This recipe was inspired by the Pasta Queen on Instagram. It makes for a stunning presentation, but requires some patience. It may take a little practice before shaping the pasta nests. Put on your favorite apron and follow me in Gina’s Kitchen!
Serves: 6-8
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Sultry Spaghetti Nests
Ingredients:
3/4 lb. thin spaghetti
1 handful of salt for pasta water
¼ – ½ cup reserved pasta water
1 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil + more to drizzle
8 ounces pancetta, chopped
½ – ¾ cup dry white wine
28 oz. can peeled San Marzano tomatoes, crushed*
¼ – ½ cup prepared plain sauce – not included in the photo
10-12 slices Provolone cheese, each rolled and broken into 2 pieces
Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino cheese
Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Preparation:
In a large skillet, on medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Pan fry pancetta until golden brown, 3-5 minutes. Deglaze with wine. Stir for 1-2 minutes. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, and reserved pasta water. Lower the flame, and simmer for at least 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Preheat oven to 350-degree Farenheight.
While the sauce is cooking, bring the pasta water to a boil. Add salt. Cook pasta al dente. Reserve some water before draining it (follow the recipe). Drop the pasta in the tomato sauce. Mix well until every strand of pasta is coated with the sauce. Use a fork or thongs to shape the little nests in a ladle. (Should yield about 8-10 pasta nests depending on their sizes.) Place each nest in a medium to large metal baking pan. Add any leftover sauce on top. Nestle 2 pieces of cheese in the center of each nest and sprinkle it with the grated cheese.
Bake for about 5-8 minutes until the cheese has melted. Remove. Garnish each pasta nest with a basil leaf, and drizzle liberally with olive oil.
Your guests will appreciate this gorgeous spaghetti bake as well as the tastiness of the dish. Use a spatula to serve the pasta.
Cook’s notes: you can crush the tomatoes by hand or use a potato masher.
Wine Pairing Suggestions: Sangiovese-based wines such as Chianti Classico or Rosso di Montalcino. A Montepulciano d’Abruzzo would work as well.
Sultry Spaghetti Nests
Sultry Spaghetti Nests
Please let me know when you make this! It’s a crowd pleaser!
All photos are my own. All rights reserved
Buon Appetito!
Gina Martino Zarcadoolas, aka Foodiewinelover
Culinary Personality, Food & Wine Blogger
Author of the cookbook: Cuisines, Corkscrews & Cultures: https://foodiewinelover.com/product/cookbook/
Level-2 Certified world-renowned – “WSET: Wine, Spirit, Education, Trust”
Level-2 Certified Sommelier & Italian Wine Scholar
Winner of 2019 Italian Wines “Salice Salentino USA Bloggers” Award, held in Puglia, Italy
Brand Strategist
In case you didn’t know, 365 is Whole Foods’ brand name, and some of the ingredients in this dish were purchased at that grocery store chain. I was pleased with the outcome, but you can use any brand of your choice. I did something untraditional to save time on cleaning. Usually, I recommend the sauce waits for the pasta when making spaghetti al pomodoro con basilico or any pasta dish on the stovetop. However, since this dish was going to be baked in the oven, I cooked the pasta first, drained it, then used the same pot to make the sauce. Do you get the picture? One less pot to clean! This is a spin on baked ziti! I like the way the meat and cheese nestle inside the shells. This is much faster than building a lasagna/e.
Serves 6-8 Level of difficulty – Easy to medium
Ingredients:
3/4 lb. medium-sized pasta shells (365)
1 handful of salt for pasta water
2-3 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil + more to drizzle
1 small onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1.40 lbs. ground beef, pasture-raised (365)
24 ounces prepared tomato sauce- plain or with basil
1/2 cup to 3/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, (Italian Parmesan) grated
Preparation:
1. In a large pot, bring pasta water to a boil. Add salt. Cook for about 10 minutes or al dente (it will continue to cook in the oven). Drain, and save some pasta water. Pour the pasta in a medium-sized metal baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil. Cover with foil. Set aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. In the same pot, on medium heat, heat olive oil. Sauté onions and garlic for 1 – 2 minutes. Add the meat, and cook for 6-10 minutes until browned. Add the tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes, salt and pepper, and reserved pasta water. Stir well. Bring to a boil. Lower the flame. Cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Time to assemble. Use a ladle to spread the meat sauce over the pasta. Add ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmigiano cheese. Stir well. Bake in the oven covered with foil for about 30 minutes. Remove foil, drizzle with olive oil, and voila! Serve it with a salad.
