Ciao Tutti!
This Friday at Piazza Italian Market, we will taste the Lintori Vermentino Di Sardegna Vendemmia 2024 ($21.75, 13.5% ABV) from the Capichera Winery in the Gallura historic region of NE Sardinia. The bottle’s distinctive label shows a row of Granite “nuraghe”, ancient megalithic forms constructed between 1900 and 730 BC, in this region that is dotted with archaeological sites. “Lintori” translates as “morning dew” and is vinified from grapes grown in the youngest vineyards; t is also the youngest wine in Capichera’s portfolio.
A rugged, granite landscape is quite advantageous to viticulture since the granite particles create open soil, resulting in good drainage, no root rot, and roots must grow deeper for nourishment. This unique terroir imparts both complex intense flavors and refreshing minerality to the grapes.
Capichera’s story began in the 1920’s when Alberto Ragnedda inherited a farm and vineyards of approximately 10 hectares dotted with ancient granite rocks. The farm first produced wine for the family who lived in the town of Arzachena and spent time in the warm months on the farm.
The estate expanded to approximately 60 hectares by Alberto’s son and he planted new vineyards devoted to Vermentino grapes. Concurrently, he built a new state of the art winery for the production of high quality wines and the first wine was sold in 1980. Vermentino is an indigenous grape of Sardinia but the Capichera Vermentino soon outshone other Vermentino wines for its fragrance, richness, smoothness.
Alberto’s grandsons Fabrizio and Mario now manage the winery and they continued the pioneering spirit of their grandfather by being the first winemakers to promote barrique ageing of pure Vermentino. Initially met with skepticism, their idea is recognized today as a milestone and Capichera has become the symbol of Italian Vermentino and set the standard for Vermentino throughout the world. Vermentino is my go-to wine with seafood for its freshness, full body, floral accents, fruity yellow apple taste and a persistent mineral finish. Emily and I tasted this wine with one of our reps and wanted to feature it for a tasting.
This week’s wine tasting is on Friday only, so come join me today from noon to 5:45. I will miss seeing everyone on Saturday but I will be attending the Easton Choral Arts Society fall retreat as a new alto with this fab group of close to 70 singers!
Cin Cin!
Jenn
Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center, 218 N. Washington St., suite 23, in Easton, MD
Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.
