{"id":6820,"date":"2014-09-27T12:16:41","date_gmt":"2014-09-27T19:16:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6820"},"modified":"2014-09-26T12:19:00","modified_gmt":"2014-09-26T19:19:00","slug":"cocktail-corner-italian-reds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6820","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: Italian Reds"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo

Photo by Leslie Dinaberg<\/p><\/div>\n

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/h4>\n

I’ve got a soft spot for all things Italian, especially red wines.<\/p>\n

Barolo<\/a> is one of my special favorites. The vineyards and wineries in the Barolo district are famous for producing some of Italy’s very finest red wines\u2014predominantly from the region’s signature grape variety, Nebbiolo<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0The area includes\u00a0a handful of micro-terroirs that, thanks to their sun exposure, soil and climate,\u00a0as well as the ages of the vines and the care lavished on them for decades, help to elevate these\u00a0wines even further.<\/p>\n

I recently drank an amazing bottle of Damilano Barolo DOCG Cannubi 2008<\/a>, which I had been saving for a special occasion\u00a0(my birthday).\u00a0It was indeed sumptuous. (Especially when paired with chocolate cake.) Made from 100% \u00a0Nebbiolo grapes from 30-50 year old vines, this full bodied red was simply delicious, and well worth the wait. Unfortunately, at upwards from $70-$90 a bottle I’m going to have to wait a while before I’ll get to drink this again.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, there are some Barolo bargains to be found, including another wine from the same producers,\u00a0the\u00a0Damilano Lecinquevigne Barolo DOCG<\/a>. Also made from Nebbiolo grapes \u2014from the regions of Barolo, Verduno, Grinzane Cavour, La Morra and Novello\u2014this lovely, ruby red wine retails under $40.\"main_variation_na_view_01_204x386\"<\/p>\n

But you don’t have to travel far to enjoy la dolce vida<\/em>! Locally, Palmina<\/a> produces a variety of great Italian style red\u00a0varietals, including at least four different but equally delicious Nebbiolos. Mosby Wines<\/a> is also\u00a0creating Italian style wines locally, including\u00a0award-winning Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Pinot Grigio and more, including the latest addition, Dolcetto\u2014the everyday wine of Piedmont, Italy.<\/p>\n

Tre Anelli<\/a>, which has a tasting room in Los Olivos, has some nice Italian style red \u00a0varietals too, as does Tres Hermanas<\/a>, on Foxen Canyon Road in Santa Barbara.<\/p>\n

Amore tutto italiano!<\/em> Cheers!<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for more cocktail corner columns. Want to know more about drinking “Italian Style?” Here’s a fun article <\/a>you might enjoy.<\/p>\n

\"Leslie<\/a>

Leslie Dinaberg<\/p><\/div>\n

When she\u2019s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS<\/a>, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a \u201cgoal-oriented drinker.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Originally published in\u00a0Santa Barbara Seasons\u00a0<\/em><\/a>on September 26,\u00a02014.<\/span><\/p>\n

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