Wine pairing suggestions: A Sangiovese Rosso, Chianti, or Lambrusco di Sorbara.
Lambrusco is a sparkling wine from the region of Emilia Romagna. The styles vary from sweet to dry, showing bright red fruit with lively acidity. For this reason, Lambrusco pairs well with tomato-based dishes and pizza. I visited Parma a few years ago and enjoyed Lambrusco for the first time. I paired it with pasta in a traditional Bolognese sauce and “Culatello di Zibello”, a prized cured meat with a Protected Designation of Origin. They are both classic pairings in this Northern Italian region.
I promise you your guests will be satisfied with this soul-warming meal! I would appreciate it if you would direct them to my website. Until then, happy cooking and sipping!
PS. If you don’t consume alcohol, I recommend an Italian sparkling water to elevate the experience.
Buon Appetito!
Gina Martino Zarcadoolas, aka Foodiewinelover
Culinary Personality, Food & Wine Blogger
Author of the cookbook: Cuisines, Corkscrews & Cultures: https://foodiewinelover.com/product/cookbook/
Level-2 Certified world-renowned – “WSET: Wine, Spirit, Education, Trust”
Level-2 Certified Sommelier & Italian Wine Scholar Scholar
Winner of 2019 Italian Wines “Salice Salentino USA Bloggers” Award, held in Puglia, Italy
Brand Strategist
Food & wine pairings create many emotions; if done right, they are both great givers of happiness.
Today, I am sharing with you a recipe for stuffed shells that I paired with a lovely Chianti Classico. The idea is to keep it simple and minimize cleaning in the kitchen. This recipe serves 6 with a side of salad. The level of difficulty is easy to intermediate.
Scrumptious Stuffed Shells & Sangiovese
Ingredients:
1 (12-ounce) box jumbo shells*
1 handful of salt for pasta water
24 oz. jar – plain marinara sauce
8 ounces of fresh mozzarella, cut up
1 (15 oz) container of whole milk ricotta
Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, to taste
Preparation:
Boil pasta in salted water for 6-7 minutes. Drain.
Preheat the oven to 350°F
In the meantime, on the bottom of a large glass baking dish, spread some tomato sauce. Fill each shell with 1 teaspoon of ricotta cheese and place them in a single layer on the baking dish. Drizzle with tomato sauce. Place a piece of mozzarella in each shell. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese. Voila!
Bake for about 45-50 minutes until you see the sauce bubbling.
Cook’s notes. I used about 27 shells. (There will be some unused shells)
Wine pairing: Renieri 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG. This wine is made with 100% Sangiovese, and the grapes are cultivated in the southernmost part of the Chianti Classico zone, in the town of Castelnuovo Berardegna. The warm temperatures produce bigger and riper wines.
The aromas and flavors include cedar, leather, oak, underbrush, red juicy cherries, vanilla, tobacco leaves, mushrooms, and earthy characters. The tannins are supple and supported by vibrant acidity, leading to a long finish with a hint of chocolate. A superb wine, but I don’t believe it deserves 95 points. My opinion!
This wine complemented the stuffed shells to sublimeness.
