I must tell you about a fantastic lunch hosted at Osteria Morinini with Wines of Italy producer Velenosi Vini. Velenosi is located on a wine region of Italy at the outskirts of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region of Central Italy.
Beginning 30 years ago with limited resources and minimal experience, the indefatigable Angela Velenosi, through sheer determination and perseverance, pushed the boundaries of expectations of the entire region. Holding vineyards as varied as the geography in which they lie, her portfolio is a confluence of diverse terroirs, varieties, and cultures, unified under the maritime climate and her will to succeed.
At the charming Osteria Morini, Marco Germani, the export manager for Velenosi Wines, orchestrated a delightful wine-tasting experience for us. He expertly guided us through a selection of delicious wines, each perfectly paired with mouth-watering plates of food. The wines from Italy to New York were exceptional and left a lasting impression on my palate. In this tasting, we explored a range of flavors and aromas, and I came away with a deeper appreciation for the wines from Ascoli Piceno.
1.Passerina Brut: First, to welcome us they poured an sparkling! And what an sparkling. With aromas of orange and white flowers and hint of salt and minerality. A sparkling with character. On the palate high acidity, fresh and crispy, not a hint of swetness, no persistence, a very refreshing Brut. 12% of alcohol and made out of 100 % Passerina, the local white grape of the Marche, Italy. Highly recommended. After tasting Sparkling Passerina Brut, all I could think about was ‘I want like 10 bottles of this bubbly to go!’
Let’s dig in to the whites.
2. Pecorino Villa Angela DOCG 2017: On the eyes is a very clean and clear pale yellow white wine, which is like that as they control the temperature to have a pure wine, taking care of the fermentation, of course. They microfilter the wine, and it is immediately bottled to keep the aromas. Olfactory notes of thyme and herbs, white flowers, and yellow fruits. On the palate, lemon, orange, long finish. Pecorino is a sweet grape; around the 1950s, this grape was almost dismissed since it was tough. In 2011, they got the DOCG, which means it is a rigorous production. The Pecorino grown in the la Marche region has a more rounded flavor than the Pecorino grape grown in other areas of Italy.
3.Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi 2017: Besides Pecorino standing out, Verdicchio from Castelli di Jesi was a beautiful refreshing wine. Aromas of nuts permeate at first time. On the palate, there is minerality and a typical almond finish. After a deliciously paired set of salads, we move on to pasta and Reds.
4. Lacrima di Morro d’Alba 2017: 100% Lacrima grape and this varietal only grows in the Marche region. There is red solid flower aromaticity in this wine. I was shocked to perceive many smells of rose and violeta on the olfactory notes, almost reminiscent of a white wine. Lacrima means tears. When you taste this wine, you will feel the tannins; since you are not expecting it from the bouquet, it will blow your mind. It is a complex red wine. Since production is less than 1 million bottles, I’ll say whenever you come across a bottle of this wine, don’t hesitate to go for it.
5. Ludi 2014: Let me tell you a bit about the name of this wine:
Ludi comes from the Latin ‘Ludus,’ which means “play,” to underline the strong bond between wine, pleasure, and enjoyment. Moreover , is a a robust Italian red blend from the Velenosi family Ludi is a blend of 85% Montepulciano, 7.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.5 % Merlot. Moreover, if you’re into bold Cabernets from California, it is a silky red blend with a whole body and personality.
6. Roggio del Filare 2014: Undoubtedly, it’s one of my favorites. An Italian red blend of 70% Montepulciano and 30% Sangiovese beautiful aromatics and silky tannins was delicious. On the nose, a bouquet of blackberries. On the palate is soft and silky, moderate tannins, and a never-ending finish, you can feel the oak barrel on this one, my type of wine.
7. Visciole (dessert wine): Lastly the dessert wine. It is a tradition of the Marche farmers to receive you at their homes to enjoy an artisan sweet wine like Visciole known as Lacrima selection. Lacrima selection was not a mass-market product, but Velenosi captured and bottled the tradition. It resembles a cherry wine, a unique dessert wine if paired with chocolate.
I have learned so much about the Italian region Marche today and I hope you try some of these wines. Check Velenosi Vini website for more information:
https://www.velenosivini.com/
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