Ciao Tutti!
This weekend at Piazza Italian Market we will taste the 2023 Cannonau Capo Ferrato DOC ($15.99, ABV 14%) from the Cantina Castiadas winery. Founded in 1959, the winery takes its name from its location in the picturesque southeastern part of Sardinia in the Cannonau di Sardegna DOC denomination. “Capo Ferrato” translates as “Iron Chief” for “cape” or promontory and “ferrato” honors the iron rich soils of this region.
Cantina Castiadas is considered one of Sardinia’s most esteemed wineries. Founded in 1959 by the Sardinian Agrarian Reform Agency, Cantina di Castiadas supports the major winemakers in the area by collecting grapes from 115 hectares planted with 14 grape varieties in their region of Sarrabus in the sub-denomination “Capo Ferrato”. Cannonau is their most prized grape due to its terroir of clay soils and granitic sands with a daily optimal exposure to the sun, balanced by the Tyrrhenian Sea’s cooling breezes. The result are wines of intense minerality and the special fragrance of the macchia, the ubiquitous low ground cover found all over the island. If you are a fan as I am, of Daniel Silva’s books, you know one of the protagonists makes regular visits to a retired Mafioso for advice and during his drive, he savors the macchia’s fragrance on his way the Mafioso’s compound.
The Capo Ferrato Cannonau is full bodied, 100% Cannonau grape, with ripe raspberry and strawberry aromas, delicate floral notes, well balanced tannins and a long velvety finish. The bonus is that the wine contains the highest concentration of antioxidant compounds of all red grapes and three times the amounts of anti-oxidants, compared to other red wines. Its cardiovascular benefits are almost ten times higher than varieties of grapes from other areas of Italy. The cannonau grape was featured in Netflix’s feature “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones”.
Pair the Capo Ferrato Cannonau with hearty dishes of roasted lamb, grilled veggies, Piazza’s aged cheeses or pasta with rich tomato sauces and spicy sausages. If you haven’t yet tried wines from Cannonau grapes, come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 to taste the Capo Ferrato and start your “Live to 100” journey. Please note I will be hosting our wine tasting on Friday only. I am a member of the Easton Choral Arts Society and our annual retreat is this Saturday.
New Wine: I am so pleased that the delicious Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG from the Tenuta Le Calcinaie winery is back on Piazza’s shelves-look for the “NEW” sticker; we will schedule its tasting soon!
Cin Cin,
Jenn
Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center at 218 N. Washington St., suite 23, in Easton, MD