It’s been raining here, and I needed some comfort food to cheer me up. I made braised short ribs simmered in a tomato sauce and paired them with a Nero d’Avola. It is the flagship grape of Sicily. Mille e Una Notte translates to A Thousand and One Night and comprises predominantly of Nero d’Avola. This wine boasts violet hues and shows great concentration. The nose delivers aromas of dark fruits, blackberry, plum, savory and sweet spices, and a hint of earthiness. The mouthfeel is silky and mirrors the nose with additional flavors of dark chocolate, baking spices, hints of black pepper, nutmeg, and licorice. The finish is lingering, and this wine has the potential for long cellaring. Below is the recipe for the short ribs.
Braised Short Ribs in Tomato Sauce
Ingredients:
6 short ribs (about 3 lbs.)
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
olive oil for frying
5-6 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 (32) oz prepared plain tomato sauce
1/4 cup water
1 (26.46) Pomi strained tomatoes
Flat leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
1 lb. spaghetti or any pasta of your choice
1 handful of salt for the pasta water
Parmigiano Reggiano
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350-degree Fahrenheit.
1. In the meantime, liberally season the short ribs with salt & pepper. In a Deutch oven on medium-high heat, heat 2-3 tbs. olive oil, sear 3 short ribs for about 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove. Sear the second batch. Remove and set aside.
2. In the same pan, add more oil if needed, sauté the garlic for 1-2 minutes, and deglaze with the wine for 1-2-minutes. Add in the tomatoes, water, parsley, and ribs. Bring to a gentle boil and turn off the burner. Cover.
3. Place the pan in the preheated oven for about 1 hour or until the meat is tender.
4. While the short ribs are cooking, bring the pasta water to a boil, and add a handful of salt. Cook according to package directions or al dente.
5. Serve with grated Parmigiano Reggiano or local Parmesan cheese.
Cook’s Note regarding Italian traditions: if you want to eat like the Italians, serve the pasta first, followed by the short ribs. Here in the US, we tend to serve them on the same plate.
While the wine and the dish were delicious on their own, a brown sauce would have made a better pairing with this outstanding wine. The acidity in the tomato sauce overpowered the wine and mellowed its flavors. Either way, the food and the wine were both super stars, but they didn’t get long together.
I hope you will give this recipe a try! I recommend this wine for a special occasion and stick with a Sangiovese-based red wine for an ideal pairing.
Happy Cooking & Sipping from Gina’s Kitchen!
Gina Martino Zarcadoolas, aka Foodiewinelover
Culinary Personality, Food & Wine Blogger
Author of the cookbook: Cuisines, Corkscrews & Cultures: https://foodiewinelover.com/product/cookbook/
Level-2 Certified world-renowned – “WSET: Wine, Spirit, Education, Trust”
Level-2 Certified Sommelier & Italian Wine Scholar Student (Unit 1 completed)
Winner of 2019 Italian Wines “Salice Salentino USA Bloggers” Award, held in Puglia, Italy
Brand Strategist
Pasta is better inhaled like a vacuum cleaner. It’s so much fun!
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Spaghetti & Meatballs is a comforting Italian-American dish. It is not a traditional Italian dish because the Italians prefer to eat their pasta alone without the meatballs. Meatballs are known as “polpette” in Italian, and they are consumed as a tasty second course (secondo). I have many different versions of tomato sauce, and sometimes, I use Italian sausage for added richness. Today, I am sharing with you a simplified sauce that is rustic and is a crowd-pleaser. For a smoother sauce, simply pure’ the San Marzano tomatoes. This blog post is not sponsored, but I am using the brands that I like. There are times when I combine ground beef and pork, and in that instance, I don’t use the sausage. Alternatively, you can use ground turkey for a healthier version. I use seasoned breadcrumbs instead of the traditional slice of bread soaked in milk. Generally, I don’t use grated cheese, except in my Veal Meatballs with Pecorino. Put your apron on, and follow me in the kitchen. Don’t forget your glass of wine or cider! This recipe is crafted for 6-8 people depending on their appetite. You can easily divide the ingredients to feed fewer people.
