As consumers we often do not venture into the world of wine importation, but fortunately we don’t have to because World Wine Synergy is doing the job for us. Acting as the go-between to the availability of uniquely exquisite wines and your local wine shop World Wine Synergy is bringing to market wines of character and brilliance. Many of the wines are from less prominent or lesser-known wineries, often family owned and operated, all with wines that have a special quality that sets them apart. These are wines imported by World Wine Synergy and marketed at specialty, boutique style wine shops. The wines also find their way to the wine list of discriminating restaurants where you can taste and enjoy them, as they should be, paired with delicious dishes.
“The growing demands of Casale del Giglio listed Cesanese at BCL give us confidence in bringing this newly produced premium cesanese wine for our exceptional restaurants and private markets.” World Wine Synergy
It was a privilege to be included in a small group of wine buyers, restaurant owners and media that attended a lunch at La Quercia on West 4th Avenue last week where we were introduced to the wines of Casale del Giglio. A five course authentic pairing menu curated by Chef Adam at La Quercia was paired with five exceptional wines from Casale del Giglio.
“On the same day, you will also be given the opportunity to taste a new wine to the market and the shipment of this new wine will arrive in late August according to our shipper. Having said that, you will be the first group to preview and taste this exceptional single vineyard wine made with the 100% cesanese grape namely Matidia.” World Wine Synergy
Founded in 1967 by Dr. Berardino Santarelli, a native of the Appenine hill town of Amatrice. The estate lies between the towns of Aprilia and Latina in the Agro Pontino valley, some 50 kms. south of Rome. Unlike other parts of the Latium region, or other regions of Italy, this territory was still uncharted in viticultural terms when Berardino Santarelli and his son Antonio launched their research project in 1985.
Casale del Giglio currently offers a range of twenty-two products – seven white wines, one rosé, seven reds, one late harvest, three grappas and an extra virgin olive oil.
Introducing the wines was Linda Siddera, International Events and Hospitality Coordinator for Casale dl Giglio. It is always interesting to learn about the history of a winery, their principals and how their passion results in wines of quality that make their way to us wine lovers.
The wines presented have all been reviewed by prominent and well respected wine experts and every wine presented was rated between 90 and 93 points. The question was which of the wines selected would be our favourites and which dishes had Chef created to enhance our experience.
Satric0 Lazio Bianco IGT 2022
» Named after the ancient pre-Roman city of Satricum, this wine is bright straw-yellow with an elegant bouquet of fruits and hint of minerality.
» The olfactory characters are confirmed on the palate by a refreshing crispness and lengthy finish.
» Only the very best bunches of the grapes are selected, then by soft-pressing the free-run juice is separated from skins and slowly fermented with controlled temperature for 7 or 8 days. The new wine matures in stainless steel tanks before bottling.
With scents of mandarin oranges and tropical fruits assaulting the nose with such pleasure. Honey, fresh stone fruit and cut grass follow. Underneath these intriguing scents there is also hints of clay and minerality. The aromas are herbaceous with a finish of light oak.
Initially the Chardonnay is fairly prominent with ever so slight essence of oak. The wine is rich and fairly robust. Excellent minerality with good acidity and a lingering finish.
Antipasti of Bruschetta Burrata, Peas and Bottarga
‘Anthium’ Bellone Lazio Bianco IGT 2020 and 2022
» The Bellone has been an indigenous grape of the Latium region since Roman times. It is typically found along the coastal region between Rome and Latina where a constant sea breeze and the microclimate contribute to a grape that over-ripens with high concentrations of both sugar and acidity, along with a pronounced mineral note.
» Using hand-harvested and hand-sorted grapes from vines as old as 70+ years, the Bellone ‘Anthium’ is one step up from the Bellone Bianco with sharper fruit character and lingering mineral finish.
» Exquisite on its own and pairs well with first courses and fish dishes.
The 2022 had aromas of fresh in the morning, from the bakery, brioche. A slight scent of oak and grass. Hard candy but also herbaceous. Fairly light in colour. Showing a scant of minerality on the nose.
This wine is an immediate wow on the palate, somewhat tangy with bold acidity. Although both vintages were excellent for me, this was the preferred pairing of the two wines with the dish.
The 2020 exhibited slightly lighter scents and was darker in colour. Herbaceous with scents of oak. Somewhat deeper, and after time the wine had richer aromas than the 2022.
Primi of Tajarin, Prawns and Bisque
‘Matidia’ Cesanese Lazio Rosso IGT 2021
» Produced from Cesanese, an indigenous grape of Italy, this wine is deep ruby red with intense aromas of marasca cherry followed by spicy notes of white-, black-pepper and violet.
» On the palate, it is soft, smooth, and well balanced with persistent tannins and pronounced acidity, essential criteria for long aging.
» Excellent with white meat, any kind of poultry dishes such as chicken, duck confit, or Thanksgiving turkey preparations.
