Italian Wines & the Festa Italiana in Downtown Syracuse

Our exceptionally curated selection of Italian Wines

This weekend is the Festa Italiana in Downtown Syracuse, so it’s only fitting that we feature Italian Wines (or Vino Italiana) this week at The Tasting Room. At our Downtown Syracuse restaurant we offer 5 for $10 wine samples – because we are The Tasting Room after all! And in celebration of the Festa Italiana, we’ll be offering up our specially selected Italian wines for our featured 5 for $10 wine samples. So if you want to brush up on your knowledge of Vino Italiana we’re here to give you the basic rundown of Italian Wines this Wine Wednesday.

Italian Wine: Terms to Know

First, let’s start with terms you may see when reading one of our Italian Wine bottles or hear while speaking with our waitstaff about the wines you’re tasting. 

DOC: DOC is an abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata. These are rules that govern production and style but aren’t quite as stringent as those for DOCGs (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), which govern all aspects of production that include the grapes that can be grown, what varieties are allowed and how wines can be aged.

Tenuta: The Estate 

Vegneto: The Vineyard

IGT: An abbreviation for Indicazione Geografica Tipica. Introduced in 1992, this classification allows winemakers to use grapes and craft styles not allowed under DOC and DOCG regulations

Italian Wine Regions: 

Now let's get into the different wine regions in Italy. Here are a few regions that we have on our list of over 50 wines at The Tasting Room:

Sicily: We have this lovely white wine that we’re featuring this month – LE SABBIE DELL'ETNA. Its DOC is Etna. The grapes are probably ones most of us have not heard of – Carricante and Catarratto. The terroir of Etna is completely different from the rest of Sicily, with cold winters and less intense sunlight. The grapes here have slower ripening times and take on their fragrant aromas in a more linear way. Freshness and fragrance distinguish this wine together with its persistent tangy taste. The volcanic soil characterized by its high drainage capacity gives the grapes (and therefore the wine) a unique minerality enriched by the aromatic profile of Carricante. Which, in vinification, gives elegant nuances of white fruit; alongside the supporting structure of Catarratto. 

Tuscany: Tenuta Sassoregale Maremma Toscano. The Tenuta or Estate is Sassoregale and their wines hail from 94 acres of certified organically-farmed vineyards within Italy’s Wild, Wild West: the Tuscan Maremma. When visiting the Tuscan Maremma you’ll find Italian cowboys called “butteri” and wild boars known as “Cinghiale” roaming the land. From this region we carry a Sangiovese, which is the predominant grape varietal of Tuscany. This wine drinks medium-bodied, clean and vivid with blueberries, blackberries, and dark cherries – along with some citrus undertones. 

Abruzzo: This region is a mountainous region rich in ancient winemaking traditions on the Adriatic Sea. Abruzzo is well known for the Montepulciano grape, as well as other varietals. One of our summer favorites has been a Pecorino – wine, not cheese. Umani Ronchi Terre di Chieti Vellodoro Pecorino IGT. The IGT, means it has been produced not following the DOCG or DOC rules – we like breaking rules!  It’s lighter than a chardonnay and less acidic than a sauvignon blanc. It has a nice combination of bright, citrusy fruit and savory mineral character here, which is typical for pecorino. Floral notes add further interest. This wine is medium-bodied with a tight and tasty palate and an enduring lemon and lime finish. And it received 92 points from James Suckling!

Piedmont: Located in northwest Italy, Piedmont sits at the foot of the western Alps. The climate is influenced by chilly mountain climbs and the balmy Mediterranean. It creates the perfect growing conditions for Nebbiolo, the black grape that produces the region’s most famous wines: Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG. We carry this delish Cieck Canavese Tucc-un Rosso Barbera that paired delightfully with Chef JC’s lemon posset for our wine pairing dinner and featured with our 7 course tasting menu.

Nicole’s Thoughts . . .

Here’s what Nicole, the owner of The Tasting Room and curator of the wine list, has to say about Italian wines, “I’m preferential to Old World style wines – France, Italy – the European countries who’ve been making wine for hundreds of years longer than the US has been a country. Don’t get me wrong, I love a great California Cab or Oregon Pinot Noir, but the elegance and subtlety of an old world style wine is so comforting.”

So, if you’re attending the Festa Italia in Downtown Syracuse and want to keep the fun going at a nearby restaurant and bar within walking distance, come to The Tasting Room. Order a 5 for 10 sample, a glass, a flight, or heck just do it like the Italians do and get the whole bottle!

See you here – Saluti!