ITALY: North-East - Trentino, Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, red

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Winner Details

Italy: North-East – Trentino, Alto Adige & Friuli Venezia Giulia

2015: Gold 2 Silver 2 Bronze 5 Commended 1
2014: Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 2 Commended 3

It’s tempting to pigeon-hole European regions by grape variety. But these north-eastern valleys defy any such handy classification. From Cabernet to Pinot Noir and local varieties such as Teroldego and Lagrein, this was a chocolate-box assortment of styles of which Forrest Gump would have been proud. The only unifying factor? That our tasters loved pretty much all of them, praising their character, their uniqueness and their food-friendliness – for once not a euphemism for ‘ragingly over-structured’. An exciting range of wines throughout the medals.

From the Tasting Teams

‘This was a very exciting flight with a lot of stylistic differences, from lightish reds to much bigger, richer styles. They were all food wines, but not in a negative way. You could still drink them on their own, which isn’t always the case with “food wines”.’ Ram Chhetri, Bread Street Kitchen

‘They were clearly Italian, with good acidity, but not out of balance.’ Chris Wood, Chelsea Vintners
‘If you are looking to give someone an interesting alternative to Burgundy or even something mainstream, these wines can be great.’ Giancarlo Cuccuru, The Gilbert Scott

‘Here I’m looking for originality. There are amazing Bordeaux-style wines from this area, then indigenous varieties like Teroldego, and some really drinkable Pinot Noir, so a real mix, with interesting wines for the list.’ Alessandro Marchesan, Zuma

Award winners

Found 10 wines

Italy: North-East - Trentino, Alto Adige & Friuli Venezia Giulia – Red

Mezzacorona, Castel Firmian, Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Trentino, Italy

This complex blend of cherry flavours, spicy notes, herb and violets proved unbeatable value. ‘Good freshness, with a little herbaceousness, capsicum and pepper notes with cranberry fruit,’ began Ram Chhetri of Bread Street Kitchen. ‘Raspberry fruit, with a little volatility, notes of salted cured meat, vanilla and balanced ripe fruit,’ added Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains. A worthy Roast Chicken Food Match winner, other suggestions included veal and spicy foods.

£6.52 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Moschioni, Rosso Celtico, Colli Orientali del Friuli 2009, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Despite its apparent youth, this brooding blend of Cabernet and Merlot was recognised as the star that it is. ‘Dense, rich, deep red, simmering with dark berry fruit and hints of mocha and layered complexity,’ began impressed team leader Angela Reddin, concluding: ‘Huge concentration, but body is flexible with a great length finish.’ ‘Lush fruit with high tannin and a bacon note,' added Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains. Over to you whether you cellar or dive in – sample and see.

£21.10 Eurowines

Cavit, Bottega Vinai, Lagrein Dunkel 2012, Trentino, Italy

‘Resembling a Pinot Nero in the glass, with light, bright red berries, cranberry and strawberry, a hint of pepper and meatier notes,’ said Ram Chhetri of Bread Street Kitchen, with team leader Laura Rhys MS adding: 'Delicate and elegant, with good, fresh red fruit notes.'

£7.45 Boutinot

Moschioni, Schioppettino, Colli Orientali del Friuli 2009, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

‘Vibrant raspberry, cranberry, strawberry fruit with incredible freshness on the nose, great balance and length,’ said a very impressed Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains, with Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners adding: ‘Depth, poise and structure are perfectly aligned, with good spice and length.’

£35.10 Eurowines

Vistorta, Merlot di Vistorta 2009, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

‘Jammy, dark and red fruits with balanced oak and acidity. Simply a complex, good wine,’ said a satisfied Ram Chhetri of Bread Street Kitchen, with team leader Angela Reddin adding: ‘Briar fruit, sloes and undergrowth; interesting, lovely play of flavours and textures.’

£17.48 Enotria&Coe

Cavit, Terrazze della Luna, Teroldego Rotaliano 2013, Trentino, Italy

‘Excellent, easy and approachable for the price-point, with bright, juicy red fruit nose and a vibrant, lively fresh palate,’ said team leader Angela Reddin, with Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners suggesting it as ‘a house red for pizza’.

£5.75 Boutinot

San Simone, Nexus, Cabernet Sauvignon Friuli-Grave 2010, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains ‘really liked’ this wine, saying: ‘Lovely purity, with well-balanced acidity and tannin, cassis, fresh blackberry, cranberry and clove, with notes of freshly turned earth.’

£10.07 Eurowines

St Michael-Eppan, Sanct Valentin, Pinot Nero 2011, Alto Adige, Italy

‘Bright, pale ruby colour with cranberry, raspberry and capsicum flavours and oak notes, light but well balanced and enjoyable,’ said Ram Chhetri of Bread Street Kitchen.

'This could be Burgundy,' added Chris Wood of Chelsea Vintners: ‘Love the freshness, verve and poise.’

£20.55 Eurowines

Cavit, Bottega Vinai, Pinot Nero 2013, Trentino, Italy

‘Crunchy, fresh red berry fruit basket, with cherries, loganberry and redcurrant,’ began team leader Angela Reddin, continuing : ‘Palate is as nose, with a lasting flavour and balance.’ ‘Great structure, ready for some serious main courses,’ added Laurent Richet MS of Restaurant Sat Bains.