Heavenly scents of blackberry pie and ripe, dark fruits. Italian plum, leather with some black pepper notes. The wines was aged in used Austrian Cherry Wood barrels giving it such wonderful essence. Ruby red, the scents were clean. This varietal is specific to the region in which it is grown and contains 50 to 75% sun-dried grapes.
The wine stood up very well to the dish to which it was boldly paired. Delicious ripe fruit on the palate. Rich, smooth and dense flavours abound in the wine. A medium bodied wine with excellent structure.
Garganelli Beef Shank Ragu
Mater Matuta Lazio Rosso IGT 2017
» A deep, dense, ruby-red wine which displays outstanding character both on the nose and on the palate with its aroma of coffee beans, violets, ripe black cherry, coriander, nutmeg and cinnamon.
» On the palate, it is silky and seductive, but perfectly supported by fine tannins and a pleasing astringency, delivering a long, lush finish.
» Excellent with most savory red meat courses, roasts, stew, as well as mature cheeses.
» Both grapes of the Mater Matuta are harvested when fully ripe, with the Syrah being even slightly shriveled. The Syrah contributes to the complexity of character, highlighted by smooth tannins and intensity of the black cherry and spice. Meanwhile the full-bodied Petit Verdot gives the Mater Matuta its long aging potential.
Scents of oak and ripe fruit on the nose. For this blend the grapes were aged separately and then bottled. The ripe fruit continues and melds with slight floral notes and is quite bold.
This wine was delightfully rich and full bodied with ripe fruits. Delicious. Another winner with this pairing dish.
Secondo Lamb Chop, Salsa Verde, Valeriana
Aphrodisium Late Harvest 2020
» Brilliant golden-yellow dessert wine. Fresh, floral notes of peach and orange blossom on the nose followed by ripe juicy peach and honey.
» Luscious and seductive on the palate, refreshing mineral crispness balances the sweetness of the delicious nectar. A return of citrus fruit on the long finish.
To begin the scents are very floral in nature. Following the nose delights in dried apricots and honey. Again with floral notes of Lily of the Valley and Peace Roses, dried fruits, cut grass, mandarin oranges and violets.
Good depth of flavour, very rich but not overly sweet. An excellent finish to a meal.
Apricot Semifreddo, Preserved Orange
Casale del Giglio
In 1967, Dino Santarelli founded Casale del Giglio at Le Ferriere in the Agro Pontino Valley near Latina, some 50 kilometers south of Rome. This area, unlike other Italian wine regions, was almost completely unexplored from a vine growing perspective. In 1985, Casale del Giglio embarked on a monumental experiment to nurture over 60 different international grape varietals in their soil. Led by winemaker Paolo Tiefenthaler and involving members from the academic community, the goal of this multi-year research was to determine the grapes that can do well in the Lazio terroir. The believers of this bold and daring project were amply rewarded when the first significant results were achieved from the Syrah and Petit Verdot, among others. Indeed, the estate’s flagship wine is the rich red Mater Matuta (an 80:20 blend of Syrah and Petit Verdot). As for the Whites: Viognier, Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Petit Manseng (originally a native of the French Atlantic Pyrenees). With these wines, combined with products of indigenous varietals such as the Bellone and Cesanese, Casale del Giglio offers a rich portfolio of products that will elevate the representation of quality Lazio wines in the BC market.
La Quercia
La Quercia provides a comprehensive and seasonally focused menu framed within the slow cooking tradition expressed in authentic Italian cuisine.
Our Team takes pride in a wide range of house-made products such as bread, fruit preserves, pickled vegetables, desserts and honey from our own bees and butchery.
We continue to source locally and organically, and work with our selected farmers and suppliers to bring the best of the season to the table—along with the finest Italian DOP, DOCG and IGP products we can find in the market.
Chef Adam Pegg graduated culinary school at Vancouver Island’s Camosun College in 1991, and worked at Victoria’s Herald Street Caffe and Il Terrazzo before he was urged to journey to stage in Italy by his mentor, Chef Daniele Mereu. Pegg attended the Italian Slow Food School where he earned the Master of Italian Gastronomy—the first to do so in Canada. La Quercia hand crafts pastas using century old techniques Pegg learned throughout Italy, all while staging with well-known Italian chefs such as Ugo Alciati in Piedmont, and Fiorenzo Varesco and Gianni Chiocchetti in Trentino.
Karin Lazzaris runs the operations, front of house and wine program at La Quercia.
Although all the wines were excellent my two favourites were the Satrico Lazio Bianco IGT 2022 and Matidia Cesanese Lazio Rosso IGT 2021. The wines should become available around the end of June. and you may find a selection of the wines of Casale del Giglio at West Coast Liquor locations and Liberty Wine Merchants, Point Grey.
Wine notes provided by World Wine Synergy. My notes (in italics) all images MyVanCity.ca. I attended the lunch and wine tasting as a guest of World Wine Synergy. #sponsoredpost