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Ingredients for the meatballs
1 ½ lbs. ground sirloin
1 ½ lbs. ground chuck
3-4 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1/4 teaspoon oregano ½ small onion, grated 1½ teaspoons sea salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste 2 large eggs ½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs, Progresso brand
1 handful of flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish
Preparation:
Mix well all the ingredients by hand (I use a glove because I have long nails) and form the meatballs using an ice cream scooper with a spring. Spray a large tray and place the meatballs on there. Bake them for 10-12 minutes in a 350-degree oven, turning them once. You can also pan-fry them in olive oil for tastier meatballs but this process is less convenient. Set aside.
Ingredients for the Tomato Sauce:
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1 (26.46 ounces) container of Pomi -strained tomato
1 (26.46 ounces) container of Pomi – finely chopped tomatoes
1 (28 oz.) Flora’s San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pound of spaghetti
Grated Parmigiano Reggiano to taste (a lot)
Preparation:
In a large stock pot, on medium heat, heat olive oil and sauté the garlic quickly, and add the tomato paste. Stir constantly until it’s caramelized. Add the strained, chopped, and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a gently boil, stir occasionally. Add the meatballs. Lower the flame. Cover with lid tilted. Stir occasionally to avoid the sauce from sticking on the bottom. Allow 1½ to 2 hours until all the flavors marry beautifully. Toward the last 15 minutes, bring your pasta water to a boil. Add a handful of salt, and cook according to package directions. I like mine al dente so cook it for at least 1 or 2 minutes less. The best way to find out how you like it is to taste the pasta before draining it.
Mix the pasta with the sauce until every strand is coated. Serve with grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Garnish with parsley
Wine pairing suggestion: Sangiovese-based wines such a Rosso Di Montalcino or Chianti Classico will work harmoniously with the acidity in the tomatoes.
Happy Cooking & Happy Sipping from Gina’s Kitchen!
Gina Martino Zarcadoolas, aka Foodiewinelover
Culinary Personality, Food & Wine Blogger
Author of the cookbook: Cuisines, Corkscrews & Cultures: https://foodiewinelover.com/product/cookbook/
Level-2 Certified world-renowned – “WSET: Wine, Spirit, Education, Trust”
Level-2 Certified Sommelier & Italian Wine Scholar Student (Prep course completed)
Winner of 2019 Italian Wines “Salice Salentino USA Bloggers” Award, held in Puglia, Italy
Brand Strategist
On New Year’s Day, I made Penne alla Vodka and added lump crab meat to the sauce to give it a touch of elegance. This recipe is delicious but, because of its richness, it’s not part of my recipe rotation. Please click on the link below to follow the recipe. Simply add 1/2 – 3/4 lump crabmeat to the sauce, toward the last 10 minutes of cooking time.
I paired this fancy dish with Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Réserve Exclusive Rosé. It comprises of 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Pinot Meunier, and 10% Chardonnay. This pairing soothes my soul and sings the song to my heart. Every sip I take, my heart twerks a little faster.
This Rosé Champagne is lively and refreshing, and will delight your taste buds. The color is deep orange with aromas of cherries and nuances of mixed red berries and grapefruit. The palate follows the nose with hints of almonds and effervescent ginger ale. This rich-style Champagne is full-bodied and has a creamy texture, with lots of tiny bubbles. The finish is irresistibly enjoyable, and marries harmoniously with the creaminess of the dish .
May your glass always be full of tiny bubbles!
Gina Martino Zarcadoolas, aka Foodiewinelover
Culinary Personality, Food & Wine Blogger
Author of the cookbook: Cuisines, Corkscrews & Cultures
Level-2 Certified world-renowned – “WSET: Wine, Spirit, Education, Trust”
Level-2 Certified Sommelier
Winner of 2019 “Salice Salentino USA Bloggers” Award
Brand Strategist
On New Year’s Eve, I made my version of Shrimp & Grits. I am not claiming it to be an authentic Creole recipe, but it’s my version. This dish is simple without all the fuss and can be done in 15 minutes. I paired it with Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru Champagne, and it was a winning combination. With all the excitement that evening, I did not measure all the ingredients. Please use your judgement as these are approximate measurements. I used Prosciutto instead of bacon to elevate the flavors and give the dish a festive touch. The recipe that I am sharing today is for about 6-8 people, and I baked the shrimp in the oven for about 10-15 minutes. You can divide the recipe in 2 to feed fewer people, and pan fry them on the stovetop in a single layer.
