Tirano, Italy – Situated among the steep slopes of the Italian Alps, Tiremo is a beautiful little town. The plaza we stop at reminds me a bit of Healdsburg in Sonoma Valley. Both are in the heart of wine country. We were here to visit the Conti Sertoli Salis winery. It boasts that it has taken the best of tradition to craft its wines. This too reminds me of the big vineyards in northern California
We were greeted by a woman in the small shop. Do we want the tour of the museum and a tasting for 10 Euros, or just a tasting for 8? The setup feels so much more commercial and slick than the family-run vineyards we visited in Alsace. We stuck with a tasting.
The first wine we were served was the Torre Della Sirena, a white made from a blend of the red Rossola and Pignola grapes. Aged in French oak for 8 months, the wine has starts fruity and ends with butter. A white wine for red-wine lovers such as ourselves.
Our next wine, the Grumello, is a full-bodied red. It has hints of raspberry and a bit of spice. We liked it enough to take a bottle home with us.
Next we tried the Canua Sforzato, made from Nebbulo grapes. The grapes are left on bamboo racks to dry for three months before crushing. It is then aged 18 months in Oak before being bottled. The resulting wine is huge, with rich berry undertones and a bit of spice. As our hostess told us in her limited English, it is the “top”. We agreed.
The prices of the wines reflect the quality: they are not for the budget conscious. We were also invited to see the cellar, which was interesting, but not worth the surprise 4 euros each on the bill. Unlike the delicious wines, the whole transaction left a bad taste in my mouth.
Geoffrey hails from the U.S., but has lived in Germany, Sweden, India and China. In his many travels he has sought out the best drinks to be found. He's burned his fingers on cups of Madras filter coffee in India, and discovered the effects of Baijiu on body and soul in China. He has tended bar at both a pub and Biergarten in Germany. He is co-author of a forthcoming publication on Udipi Restaurants.