Exploring wines of the world, Part 1

As a Certified Specialist of Wine, I have learned about every wine making region in the world and studied nearly every grape used to make wine.  With all of this knowledge, I still find myself reaching for the "comfort zone" of California Cabernet and Pinot Noirs. In the interest of expanding and refining my palate, I decided to try a couple of Italian wines in the cellar. 

I found two bottles Montipulciano d'Abruzzo - a red Italian wine made from the Montepulciano wine grape in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy.

The first wine was a 2008 Catina Zaccagnini Montipulciano d'Abruzzo.  This wine is an aromatic, deep dark inky purple. Lovely blackberry fruit laced with cherry flavors.  It was very enjoyable; however, the longer I left it open, the less I liked it. 

The second wine, a 2009 La Fiera Montipulciano d'Abruzzo, deep purple in color, with a light spicy aroma. Cherry fruit and soft tannins dance on the palate. This one opened up very nicely and had a smooth finish.

Knowing what to expect when choosing a wine is just one part of the wine experience.  Sometimes you just have to take a chance, do a little stretching of your palate. Don't be afraid to try something new.  Do your research, read about different wine regions, different grapes and blends.  Be adventurous and enjoy the journey!