A vibrant
evening full of special bubbles
When I received the invitation from my ex-colleague Arabella to take part in an evening of Ferrari sparkling wines tasting, I was very happy to participate. For various reasons: one, because I was pleased to see my colleague again after a long time; two, because it was roughly 10 years since I had tasted the Ferrari wines and three because I'm in a phase where I rejoice to meet new people and savour their company.The tasting evening went well beyond all expectations: it turned out, in fact, a very entertaining evening, with very nice people and full of positivity and sharing. To season it all with his immense charisma and with his great sense of involvement was Dean Lapthorne, the export manager of the Trentino winery, of Australian origin that, solar like all Australians in general, described the Ferrari wines with his genuine smile and a disarming cheerfulness.
When I received the invitation from my ex-colleague Arabella to take part in an evening of Ferrari sparkling wines tasting, I was very happy to participate. For various reasons: one, because I was pleased to see my colleague again after a long time; two, because it was roughly 10 years since I had tasted the Ferrari wines and three because I'm in a phase where I rejoice to meet new people and savour their company.The tasting evening went well beyond all expectations: it turned out, in fact, a very entertaining evening, with very nice people and full of positivity and sharing. To season it all with his immense charisma and with his great sense of involvement was Dean Lapthorne, the export manager of the Trentino winery, of Australian origin that, solar like all Australians in general, described the Ferrari wines with his genuine smile and a disarming cheerfulness.
The tasting was organized by Petersham Cellars, a
company founded in 2013 to promote hand-picked Italian wines by Laura Boglione
and her husband, Giovanni Mazzei, with the aim of taking care of the menu and
wine lists of all the Petersham restaurants as well as managing a prominent
wine club. The wines are available within the Delicatessen located in the heart
of Covent Garden as well as via the Petersham Cellar website.
It is in the Delicatessen that every Thursday tasting
evenings are organized that are inscribed in the project of their wine club,
and coordinated by Leo Cappelletto, operations and events manager of the
company. I had the opportunity to sit next to Leo during dinner and he himself
described the various activities organized by the company and the future
program, which includes even the creation of a sales team specialized in the
sale of wines to the London restaurants.
The Ferrari dinner included five sparkling wines, some of the bottles available for purchase for the guests and was held on October 23rd. Sponsored by Enotria, the official distributor of the winery in the UK and represented by Erica Parisi, the evening opened with an aperitif based on Perlé 2012, matched with Falmouth oysters with Amalfi lemons and Portland crab bruschetta.
It is undoubted to say that the Perlé, 100% Chardonnay, was an excellent introduction to the denomination Trento DOC. Ferrari have presented their Trento DOC sparkling wines to the global stage and they have been received with open arms; quite an accomplishment for such a small, under-the-radar appellation.
The Perlé vintage 2012, disgorged after five years on the yeasts, is strongly expressive of the Chardonnay vine imported from France, when Mr. Giulio Ferrari returning from Montpellier had the intuition of being able to create Italian sparkling wines that could be considered as important as Champagnes.
The Ferrari dinner included five sparkling wines, some of the bottles available for purchase for the guests and was held on October 23rd. Sponsored by Enotria, the official distributor of the winery in the UK and represented by Erica Parisi, the evening opened with an aperitif based on Perlé 2012, matched with Falmouth oysters with Amalfi lemons and Portland crab bruschetta.
It is undoubted to say that the Perlé, 100% Chardonnay, was an excellent introduction to the denomination Trento DOC. Ferrari have presented their Trento DOC sparkling wines to the global stage and they have been received with open arms; quite an accomplishment for such a small, under-the-radar appellation.
The Perlé vintage 2012, disgorged after five years on the yeasts, is strongly expressive of the Chardonnay vine imported from France, when Mr. Giulio Ferrari returning from Montpellier had the intuition of being able to create Italian sparkling wines that could be considered as important as Champagnes.
We then moved on to Perle 'Nero 2009, obtained by Pinot Nero and no dosage, six years on the yeasts, with a good olfactory complexity and intensity on the palate, toasted notes and tastiness that suited the Orkney scallops on the grill with side dish of San Daniele ham.
After this introduction, we moved on to the moment that I would call the heart of the dinner with 3 vintages of Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore, composed of 100% Chardonnay, two vintages, the 2005 and the 1995, not on sale on the market. Dean has wisely conducted us through the tasting of three vintages: 2007, 2005 and 1995.
The 2007, put on the market only last month after 10 years on yeasts, and as it is well known not released every year but only in years considered important, has registered considerable interest among the guests. Of this vintage, 32,000 bottles were placed on the market and it was surprising to note incredibly liveliness and gushing acidity. If I had to use an adjective to define it, it would certainly be: harmonious.
It has been paired with saffron gnocchi with Cornish mussels and nasturtium, an ornamental and edible plant, native to South America.
It would be interesting to taste it again in 20 years to see how its ripened fruit, with hints of summer fruit, would mix even more 'to its fresh acidity' and then savour the result!
It has been paired with saffron gnocchi with Cornish mussels and nasturtium, an ornamental and edible plant, native to South America.
It would be interesting to taste it again in 20 years to see how its ripened fruit, with hints of summer fruit, would mix even more 'to its fresh acidity' and then savour the result!
The 2005 was a revelation for me: a nose with notes of smoke, catchy and a palate that I defined with a single adjective: exotic. A sparkling wine with a strong character and very distinctive aromas, reminiscent of exotic fruits, spices and an unmistakable taste, I would dare to say unique.
The 1995 followed this: a classic sparkling wine of all respect, buttery and very yeasty would be defined by the English, mixed with minerals and toasted notes and a long and persistent finish, especially considering its venerable age. If I had to use an adjective for 1995 it would be: majestic.
Both 2007 and 1995 were paired with another exquisite dish, a Cornish turbot fillet with langoustines, autumn tomatoes, aioli and oregano. A substantial dish to support the complexity of the two sparkling wines.
I felt privileged to have been able to taste these precious and unobtainable vintages and I returned home happy to have spent an entertaining, joyful and vibrant evening just like the bubbles that accompanied it. In summary, this evening appropriately echoes a famous Italian brand line: Ferrari does things right!
I felt privileged to have been able to taste these precious and unobtainable vintages and I returned home happy to have spent an entertaining, joyful and vibrant evening just like the bubbles that accompanied it. In summary, this evening appropriately echoes a famous Italian brand line: Ferrari does things right!
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