Serves: 6-8 Level of difficulty: Easy
Ingredients:
1.1/2 cups grits
butter to taste, optional
2 lbs. large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
paprika to taste
1 cup of dry white wine
extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 to 1/2 lb. chopped Prosciutto, pan fried
scallions, chopped for garnish
Preparation:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degree F.
2. In a medium-sized stainless-steel tray, season the shrimp with salt, pepper and paprika until they are all coated. Arrange in a single layer. Add the wine. Drizzle liberally with olive oil. Bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until the shrimp are no longer translucent.
3. In the meantime, cook grits as per package directions. Add butter for richness.
4. Place the grits in individual bowls, add the shrimp, drizzle some sauce on top, garnish with Prosciutto bits and scallions.
Wine pairing suggestions: Sparkling wines or Champagne
Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru Champagne
It was my first time tasting the Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru and I was extremely pleased with it. The Champagne and the shrimp paired dazzlingly together. Had I used some spicy ingredients like Cayenne or chili peppers, I would have recommended a Demi-Sec (with some sweetness) Champagne to offset the heat in the dish.
Egly-Ouriet is one of the most remarkable Grower Champagne at Ambonnay in the Montagne (mountains) de Reims. Their Brut Grand Cru Champagne consists of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay and is very expressive of the terroir. The color is golden straw, showcasing aromas and flavors of freshly baked bread, toasted almond, pears, ginger, savory spices, that are woven throughout, giving the Champagne a touch of elegance with lively acidity. It was a delicious gastronomic experience!
Happy New Year 2021!
Gina Martino Zarcadoolas, aka Foodiewinelover
Culinary Personality, Food & Wine Blogger
Author of the cookbook: Cuisines, Corkscrews & Cultures
Level-2 Certified world-renowned – “WSET: Wine, Spirit, Education, Trust”
Level-2 Certified Sommelier
Winner of 2019 “Salice Salentino USA Bloggers” Award
Brand Strategist
Exclusive photos by Gina Martino Zarcadoolas
All rights reserved.
Happy New Year everyone! I just returned from a holiday cruise and had an amazing time with my family and friends. Unfortunately, I came home with a cold and was looking for some comfort food. I decided to make a “creamy” and delicious Fettuccine Alfredo. In the US, many people use cream in their recipe when in realty, this dish has only three main ingredients: fettuccine, butter and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Before I share the recipe, I want to tell you the story behind this dish. The original recipe was created by Alfredo Di Lelio in his restaurant in Rome. His wife was pregnant and had lost her appetite. He invented this dish for her by simply adding Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to an everyday Italian dish called Fettuccine al burro ( with butter). She could not get enough of it. Fettuccine Alfredo became very popular in the Italian-American community but many people use cream which is not in the original recipe. If you mix all the ingredients properly, it will create a creaminess without the use of cream. Grab your apron and follow me in the kitchen!
1. In a large pot, over medium-high heat, bring pasta water to a boil. Add salt. Cook Fettuccine al dente (about 12 minutes)
2. In the meantime, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat up the butter.
3. The pasta should be cooked by now. Reserve some pasta water before draining it.
4. Drop pasta in the melted butter, add cheese and reserved water.
5. Use a set of thongs to mix all the ingredients thoroughly until every strand of fettuccine is coated. Serve at once with a salad or a vegetable of your choice.Gina’s note: Even though I used salted butter, this dish was perfectly balanced and not salty. If you follow my instructions carefully, you will obtain great results.
Wine pairing suggestions:
I recommend either one of the three V’s: Vermentino, Vernaccia, or Verdicchio. They are all Italian white wines and would pair nicely with the richness of the pasta.
