Disclaimer: Don’t drink if you’re under 21, don’t buy alcohol for minors and always drink responsibly.
This week we are still in the land of Italy, but have entered a different vineyard- one of white wine. This week’s wine is “Rocca Felice Gavi Del Comune Di Gavi.” Or ‘Gavi,’ as my friend called it when they recommended it.
Last week we were looking into Tuscany, but now we are delving into another top-rated wine district, Piedmont. It is located just north of Tuscany, right at the border of Switzerland, France and Monaco. Piedmont is famous for their dry Barolo wines. Piedmont has international grapes that are created into Riesling and Chardonnay too, but arguably it is the local grapes that make the most memorable wines.
The small town of Gavi has given its name to white wine grape, Cortese, which is what Gavi is created with. Cortese grapes produce neutral, dry and fresh wines throughout the region. The most famous ones come from Gavi, and their characteristics create an aroma of citrus and flowers.
As always, a recommendation from a friend, family member, or even an expert might not suit your taste. This week, I had the pleasure of having former Lutrinae Editor-in-Chief Arianna Nalbach with me to taste Gavi.
“It has a scent but not really a flavor,” Nalbach mentioned as she put the glass to her nose after having taken a sip. I had to agree with her. If you give the wine some time to breathe, you will be able to detect citrus elements in the aroma. It also has an aroma of lemon and lime, with a hint of green apple.
Upon taking a sip, the flavor lingers for a brief minute in the mouth, but quickly disappears. It is anonymous and dry.
We both had high hopes for this wine, because the initial boquet was really good. Nalbach had two great distinctions for the wine. “It’s like a caramel apple pop but dialed back. Like when you get to the apple part, and the artificial apple tastes just a lot milder.”
Personally, I have never had a caramel apple pop, but yet I could see where she came from. While I sat there with the glass in my hand pondering what my thoughts were on this wine, Nalbach took another sip.
“If rubbing alcohol was made for consumption this is what I imagine it would taste like,” Nalbach told me.
While neither of us have ever tried rubbing alcohol (seriously, don’t do it!), I could somewhat see where she came from.
Despite its anonymity, you might be able to discover more flavor in this wine if it’s paired with food. It can sometimes be the case that wine seems undrinkable until it’s paired with food, and you might end up asking the question “did someone switch the bottle?”
The answer is no, but it’s a funny thing. Food can bring out qualities of the wine otherwise hidden when consumed by itself. While I have not tried this specific wine with food, I read that it can be paired well with seafood dishes like sushi, (sashimi specifically).
Gavi can be bought at Total Wine & More in Sand City for $22.99. My tip is to register as a member at the store, it is completely free and all you need is an email and a phone number.
The reason why I recommend this is because Total Wine & More offer coupons. They vary greatly, but overall, the deals they offer are pretty good. Download the app, login and click activate on the coupons. Then, during check out, enter your phone number and voila.
Cheers!