Italian Wine Tasting: Rosés and Reds from Piemonte to Puglia

Wine tastings can take many forms. Horizontal, vertical, by region, by grape, by year…endless combinations. But sometimes you just feel like drinking good wine with friends and conjure up a theme on the spot. We had Italy on our minds and Italian-loving friends in the house, so we cobbled together an “Italian Wines from the Cellar” tasting. Four wines, three regions, two reds, two rosés and nothing in common but the glorious country of origin.

With the requisite wine tasting munchies, we began with the rosés from Piemonte and Umbria.

Rosés
We’ve written before about the 05035 Ciliegiolo di Narni Rosato 2022, whose delicate but intense aromas and rich and fruity palate landed it on our “must buy” list. A beautiful pale amber, the wine is made from the Ciliegiolo grape, native to Umbria and recently “re-discovered” by winemaker Leonard Bussoletti. Our friends each gave it a top rating, noting the fresh flavors and “limestone/concrete” mouth feel. The wise-ass among the group found the wine to be a “good conversationalist but not emotionally taxing.” Now that’s high praise. We were less enthusiastic about the Castello di Castellengo Il Rosa 2022, a Nebbiolo wine with some interesting cinnamon/spice notes but a “weird” aftertaste.

Reds
Gary and Lisa traveled to Puglia in 2019 and we’ve been plotting our return ever since. Located on the “heel” of the boot, Puglia [or Apulia in Italy] accounts for 17% of Italy’s total wine production [more than any other region] but lags in name recognition and prestige behind Tuscany and Umbria. We were charmed by Puglia’s less touristy vibe and luscious native grapes like Susumaniello, Primitivo, and Negroamaro. So it’s no surprise when we raided the cellar for Italian reds we found Rinforzo Primitivo Salento 2021 and Niuru Maru 2020, both from Puglia.

Negroamaro is usually one of Gary’s favorite varietals, and while he appreciated the typical black currant and sour cherry flavors, he found the Niuru Maru “not very friendly.” Lisa chimed in that it was “hot and tinny,” and our friends were both “meh.”
The 2019 Rinforzo Primitivo made VinoDuo’s “Top 12 Wines of 2023” and the 2021 didn’t disappoint. Primitivo is Zinfandel’s Italian “cousin,” and it shares the fruit-forward characteristics of California Zin. All four tasters loved the Rinforzo’s jammy, raison-y flavor and easy-drinking profile. Our viisting satirist guessed it “wears Ferragamo loafers and listens to Kenny G!”

It was fun hopscotching around Italy with friends who have traveled to the country as often as we have. And while the tasting broke all the rules, it was a delightful way to introduce new wines to old friends and reminisce about travels past to a place we all adore.