Wine of the Week 10/27/20

Di Lenardo Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Regularly $12.99/On Sale for $9.96

After a career in Italy's Nat'l Volleyball League, Massimo “Max” Di Lenardo assumed direction of his family's 100 yr old farm & restricted their wines to single-vineyard productions from their own estate (vs. grapes purchased from other growers).  His wines are now consistently recognized in the Italian wine journal Gambero Rosso as leaders in the Italian wine world for quality and price. 

In 1998, Max took full charge of wine production, placing greater emphasis on viticulture and vinification. In the vineyards, he increased vine density, began severely pruning and experimented with different clones until he found those particularly suited to the family’s terroir. Electronically controlled temperature during fermentation and other cellar improvements have enhanced the quality of the wines. Whole berries are gently crushed in a pneumatic press. After the first racking, the must is transferred to fermentation vats and the wine remains on its lees until bottling. 

The source of some of Italy’s best and most distinctive white wines, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is where Italian, Germanic and Slavic cultures converge. The styles of wines produced in this region of Italy's far north-east reflect this merging of cultures.  While the grapes for this wine come from a Sancerre clone, it’s unlike Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley, or from Bordeaux.  More aromatic and distinctive on the palate, this wine plays well with food, but doesn’t require it.  A great deal!