Blog

Tuscany Meets Turkey with Chateau Murou Montepulciano Sangiovese (#ItalianFWT)

 

---

This month Linda of My Full Wine Glass has invited the #ItalianFWT group to explore Italian grapes grown outside of Italy. You can view her original invite here. Italy is home to some of the world’s most iconic wines. It’s long and storied history with the vine spans multiple civilizations such as the Etruscans, Romans, and Greeks. All of which have left their stamp on the wines we drink today. 

Currently, researchers believe that Italy has anywhere from 350 to 600 unique grape varieties. Even if the number is “only” around the 350 mark, that still represents a quarter of the world’s total cultivated grape varieties. More than France and Spain combined. This makes Italian winemakers extremely lucky individuals as it gives them lots of choices. However, the vast majority of these grapes grow only in Italy, and sometimes only in one tiny place in Italy.

The most widely planted grape of any color in Italy is Sangiovese followed by Montepulciano. Given their popularity, it’s not surprising that these two grapes have spread outside Italy. They’ve even managed to make inroads in Turkey. Therefore I chose to feature the Chateau Murou Montepulciano Sangiovese for this #ItalianFWT event!

Italian influences on Turkish wine

Italian grapes have not taken hold here with the same widespread popularity of French grapes. Despite this lukewarm reception, Italian winemaking and grapes have had an indelible influence on Turkish wine. Notable Italian winemakers such as Marco Monchiero, Andrea Paoletti, and Tina Lino act as both consultants and principal winemakers for several wineries across the country and work with both domestic Turkish and international grapes. Their experiences with Italian wine have broadened the scope of winemaking techniques in Turkey. For example, Vinkara winery based in Kalecik near Ankara uses something of a ripasso method on one of its Öküzgözü-based wines. Monchiero’s influence has also affected how Vinkara treats its top tier Boğazkere wine which has something of a Barolo character. 

While not as popular as French grapes, Turkey does grow an interesting selection of Italian grapes. We have Sangiovese (made into red, rosé, and blanc de noir), Montepulciano (red and rosé), Nebbiolo (also red and rosé), and small amounts of  Fiano, Grillo, Cattaratto, Barbera, Nerello Mascalese, and Nerello Cappuccio.

Saranta Chateau Murou Montepulciano Sangiovese, 2017

For this month’s #ItalianFWT theme I opened a new, recently released wine from Saranta – Chateau Murou Montepulciano Sangiovese. Saranta Vineyards and Winery is based in Turkish Thrace in Kırklareli. Wineries in this area enjoy diverse soils thanks to the nearby Strandja Mountains. Quartz features heavily in vineyards but there is also an abundance of various marls, limestone, decomposed granite, sand, chalk, clay…the list goes on. This diversity of soils has lead to a similar diversity of grape varieties planted here and including native Turkish grapes as well as French and Italian varieties. 

Saranta releases wines under two labels, the eponymous Saranta for its more basic wines and the reserve Chateau Murou series. This Montepulciano Sangiovese blend is the winery’s first release of a wine using Italian grapes. I don’t know the blend but I do know it aged for nine months in French oak. The wine poured a medium opaque but intense ruby. Fruity aromas of black cherry, strawberry, and Twizzlers Nibs followed by oregano and dried herbs, hay, and a hint of black pepper. Sipping revealed a medium-bodied wine with 13% abv, low tannins with medium acidity and a silky texture. The black cherry and herbs from the nose were particularly elevated on the palate.

We had three different pizzas to pair with this wine:

1. Tomato sauce with garlic slices topped with arugula, pomegranate vinegar, and Gran Padana
2. Tomato sauce with buffalo mozzarella
3. Creamy white sauce with garlic, caramelized onions, and charred/caramelized lemons

The wine paired well with all of them but the surprises were the pomegranate vinegar and how it brightened the fruit in the wine and the white pizza. I would not have thought that a white pizza with caramelized lemons would go so well with a red wine!

Wondering where else in the world Italian grapes are grown?

Whether you’ve written a post for the theme or not, join the #ItalianFWT conversation on Saturday, March 6 at 11 am EST by following the #ItalianFWT hashtag on Twitter. And don’t forget to check out what the rest of the group is eating and drinking!

• • Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Camilla: “Cheesy Bites, a Colorful Board, and a Barbera…from California”
  • Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm: “Italian Grapes Grown Outside of Italy and Served Out of a Box? Che Diamine!!!”
  • Andrea at The Quirky Cork: “Tuscany Meets Turkey with Chateau Murou Montepulciano Sangiovese”
  • Jeff at FoodWineClick!: “Italian Grapes from Unti Vineyards at the Winter Grill”
  • Martin at ENOFYLZ Wine Blog: “A Splendid Cal-Ital: 2016 Giornata Nebbiolo Luna Matta Vineyard”
  • Jennifer at Vino Travels: “Remy Wines: Italian Grapes in Oregon and a Winery After my Heart”
  • Terri at Our Good Life: “Italian Grapes in Lodi Paired with Grilled Salmon Tacos”
  • Nicole at Somm’s Table: “2 Italian White Wine Blends Born in California”
  • Gwendolyn at wine predator: “Italy in California: from Aglianico to Zinfandel”and “Italy in California: Nebbiolo from Humbolt’s Terragena and Santa Barbara’s Silver”
  • Susannah at Avvinare: “Vermentino, A Star In and Out of Italy”
  • Lynn at Savor the Harvest: “Honoring An Italian American: Palmina Wines in Santa Barbara County”
  • Linda at My Full Wine Glass: “Native Italian grapes find a home in the land of Pinot Noir”