WWoW: 2009 Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Scaia, Corvina
One of the most rewarding, wine-related aspects of my job is getting to taste a great wine that I have previously been unfamiliar with, introducing it to our team, who in turn introduce it to our guests in the restaurant. Enthusiasm is contagi
ous and everyone enjoys trying a great wine! This happens far more frequently than one might think, and that is indeed a good thing!
Most recently I have had the pleasure of tasting an Italian red that was a real revelation flavor-wise and also price-wise (always an added plus!) The 2009 Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Scaia, Corvina. This is a medium-bodied, fruit forward Italian red made from 100% Corvina…A grape that you don’t run into everyday and certainly not by itself. Corvina is usually used as a blending grape in making Bardolino and Valpolicella. On its own it has really nice concentrated red fruit flavors such as raspberry, cherry, plum, red currant with some blackberry and black currant thrown in for good measure. I personally find it to be similar to a lighter-bodied red zinfandel. There is just a hint of jammy-ness that reminds me of a zin.
The grapes for this wine come from the Municipality of Colognola ai Colli and Mezzane di Sotto respectively. Both of these areas are in the Veneto region in the northeastern area of Italy, which is the main home of the Corvina grape.
What makes this wine different is its lack of oak ageing. It is aged completely in stainless steel which really allows those fresh fruit flavors to shine through. This is a wine that can be paired with a wide range of foods or just sipped on its own.
So what are you waiting for, get on down here and try a glass of this delicious red!
Robert Wailes is the manager and head Adult Beverage Consultant for Café Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick bar in New Orleans. He has been interested in wine and adult beverages for as long as he can remember (seriously!).