Piemonte Reds (continued)
Grignolino – One of the great aristocratic wines of Piedmont, Grignolino has been around since the 18th century, and the grapes were probably used in other wines as early as the 16th century. The wine's production area used to be quite extensive, but the spread of vine-destroying parasites throughout
Europe
led to a big reduction in the cultivation of Grignolino because it was more sensitive to such pests than other types of grapes. Among its famous admirers were Giovanni Lanza, Italian Prime Minister at the time of the unification, and King Umberto I (1878–1900), who preferred it to any other wine on his table. It is produced in the hilly zone centred around the town of Asti. Only hilly vineyards with appropriate slopes and exposures are considered suitable for production. It comes either as a 100% Grignolino non-varietal or with the possible addition of Freisa grape (up to a maximum of 10% to maintain DOC status). Grignolino is a light ruby-red coloured wine with a tendency to develop orange tones with aging and mellowing. Its aroma is delicate and characteristically floral, with forest fruit overtones. The taste is dry, warm, and slightly tannic, with a pleasantly bitterish flavour and persistent aftertaste. The taste improves with natural maturity to become more aromatic and delicate. It is best paired with soups, risottos and light first courses such as grilled meats, and also complements salamis and sausages. This wine can even be enjoyed slightly chilled as a summer wine.
