Posted By Joel on April 14, 2010

Piona Corvina Veronese Campo Massimo 2006, IGT

Winemaker Albino Piona thinks of grapes as providing a palette of colors for his “paintings”, the wines. And, as great artists do, Piona stays personally involved with his “paintings” from their earliest beginnings as buds in the vineyard, through harvest, to cellar and bottle.*

Piona winemaking is informed by four generations of passion for wine at Piona, where history and tradition appear to remain as important as any opportunity for innovation or improvement.

The winery is located just south of the town of Custoza, below the southern tip of Lake Garda in Italy’s Veneto region.

Piona Corvina Veronese Campo Massimo 2006 is made from 100% varietal grown among hills distinguished by glacial morain.

Maceration is carried out in stainless steel for 10 days followed by racking and malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged for nine months in stainless steel.

Tasting Notes / Impressions:

A pretty, medium ruby color, the wine shows scents and flavors of cherry, blackberry, strawberry, with hints of almond and pepper spice. Wonderfully fresh and clean with good persistence on the palate. Tannin and acid are nicely dialed in, balanced in just the right way for a wine that really shines at table.

Food Pairing Suggestions:

MEATS: grilled or pan fried meats – do consider steak au poivre; FISH: grilled salmon! ; STEWS: good “gravy” type stews, long simmered, with meat, potato, carrot, etc. PASTA: egg pasta served with ground meat red sauces, a touch of cream added; POLENTA: suggest going with grilled polenta; RISOTTO: creamy sausage or mushroom risotto; VEGETARIAN: try grilled polenta, pasta e fagioli, mushroom risotto, or grilled salmon if you eat fish!; CHEESE / CURED MEATS: your choice, but I loved this wine paired with French Morbier and Brie; ALSO: give this wine a try with mildly spiced, creamy Indian dishes!

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*described on Albino Piona website

Categories: $ (Under $25), Veneto, Wine
Tags: Corvina