At the Giro d'Italia (Tasting) in Princeton!

On Thursday, I put on an actual grownup dress (everything else was in the laundry), got a (dog) sitter, and went to Eno Terra after work for their Giro d’Italia wine tasting event. Please note I wasn’t comped anything, and I paid for my ticket just like everyone else. I’ve eaten here before. The food is terrific, and they have an awesome wine list.

There were 12 different producers offering between three and six wines, from all over Italy. I asked everyone how was this year’s harvest. Italy suffered a pretty severe drought (but climate change isn’t a thing, right?). One producer told me they only had significant rain twice the whole year, which was scary. But they did have some decent rain (or “water”) around harvest time that helped save the season.

I tasted a lot of great wine, but here are some of my favorites.

Antica Fratta Brut NV, offered at the event for $33. This wine hails from Franciacorta, a tiny region near Lake Iseo, in Lombardy in the very north of the country. They also poured a 2017 sparking rosé, but I preferred the non-vintage. It had a lovely fruitiness that struck the perfect balance for me between off-dry and dry. A terrific value for a delicious sparkler. Keep this in mind for the holidays coming up!

2020 Grifalco della Lucania Aglianico del Vulture, retailing for $24. Aglianico grape is a full-bodied grape from the south. Grifalco specifically is in Basilicata, near the “sole” of the boot of Italy’s map. This is a big bold red that is remarkably balanced at 14% alcohol, with light tannins that don’t overpower the structure. A great match for beef dishes.

I could have bankrupted myself spending on wine last night, so I restricted myself to one well-priced bottle I could enjoy, and I ordered a 2019 Piancornello Rosso di Montalcino, for $29. Rosso di Montalcino is in the heart of Tuscany, and this is 100% sangiovese. Piancornello were pouring other wonderful more expensive Brunellos, but I loved the balance on this one, and again I thought it was a terrific value.

Everything I tasted had excellent balance and were extremely food-friendly. I also appreciated there were all kinds of price points on offer at Thursday’s event, so there was truly something for everyone! Thanks to Eno Terra for bringing together a wonderful tasting opportunity.