18-12-2015
Second episode in Identità Golose’s series dedicated to the wines to be paired with holiday dishes, thanks to the recommendations of the Best Sommelier in Italy, Andrea Galanti, who was voted little over one month ago, as we said here. After bubbles, it is now the turn of white wines
We cannot find ourselves unprepared for the approaching holidays. It is therefore right to prepare the best wines to be paired with traditional dishes. After speaking about the ideal bubbles, here are a few tips with regards to white wines.
From the slopes of Alto Adige in Val Venosta one of the most thrilling Rieslings in the Italian scene is born, namely Falkenstein. With freshness, minerality and aromatic hydrocarbon which characterise and enhance its evolution, it is perfectly paired with wild smoked salmon.
Moving to Campania, Fiano di Avellino is the real king and Guido Marsella’s take is excellent. It is out almost two years after its harvest with at least 20 months of refining in steel tanks and bottle. Complex nose, smoky notes, freshness and charming minerality lead to the long and elegant finish. These bottles are not afraid of time, in fact they wait in joy because only after years of waiting they express their best qualities. Try it with a Christmas traditional recipe such as marinated capon.
Another must for the holidays is the culinary panettone, which is divided in various soft layers all filled with sauces and salami, or cheese and herbs and again fish based fillings. I’d recommend a wine that is characterised by strong freshness, persistence and perhaps even a delicate roundness, to balance the often-aromatic character of the panettone. The area of the Soave Classico offers these characteristics, perhaps a selection from one of the crus in which a longer refining on the lees takes place, as in tradition; the 100% Garganega wine produced by Dal Cero, Vigneto Runcata, is an excellent example of this.
See also: "Holiday wine and food pairings: sparkling wines"
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Born in Florence in 1984 («An awful year for wine», he jokes), he was voted Best Sommelier in Italy at the 49th AIS Congress, in November 2015. He works at Galanti's, a wine-delicatessen shop in Florence his grandfather Aldo opened in 1960