Reach him at mangiompc@aol.com.
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