A nice tasting at Terranova

Monday, June 15, 2009

Last Thursday, I got the chance to taste some eight wines out of a portfolio of about two hundred from Terranova Wine, an importer of Tinazzi wines from Italy; I'll definitely be tasting some of the others later. I believe that I tried four whites and four reds, though I was deceived at first since some of the white wines were in darkened bottles. While there, I got to meet one person with the organization whom I didn't meet before as well as reconnect with one of their people that I met at a previous tasting.

The reason for the tasting was their Happy Tails wines, which you'll read about in another article, as well as see the reviews on the site. But since I was going to be there, I might as well have tasted some other stuff as well.

I first came across Terranova when they were doing a tasting of some California wines that they were carrying. While there, I befriended Ottavio Ruggieri when he found out that I loved Amarone and Sagrantino wines. At another tasting, I would then meet Carmine Verrechia, a jolly and amicable ex-soccer player now in the wonderful world of wine. I've hung with Ottavio several times and also have gotten to try their line of Francicorta and Prosecco (Italian sparkling wines) that they import as well.

What I love about the guys at Terranova are their friendliness, respect and insight that they will offer to anyone that is interested in wine. I can't wait until the next tasting(s).