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Papa Nonno, Tuscan-Style Red, Dry Creek Valley

Papa Nonno, Tuscan-Style Red, Dry Creek Valley) Wine Details
Price: $17.00 per bottle

Description: tribute wine to my grandfather Pietro Bernacchi who was called "Papa" by his daughters and "Nonno" by his grandchildren. He was from a small town near Lucca, Italy in the region of Tuscany. He came to America in 1908 with 3 brothers in search of economic opportunity while 2 brothers remained in Italy to sharecrop with their father. They were hard working individuals that shared a love for agriculture and were true agrarian stewards of the land. They were all family winemakers, had a deep respect for food and wine, and all lived long and healthy lives. Tanti Grazi Nonno for your genes and inspiration. Papa Nonno wine is a unique blend of red varietal grapes fermented together with a small amount of white grapes to produce a dry full bodied wine in a style similar to the Chianti wines of Tuscany. The backbone of the wine is 58% Zinfandel, with 27% Cabernet, 11% Carignane, and 4% mixed whites. With the exception of the Cabernet, the vines used in this production are 50-90 years old. The co-fermentation provides a complexity and color not obtained by post fermentation blending.. Aged 19 months in American oak. Bright fruit flavors of berry, plum and cherry combine with moderate tannin and acidity for a balanced mouthfeel. A delicious hearty wine that pairs well with BBQ meats, pasta and a wide variety of foods.

Varietal Definition
Zinfandel:
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California wine vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in the 'heel' of Italy. It is typically made into a robust red wine. Its taste depends on the ripeness of the grapes from which it is made. Red berry fruits like raspberry predominate in wines from cooler areas such as the Napa Valley, whereas blackberry, anise and pepper notes are more common in wines made in warmer areas such as Sonoma County. Many Zinfandels come from head pruned ‘Old Vines’. ‘Old Vine’ is generally understood to mean a vine that is more than 50 years old and that produces less than three tons per acre. ‘Head Pruning’ is an old European style of pruning that trains the vine into the shape of a goblet. It requires no wires or other complex trellis systems. Head pruning spreads the fruit uniformly along the vine and allows light penetration.In the USA a semi-sweet Rosé (blush-style) wine called ‘White Zinfandel’ has achieved widespread popularity. In fact, this popularity has so outstripped all other forms that many fans think there is actually a grape called “White Zinfandel” (there isn’t)!
Carignane:
Carignane is one of the world’s most prolific wine varieties. Thriving in warm climates, Carignane was until the late 1970s, the most widely-planted red variety in California. Hailing from Aragon, Spain, this grape is capable of deeply-colored, extracted and tannic wines of considerable alcohol. It is a late-budder and does not ripen until late in the season. Highly prone to mildew disease, it requires long, dry growing conditions. It is often used as a blending component with other, more anemic, hot-climate varieties, like Grenache and Cinsault, which typically lack the deep pigment and extract which Carignane brings to the blend.
Cabernet Sauvignon:
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted and significant among the five dominant varieties in France’s Bordeaux region, as well as the most successful red wine produced in California. Though it was thought to be an ancient variety, recent genetic studies at U.C. Davis have determined that Cabernet Sauvignon is actually the hybrid offspring of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon berries are small with black, thick and very tough skin. This toughness makes the grapes fairly resistant to disease and spoilage and able to withstand some autumn rains with little or no damage. It is a mid to late season ripener. These growth characteristics, along with its flavor appeal have made Cabernet Sauvignon one of the most popular red wine varieties worldwide.


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