Buon Appetito!
In June of 2019, I had the opportunity to visit a Parmigiano Reggiano factory in Parma, Italy. Photos are my intellectual property. All Rights Reserved.
Parmigiano Reggiano Heaven
Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
Soul-Warming Fettuccine Alfredo
I hope you will try this delicious recipe for yourself or your loved ones and share your experience with me.
It’s the holiday season and I want to jazz things up with some festive crab cakes and Champagne. Every once in a while I make crab cakes, and I always strive to come up with the best possible recipe. I think, I finally succeeded tonight. Generally, Blue Crabs from Maryland are used and they are famous for their crab cakes. My family gave my Maryland-style crab cakes rave reviews, and I am happy to share my version with all of you. It makes a dazzling meal but it will break the bank! I’m not gonna lie, just make up for it in January!
Servings: 6 – 8 Degree of difficulty: Medium. Yield about 12 regular-sized crab cakes or 14 smaller ones. This recipe can be divided in half to serve about 3-4 people.
Ingredients: 1/2 red bell peppers, diced
1 medium onion, diced
3 celery stalks, chopped
Salt to taste (go easy)
1 tbsp. olive oil and 1 tbsp. butter for frying veggies, plus more olive oil to pan fry crab cakes
2 lbs. ( 2) 16-ounce containers jumbo lump crabmeat
2 cups seasoned breadcrumbs
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. stoneground mustard
2 tsp. Creole seasoning
Sprinkle of garlic powder
4 eggs
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Freshly ground pepper
Crab Cakes and Champagne
Crab Cakes and Champagne
Bread and goat cheese
Beets and goat salad
Preparation:
1) Over med-high heat, in a medium-sized pan, heat up olive oil and butter, add celery, onion and bell pepper, salt to taste. Sweat for about 3-4 minutes al dente to give it a crunch. Let it cool.
2) In a large bowl, combine crab meat and all the remaining ingredients. Add the veggies, and mix well with your hands (using gloves). Form crab cake patties, just like you would make a hamburger, place on a tray and chill in the fridge for at least 20-30 minutes.
3) Heat up enough olive oil to cover the bottom of a large pan, on medium-high heat, (make sure the oil is hot) place at the most, 4 patties, AND LOWER HEAT TO MEDIUM, otherwise, crab cakes will come out too dark. Cook on one side for 4 minutes, then flip gently with a spatula, cook the other side for about 2 minutes. Remove promptly and place on a dish lined with a paper towel. Repeat the same process. Add more oil if necessary. You can broil them for a healthier version.
I served them with a rémoulade sauce comprising of 2 tbsp. ketchup, 1 tbsp. mayo, 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard, creole seasoning to taste. Mix well.
It would not be complete without a dazzling beet salad with goat cheese, drizzled with balsamic vinegar from Modena, along with crusty French bread. My family had fun smearing the cheese all over the bread for a fun experience. I hope, you will give this recipe a try, and I am certain your family will love you for it.
Wine suggestion: I paired it with a citrusy and toasty Champagne.
Pommery is a great Champagne House. The Brut Royal is made with the 3 main grapes, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, with refreshing notes of lemons and toasted bread. This Champagne is not dry nor complex and is very enjoyable. It’s lively with a touch of finesse. For $34.00 dollars, it has a great QPR (quality price ratio) and is perfect to add holiday cheers.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, &
Bon Appetit from Gina’s Kitchen!
Gina Martino Zarcadoolas, aka Foodiewinelover
Culinary Personality, Food & Wine Blogger
Author of the cookbook: Cuisines, Corkscrews & Cultures
Level-2 Certified world-renowned – “WSET: Wine, Spirit, Education, Trust”
Level-2 Certified Sommelier & Italian Wine Scholar Student
Winner of 2019 “Salice Salentino USA Bloggers” Award
Exclusive photos by Gina Martino Zarcadoolas
All rights reserved.
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.
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