Monday 31 May 2010

In praise of…Alpha Zeta Wines

Alpha Zeta Wines show just what can be achieved by outsiders taking a fresh look at an area, in this case Veneto (especially around Verona). Canadian Master of wine David Gleave and a New Zealand flying winemaker, Matt Thomson together with co-operative manager Gaetano Tobin have produced (with the aid of some cute graphics and good marketing) an excellent range of reasonably priced wines including

Amarone (Corvina, Rondinella Cabernet Sauvugnon) (A)

Chardonnay (C)

Corvina (C)

Garganega (G)

Lugana (Trebbiano di Lugana) (L)

Pinot Grigio (P)

Rosato (Corvina)

Soave (Garganega, Trebbiano) (S)

Valpolicella (V)

Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso (R)

We found the G for Garganega at the Ashmolean Museum Restaurant in Oxford. It was so good we have to re-evaluate this grape and will be removing it from our ‘pet hates’ list immediately.

Can we look forward to any of the following, all from the Veneto?

C Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Corvinone
D Dindarello, Durello
G Gropello
I Incrocio Manzoni
M Malbech/Malbeck, Molinara
N Negrara
P Picolit, Picolit Nero, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero, Prosecco, Prosecco Spento
R Ramandolo, Rondinella
T Tai Rosso, Turbiana
U Ucelut

Just a thought.

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