Go-to Wine Merchants! Go-to Wines! – Part 3

Sarra Brown, the store manager at Rocky Mountain Wine Spirits & Beer, is the next guru to tackle my request: Point me to a red and a white with excellent value and a cool story. I can always rely on Sarra’s discerning palate. As all wine lovers have different preferences and tastes, nothing can be more important than finding your perfect pairing in a wine merchant.

The 2019 Villa Sparina Gavi di Gavi is her go-to white. Villa Sparina is located in the Gavi appellation about an hour north of Genoa, Italy. It has DOCG status and is a top producer of the Cortese varietal. The 2018 vintage made Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 100 List. The 2019 vintage is 100% Cortese and gives intense peach flavour with refreshing acidity. The finish hints at its proximity to the Mediterranean with fennel and thyme notes. This wine has decent ageing potential for a white and eye-popping value. The bottle shape is captivating and was developed based on an ancient artifact found in their vineyard. It will immediately catch your eye on the shelf.

Sarra also suggested the 2017 Tenuta di Castellaro Ypsilon, from the volcanic soil of Sicily’s Lipari Island where it undergoes a natural ferment and stays in steel for one year.  This red blend consists of Corinto Nero, Nero d’Avola and Alicante.  Corinto Nero is a grape with Hellenic roots dating back to the seventh century BC and the land of the ancient Corinthians.  Sarra describes this wine as “a Pinot Noir on steroids.”  I found it stunning.  It is fruit-forward with a black cherry and plum presence, racy acidity and some baking spice on the finish. Its flavour profile is so unique Sarra says “I can’t stop thinking about it.”  Try this one out with a slice of your favorite savoury pizza.