Kim Uncorked: Welcome to my weekly wine recommendation.
Hi, I’m Kim, a passionate lover of wine, food, and any experience that brings the two together! In this weekly blog post, I share my thoughts on a wine that I’ve recently purchased from one of our local independent wine merchants. If you’d like to know more about me, I’ve included a brief bio following the post.
2024 Torre Zambra Poggio Salaia Pecorino
Abruzzo IGT, Italy
$39.98
Everything Wine
Various Locations
I may be back home, but the first bottle I reached for was an Italian white from Abruzzo.
The 2024 Torre Zambra Poggio Salaia Pecorino is made from 100% Pecorino, an indigenous Italian grape that deserves a lot more attention.
Pecorino has an interesting history. The grape nearly disappeared in the 20th century because it naturally produces low yields and ripens early, making it less attractive to growers focused on quantity. Thankfully, winemaker Guido Cocci Grifoni rescued a few forgotten vines in the 1980s, and the variety has since made quite the comeback in Abruzzo and Le Marche.
And what a comeback.
Pecorino produces wines with a great combination of full body, ripe fruit, and lively acidity. This one has aromas of white flowers, citrus, apricot, and white peach, with a fresh-cut-grass note. On the palate, subtle salinity and crisp acidity keep everything interesting, fresh, and balanced.
This is definitely one to look for if you want to venture beyond Pinot Grigio.
Pair Pecorino with shellfish, grilled fish, or light meats.
Kim Mead is a Vancouver-based wine and food writer. She holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines with Merit, the French Wine Scholar designation with Honours, the Bordeaux Masters designation with Honours, and the Italian Wine Essentials certification. Kim serves as Cellar Master for the Vancouver chapter of the International Wine and Food Society and is a member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux. Follow her @agalandaglass
