Wine Tasting

Growing up, our mother and grandmothers would prepare for us simple foods.  They would take one item and add just a little olive oil and herbs.  It was this approach to food that inspires me in my own cooking.  We really didn't eat much meat.  Instead meat was used as a condiment or flavoring agent to highlight the vegetables we would eat most meals.  The day spent in the outdoor kitchen brought these early food memories to mind. 

There are also some livestock on the property.  During our walk of the grounds we happened upon a few of them.

Rocco and Bianca on our outdoor garden walk. 

After our afternoon nap, Italians truly have the right idea with this, we prepare for a winery tour and wine tasting experience.  The winery has won several awards including one of the best wineries in Italy.  Inside the temperature controlled room we find jarred tomatoes that is a puree of 3 different types.  They are sealed and "put to bed" for 15 to 20 days until they totally cool and guaranteed to seal. 

 

In the next room is Mike's favorite the prosciutto and cheese room, mainly caciocavallo.   The reason the cheese got that name was that the cacio cheese was put over the cavallo(horse).  

 

Our tour ends in the wine room.  This is where Peppe makes his magic.  We are treated to a wine and cheese tasting and start with the Amarosa, his beautiful Rose as it is fermenting.  It almost  tastes like a sweet juice.  He treats us to his Orsara reserve.  What a sensation for the palette!

As we are seated at the table, we are offered a selection of various cheeses with wines paired for each selection.  We were so fortunate to be able to taste different ages of Parmeseano Reggiano from 26 months to 144 months.  Being a certified sommelier, Peppe did a perfect job pairing his tasty wines with the cheeses.  I preferred  the 60 months Parmeseano  the best. 

Moving onto the caciocavallo, we savored three different ages.  One was 6 years  youg and one was 12 years aged, what a difference in the years!   Of course sipping wine with each bite allowed for our taste buds to burst with flavor.  We must have been drinking and eating cheese until about one in the morning!   Now you can imagine what the cheese and wine did for everyone.