Lunch in the woods, March 2014

Rifugio Lago Nambino

One of the best days of our winter vacation was the day I decided to be adventurous.

personalized plates

I went to the receptionist of our hotel and asked where I could hike to, maximum 2 hours from the hotel?  She gave me a map and easy directions to the Rifugio Nambino.

The hike out there was so beautiful and Beatrice was in dog heaven!

dog-friendly restaurant

details of the lodge

shoe room

loft of the dinning room

The restaurant was simple, fresh and delicious.

crisp green salad

homemade local pasta

The photo’s speak for themselves.

once upon a time...

reception area

the frozen Lake Nambino

the old Nambino shack

La Dispensa Di Amerigo, March 2014

At our first Les Caves de Pyrene tasting we went to in Florence, in 2012 I believe, we tasted these amazing artisan liquors from La Dispensa Di Amerigo.

La Dispensa di Amerigo

We liked them so much that we decided to get them for Vinosofia.  They have been selling quite well and their labels are just great.  I personally like them because they aren’t too sweet or syrupy like most digestive drinks.  They have distinct flavors and are smooth & well balanced.  They genuinely taste homemade and I like that.

The Italians who come into Vinosofia from the Emilia Romagna area say “oh you have La Dipensa Di Amerigo Liquors, have you been there?  It’s such a great Trattoria and their products are wonderful.”

Main dinning room of the Trattoria, now that's Italian!

As with all our products and wines we make a big effort to go see the places where they come from and meet the owners.  I want to know the people and the places so I can have my own reference point.  I also like to do my own little inspection for cleanliness and the reality of the situation.  Need I say more? Didn’t think so.  Anyway…

This winter we had the chance to go to La Dispensa di Amerigo.  Unfortunately being off-season, the Trattoria was closed for lunch and the laboratory was closed too for the season.  

The actual Dispensa was open though and we got to see this very cool retro food shop.  

cool, old school bakery down the street from La Dispensa

a few of the many homemade sauces

I thought it was really really cool, like going back in time. 

the oh-so-retro bar of the Trattoria, with their 

homemade liquors on the left

details of the Trattoria

antique plates and accessories also for sale

 

upstairs there was a quite different dinning room 

with beautiful linens

the main Piazza of Savigno, in the country near Bologna

We got a bunch of their products to try for future additions to the Vinosofia Alimentari di Lusso section of our shop.

just like old times

For more info

http://www.amerigo1934.it/index.php

Beatrice at La Dispensa Di Amerigo

Cantina Lorenzo Begali, March 1, 2014

On our way up to Madonna di Campiglio for our 2014 winter  vacation we managed to work in a winery visit.  An area I’ve always wanted to go to is the Valpolicella appellation of Veneto.

On the drive out there it made me realize that it is definitely an area I would like to return to for a long weekend…or more.  It was really beautiful.

When I first started my sommelier studies I fell in love with Amarone.  At the time, circa 2003, it was the best Italian red wine I had ever tasted.  It’s a big red, in fact you could make a meal out of it by itself.  For me now it’s almost too much, but it remains so special, in a class of itself, a one of a kind winestyle that just can’t be compared to any other.

In the past I had tasted a Valpolicella Classico Superiore, La Cengia 2008 from the Lorenzo Begali 

Lorenzo Begali

winery and thought it was fantastic, so I looked them up, put in a call and then we made our visit.  It was a wet rainy day and the atmosphere was quite dreary but the wines warmed us up and the owners were genuine people.

Tasting Notes 

11.     Valpolicella Classico 2012,

made from Corvina & Rondinella grapes

aged in only stainless steel

a really great wine for everyday drinking 

★★

22.     Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Ripasso 2011 “La Cengia”

made from Corvina & Rondinella grapes

this wine needs some time, it was honestly a little bit of a let down from the 2008 vintage. 

★

33.    Tigiolo, 2010

Made from Corvina 45% Cabernet s. 45% Rondinella 5% Merlot 5%.

They call this their mini amarone, which Lorenzo calls his own invention

44.     Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2010

aged in botte grande (big wood casks)

aroma of licorice, & cocoa with a smokey finish 

★★

55.     Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Monte Ca’Bianca 2008

Made from Corvina 40%, Corvinone 35%, Rondinella 20%, Oseleta 5% grapes

My absolute favorite of the tasting!

★★★

66.     Recioto della Valpolicella, 2010

made from Corvina & Rondinella & Molinara grapes

for more info

http://www.begaliwine.it/main.php?section=lazienda&lang=eng