American Liquor Alliance, Southern Italy

Global
Wine and SpiritsSouthern Italy

Kind of central, kind of
southern, this region is best known for it's wine, Montapulciano d'Abruzzi –
this wine is made from the Montelpulciano grape, unlike Vino Nobile di
Montelpulciano, made with a Sangiovese clone in the region of Montelpuliciano.
The Montelpulciano grape is happiest here in Abruzzi and the wine is rustic, yet
soft and often fruity. The best part is that it's also good value and super
food-friendly.
GLOBAL
WINE AND SPIRITS Virginia
Wine in Virginia has come a long way
since Thomas Jefferson unsuccessfully planted vinifera grapes at his home in
Monticello. Our third president, known as the first American wine connoisseur,
spent a good amount of time touring vineyards in France, hoping he could
replicate the vineyards in Virginia. May not have been successful 200 years ago,
but today, the Commonwealth of Virginia is home to over 150 wineries.

Andy
Tasker

KEITH LAWES: Bollinger

Henriot

Krug

Louis Roederer
About Andy
Tasker
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Wine and Spirits
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Wine and Spirits

Pinot Gris/Grigio

While Pinot Grigio is
in fact the same grape as Pinot Gris (just the Italian take on it), the
differences of wine they create can be immense. Pinot Gris' most popular and
successful region is Alsace, France, an area of the country that actually puts
the name of the grape on the label. Pinot Grigio is the Italian version of the
grape, known for its light, crisp acidity. But wines from other regions usually
term their wine Pinot Gris or Grigio based on the wine's flavor profile.

Notable Facts
Pinot Gris from Alsace creates rich, stone fruit-laden
wines. They are perfumed and aromatic, and typically dry. It has round body and
medium acidity. Take the grape a bit south to Italy, and it creates a very
crisp, high-acid, citrus noted wine. Both are flavorful, but wine named Pinot
Gris typically provides more body and rounder fruits while Pinot Grigio gives
lighter-bodied, citrus fruits. Oregon and California are also growing the grape,
Oregon having success with a more Alsacian style and California producing both.
Winemakers often call the wine by the style they wish to replicate - for Italian
style, look for Pinot Grigio, for the Alsacian style, look for Pinot Gris. In
Alsace, Pinot Gris can also makes wine with some residual sugar. It's capable of
creating delicious dessert wines in the region.

Full
Liquor
ANDY TASKER: The Aligote is a white wine grape used in the
Burgundy region of France. The Aligote is generally considered unimpressive, but
it is still used to make a few wines. Chardonnay is replacing it as new
plantings take place.

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FINE WIN AND SPIRITS

Petite Sirah

Not So Small
There is nothing petite
about this grape. Petite Sirah, a child of Syrah and Peloursin, is also known as
Durif. Being the father, Syrah imparted some of its flavors and characteristics
to its offspring, but the two grapes are decisively different. Petite Sirah is
mostly found in California, where it is used as a blending partner, and more
recently, a single varietal.
Notable Facts
A common descriptor for
Petite Sirah is inky. And so it is - the dark skinned grape creates wines that
are tannic and sturdy, and of course, stain-your-teeth purple. The grape helps
to add structure and backbone to wines made in not-so-perfect vintages. As a
sole variety, the wines typically show off some peppery flavors with fruit
flavors reminiscent of plums and prunes with notes of cherries and blackberries.
The grape is becoming more popular in California for single varietal production
and making some delicious and intense wines.