The new Gambero Rosso Italian Wine Guide 2024 is out listing 2647 producers and 25231 wines. Also, they awarded 498 wines their highest rating of “Tre Biccieri”, 56 “Tre Bicchieri Verdi” and 12 Special Awards. Accordingly, they are now on the annual road show around the world promoting this Guide and we were excited to receive them in Vancouver on May 3, 2024 for the Grand Tasting and MasterClass. Kudos to them and especially to Alex Martyniak, Director of Trade and Business Development, The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada – West for all his dedicated work in making Vancouver an important Tour stop. Previously the seminars have been less extensive but this time they pulled out all the stops and conducted an impressive wine tasting of all 12 Special Awards. Congrats and well done!
1. SPARKLER OF THE YEAR:
Franciacorta Millesimo Nature 2016 Enrico Gatti
Dry fresh elegant flowers with acidity balance from a better vintage.
2. WINERY OF THE YEAR:
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Cl. Sup. V. V. Historical 2018 Umani Rochi
Wonderful variety old vines in full rich bodied style from this top consistent
Viticoltori in Marche E Abruzzo.
3. WHITE WINE OF THE YEAR:
Collio Chardonnay Ris. 2018 Primosic
Stylish lovely true variety is complex from great white wine-producing area in Collio by newer Primosic winery. Excellent.
4. COOPERATIVE WINERY OF THE YEAR:
A. A. Gewurztraminer Nussbaumer 2021 Cantina Tramin
Open spicy lychee well-defined aromas grown on south facing silty soils.
5. ROSE OF THE YEAR:
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Tauma 2022 Giuliano Pettinella
Family winery using big vats producing full coloured fresh good fruit Rose.
6. BEST VALUE FOR MONEY:
Mandrolisai Rosso 2021 Fradiles
Sardinia red blend is fresh elegant and very well priced.
7. SUSTAINABLE VITICULTURE:
Torgiano Rosso FrecciDegli Scacchi Ris. 2020 Terre Margaritelli
Smart farming methods resulting in solid red with typical light bitterness.
8. UP-AND-COMING WINERY:
Carmignano Arrendevoke Ris. 2020 Tenuta Ceri
North of Florence in the Montalbano hills by new Ceri producer shows lovely cherry fruit from 90% Sangiovese & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
9. SOLIDARITY:
Rosso Piceno Sup. Roggio del Filare 2020 Velenosi
Montepulciano 70% & Sangiovese 30% from Marche has 18 months in barrique with 14.5 abv showing tobacco notes.
10. RED WINE OF THE YEAR:
Barolo Vigna Rionda Ester Canale Rosso 2019 Giovanni Rosso
Single Vineyard old vines Nebbiolo on red clay facing south east exposure from the celebrated 2019 new vintage.
Gambero Rosso tasters “Don’t look for concentration but finesse, elegance, and balance. This young Barolo is a wine of pure elegance that will develop for 20+ years.”
11. LADY GROWER OF THE YEAR:
Amarone della Valpolicella Val**zzane 2016 Camerani- Corte Sant’Alda
Clean smooth spicy mocha jam balanced not heavy at 15.5 abv with 4 years in oak barrels from grapes Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella 40/40/20 blend grown at 350 meters.
12. MEDITATION WINE OF THE YEAR:
Marsala VR 3911 Vergine Ris. 2011 Florio
100% Grillo from very sandy loam soil has ten years in single oak barrel fortified shows dry sherry-like malty salty unique nose and “crunchy marine notes”. Excellent aperitif or interesting pairing with blue cheese. Rediscover it.
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