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Today we have a preview of a session to be presented during SWE’s 42nd Annual Conference, to be held on August 15–17, 2018 in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. This preview is authored by Sharron McCarthy, CSW.
Italy is a spirited, thriving, exciting land with an extraordinary history. Invading Phoenicians, Greeks, Cathaginians, as well as native Etruscans and Romans left their imprints as did the Saracens, Visigoths, Normans, Austrians, and Germans who succeeded them. Many of these civilizations left vines, wines, and anecdotes behind that are still shared at the table today.
We are looking forward to sharing some of Italy’s most beguiling white wines and their tales. Though the Italians say that white wines set the stage for reds, we will taste some intriguing and incredible whites that are not only historical but are backed by wacky, whimsical, and even wondrous legends that have been passed down generation from generation.
Italian wines are certainly not the easiest to understand, some take their names after grape varieties, others the town or area of production, some as a contraction of grape variety and area and still others have fantasy names of their own.
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Here is just one example: in this session, we will taste a white whose grape variety takes on three different names in three different regions—Vermentino. In Tuscany it goes by the name Vermentino, but in Liguria it is known as Pigato, and folks in Piedmont know it as Favorita. If you’d like to know why this is so, join us to find out!
During this session we’ll discover the following:
- What famous Italian white is named after an animal or another food?
- What wine was a favorite of the Popes (and the people on special occasions)?
- What wine was named for Giulietta’s kisses?
- What wine is referred to as liquid gold?
- What grape is named after a beautiful Princess?
- What grape variety likely takes its name from the fact it reminded people of a newly fermented wine?
- What grape is named after an ancient Roman town?
We all know Prosecco, Italy’s most popular sparkler but do you really know where it originated? If you love Italy’s spumanti have you tasted a Sparkling Pinot Grigio or even a Sparkling Soave, we will present two tantalizing examples.
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We hope to captivate you with some of Italy’s wacky, whimsical and wondrous white wines from sparkling to still, dry to sweet…to further titillate your taste buds, we will enjoy these wines with a few palate teasers! The session, “Wacky, Whimsical, Wondrous Whites of Italy” will be presented by Sharron McCarthy, CSW on Friday, August 15, 2018 at 4:45 pm as part of the Society of Wine Educator’s 42nd Annual Conference, to be held in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.
About the speaker: Sharron is a past president of the Society of Wine Educators. Affectionately known as “America’s First Lady of Wine Education,” she has introduced Americans from all walks of life to a finer, more nuanced appreciated for the fruit of the vine. From Fortune 500 companies to hospitality and grad students at America’s premier centers of learning, to staff at wine stores and restaurants, Sharron is in constant demand as one of the wine industry’s most effective speakers. A native of Long Island, Sharron McCarthy’s wine business career began in 1978 at Banfi Vintners – a leading name in imported fine wines. In 1986, she formed her own consulting agency. Her partnership with the Italian Trade Commission is widely credited with helping to propel Italy to its current status as America’s leading source of imported wines. She returned to Banfi Vintners in the mid 1990’s and currently serves as their Vice President of Wine Education.