Aia Vecchia Toscana Vermentino 2017

Aia Vecchia’s 2017 Vermentino is a sophisticated blend of 95% Vermentino and 5% Viognier that sports a bright straw color and amplifying aromatics. Lively aromas of freshly cut grass mingled with faint floral tones and a touch of sea spray from the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea provide a mouthwatering welcome. In the mouth, this Vermentino makes an even greater appeal to the senses by marrying its delightful aromatics to a round, creamy texture that simply offers the best of all worlds. On the palate, freshness, flavor and genuine tactile appeal all come together in Aia Vecchia’s 2017 Vermentino. Round yet refreshing, Aia Vecchia’s 2017 Vermentino slides easily down the throat as it finishes with a flourish. For optimal enjoyment, we suggest affording this Tuscan treasure a moderate chill (40° F) and a few minutes in the glass to reveal its ultimate charm. Enjoy!

The 2017 Aia Vecchia Vermentino makes a splendid aperitif. The wine’s fresh mouth-filling flavors and round texture offer plenty to satisfy the senses and invite the taster to summon a second glass, but why settle for less when you can have more? The folks at Aia Vecchia suggest pairing their noble Tuscan Vermentino with fresh seafood, salads and poultry. We second that motion. After an invigorating aperitif of Aia Vecchia Vermentino, pan seared rockfish or sea bass served with a mushroom risotto provides ample testimony to the wisdom of pairing this wine with food. Lightly grilled octopus or calamari served with a dipping sauce offers another satisfying accompaniment. Flatbread pesto pizzas with shrimp or chicken also make excellent dinner companions to Aia Vecchia’s 2017 Vermentino, as do grand salads such as Salade Niçoise. Buon Appetito!

In Bolgheri, along Tuscany’s bucolic coast, the Pellegrini family fashions exceptional white and red wines at Aia Vecchia that reflect Tuscany’s rich enological heritage. Founded in 1996, Aia Vecchia first came to prominence in 1998 with the release of the estate’s flagship red wine, Lagone, an elegant blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, a wine that received immediate critical acclaim. More recently, Aia Vecchia’s Vermentino (this month’s feature) has burst on the scene and is every bit as engaging at the estate’s premier red.

Aia Vecchia’s holdings in Bolgheri and nearby Maremma enjoy distinctive terroirs, which include unique microclimates. While the region’s deep soils, natural forests, and heady brushlands known as maquis provide biodiversity that is ideal for the cultivation of the vine, the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea provides reflective sunlight to aid in achieving physiological ripeness in the grapes. At the same time, the sea’s cooling breezes prevent the vineyards from overheating. With a variety of soils, elevations, and microclimates at their disposable, Aia Vecchia produces five distinct wines under the watchful eyes of the estate’s agronomist Daniel Schuster and renowned winemaker Tibor Gal: Lagone, Morellino di Scansano, and Sor Ugo from red grapes, Maremma Toscana Vermentino from the region’s indigenous white varietal, and a dry rosé called Solidio – all worthy of serious attention.

Vermentino is one of Italy’s finest yet least known white grape varieties. Although not nearly as ubiquitous as Pinot Grigio, Trebbiano, Malvasia, and other fair-skinned varietals, Vermentino flourishes along Italy’s Mediterranean coastline where it produces fine, floral wines with crisp finishes. This is especially true in Tuscany and nearby Liguria, where it often takes the name Pigato. The islands of Sardinia and Corsica as well as the south of France are also excellent sources of Vermentino, though one would hardly guess that Vermentino thrives in France, as Vermentino is almost exclusively known as Rolle in France where it figures in many of the dry white wines of Provence. While Vermentino most often yields an aromatic, dry white wine in both Italy and France, the island of Sardinia fashions golden, unctuous Vermentinos as well as dry, complex renditions.