You might be wondering why I am choosing Italian wines for Thanksgiving. The reason is simple – I am an Italian Wine Scholar and I tend to gravitate towards Italian wines. The following wines offer bright acidity and make delicious food pairings. Furthermore, they are reasonably priced and easily attainable.
Thanksgiving Turkey paired with Italian Wines
Trento DOC or Trentodoc is an appellation in the Trentino (Trentino-Alto Adige) region of Italy where they only produce white and rosé sparkling wines. They are made in the traditional method, and one of the famous producers is Ferrari Trento. Their aging requirements are more strict than non-vintage Champagne.
Lambrusco di Sorbara is fragrant boasting floral notes and light violet/rosé color. It is produced in frizzante (semi-sparkling) or Spumante (sparkling wine) styles. They thrive in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.
Arneis hails from the Roero Hills in the Piedmont region. This white wine is on the dry side with floral notes, pears, and a minerally-driven finish.
Chianti Classico DOCG boasts the emblematic black rooster or gallo nero on the label. It is made with at least 80% Sangiovese and is home to Tuscany. This wine showcases flavor profiles of red cherry, dry spices, with characters of earthiness and forest floor. Perfect for the turkeyand its trimmings.
Vin Santo is a dessert wine made with Trebbiano and Malvasia grape varieties. It has a deep golden color with flavors of caramel and a hint of nuttiness. This wine comes from Tuscany.
I finally had the opportunity to travel to Piedmont (Piemonte) this past June, and experienced the beauty of this picturesque Italian region. I visited many lush wineries in the sub-regions of La Morra, Barolo, Alba, and Barbaresco, and tasted some delicious wines. Barbaresco is a beautiful region in northwestern Italy where the Nebbiolo grape thrives in the slightly maritime climate: warmer, dryer, and milder, allowing the grapes to ripen faster. The Nebbiolo grapes are used to produce the wine that also goes by the name of Barbaresco. It is characterized by its rich flavors with notes of spices and mild perfumes with sweetness and is considered elegant and refined. The soil in Barbaresco has more nutrients and makes it less tannic than Barolo. Barbaresco is also known for Dolcetto and Barbera.
Upon arriving at Ca’ del Baio── house of the bay horse, means a dark-horse in Piedmontese dialect, which is an inspiration for their logo──Federica greeted us with her contagious smile in her work attire. We knew it was going to be a special tour and felt a deep connection with the winery. For four generations Ca’ del Baio has been a family affair, as is the tradition in the Langhe region. Nurtured and passed down from father to son, the vineyards surrounding the Grasso family farmhouse have been added to over time through marriage and acquisitions.
Giulio and Luciana along with their daughters Paola, Valentina and Federica, handle all the various aspects of the business. They do it with passion and expertise, from the growing and vinification of the grapes to hospitality and wine sales. For the Grasso family, simplicity, a sense of sacrifice and the deep attachment they have to their land are pre-requisites for guaranteeing wines of quality. Today the Ca’ del Baio estate takes in 28 hectares of vineyards in the villages of Barbaresco and Treiso, both of which are in the Barbaresco winegrowing area.
All estate-grown, their wines are made from a range of highly valued varieties, some typical of the area while others are more international: the whites include Moscato, Chardonnay and Riesling, and the reds Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto. Almost all the wines are varietals. The most prestigious vines – producing the Nebbiolo used to make Barbaresco – are between 25 and 40 years old, and they go into making the estate’s crus of Asili and Pora (commune of Barbaresco) and Vallegrande and Marcarini (Treiso).
Since we were on a tight schedule, I did not have time to write my own wine descriptions, therefore, I am using the winemaker’s notes that I found on their website: Ca del Baio. I enjoyed this wine tasting tour that was conducted by Federica. She’s passionate and very knowledgeable in the world of wines. I highly recommend you make reservations ahead of time before visiting this charming boutique winery.
Recently, Ca’ del Baio’s Barbaresco Vallegrande 2016 received the prestigious “Tre Bicchieri”( 3 glasses), Italy’s Best Wines award given by Gambero Rosso. It’s the largest food-E-Wine Publishing House in Europe, according to their Instagram profile.
Enjoying a tasting at Ca’ del Baio
Ca’ del Baio 2013 Barbaresco Asili Riserva
Winemaker’s notes: The wine displays a brilliant garnet red colour with shades of orange. The intense nose releases hints of lavender, pine, rose petals, aromatic herbs, spices, and goudron (tar) notes. The wine is dry, full-bodied, and warm. It is exceptionally smooth and velvety in the mouth.
Ca’ del Baio 2015 Barbaresco Pora
Winemaker’s notes: colour bright garnet red; nose intense and complex, with fruity overtones conjuring up plums and blackberries, and spicy hints of vanilla and roasted hazelnuts; taste full-bodied, soft and tannic; a big, yet very flavorsome wine.
Ca’ del Baio 2016 Barbaresco Asili
Winemaker’s notes: color bright garnet red, with slight orange tinges; nose intense, with fruity aromas of marasca cherries and hints of violets. Spicy notes of black pepper, liquorice and goudron (tar); taste dry, warm and soft, showing a long, rich, smooth flavour.
Award-winning Ca’ del Baio 2016 Barbaresco Vallegrande
Winemaker’s notes: colour garnet red; nose intense, with powerful fruit, dried flowers and underbrush; taste dry, smooth and rounded, ending in a warm finish with nicely-balanced tannins.
Ca’ del Baio Barbaresco Lineup
Ca’ del Baio 2016 Barbaresco Autinbej
Winemaker’s notes: the colour is a deep garnet red with reflections of old pink. The nose is an intense, fruity aroma reminiscent of raspberries, jam, and violets that give an ethereal feeling accompanied by sweet spicy notes and hints of cocoa. In the mouth, Autinbej is warm, long, persistent and slightly tannic with an aftertaste of fruity notes.
Ca’ del Baio Langhe Chardonnay
Winemaker’s notes: colour bright straw yellow; nose intense and complex, ranging from flowery to fruity, with hints of nuts; taste dry, full-bodied and well-balanced, with long flavour…Chardonnay, international by nature, Piedmontese at heart.
Barbaresco wine region
Amazing Barbaresco lineup
While touring, Federica’s dad Giulio brought me a glass of Moscato d’Asti to taste
I captured a picture of the Grasso’s family portrait – Original is not mine
Ca’ del Baio barrel room
Ca’ del Baio wine storage room
Ca’ del Baio – the 3 sisters – photo from their website – not mine
The Grasso family symbolizes respect for land and passion for wine. They take pride in their work and harmoniously carry on the family’s legacy. I am so glad that I met this tight-knit family and made unforgettable wine memories.
I hope you have enjoyed this article that illustrates our wine tasting journey in Piedmont, Italy.
“Il vino fa buon sangue” = Good wine makes good blood “In vino veritas” = In wine there is truth
Photos taken by Gina for Foodiewinelover – unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved. Disclosure: some of the information was taken from Ca’ del Baio’s website.
Trento DOC or Trentodoc is an appellation in the Trentino (Trentino-Alto Adige) region of Italy where they only produce white and rosé sparkling wines. They are made in the traditional method, and one of the famous producers is Ferrari Trento. Their aging requirements are more strict than non-vintage Champagne. 
and its trimmings. 
Foodie WineLover 
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