Hidden Gems of Emilia-Romagna: The Wines of Poderi dal Nespoli

Let’s start the weekend on an exploration of the wines of the Emilia-Romagna wine region in north central Italy with a focus on the Poderi dal Nespoli winery. Recently I attended a virtual wine tasting led by wine educator, Filippo Bartolotta, and the winemaker of Poderi dal Nespoli, Scipione Giuliani.   Despite the reputation of of its surrounding neighbors, Emilia-Romagna is one of Italy's underappreciated wine regions so lets change that one bottle at a time starting with Poderi dal Nespoli.

All About the Poderi dal Nespoli winery 

The Poderi dal Nespoli winery is tucked into the rolling hills in the Romagna part of the region. Even though Emilia-Romagna is technically one region, they associate as two separate regions. If you’ve traveled throughout Italy you understand that each region has its own wine, cuisines and even dialect so these differences can be noticeable as you journey throughout the country. 

Romagna is about an hour drive north from Florence.   This area is part of the via Emilia, which is an ancient Roman military road dating as far back as 181 BC.  The road travels a few hundred kilometers and borders the Appennine Mountains in the south to the northern lowlands known as the Pianura Padana.   

Poderi dal Nespoli was originally founded in 1929 and is one of the brands owned by the Argea Group, Italy’s largest private group, that also owns Zaccagnini in Abruzzo and Ricossa and Cuvage in Piedmont. 

The White Wines of Poderi dal Nespoli 

The white wines I tasted from Poderi dal Nespoli include their indigenous Albana along with their Chardonnay.  The Albana grape is one that is only found in this region.  The Albana di Romagna DOCG was one of the first white DOCG’s established in 1987.  It can be produced in a number of different styles, but is mostly found in a dry style.  These grapes carry a lot of acidity and are semi-aromatic with notes of citrus, tropical fruits and apricots.   

The 2023 Poderi dal Nespoli Scanade Albana di Romagna DOCG Secco is made from 100% Albana grapes.  It’s a bone dry wine that is fermented 70% in stainless steel and 30% in barrique.  It’s then aged 2 months in barrique with 12 months in the bottle.  This is a new wine for the Poderi dal Nespoli winery that is a project in conjunction with wine expert, Ricardo Cotarella.  The grapes are hand harvested and gently hand selected on a table with care.  This wine was brilliant straw colored.  Light to medium bodied, dry and crisp with notes of lemon pith and a slight bitterness.  The minerality shows up nicely towards the finish.ABV 12%, SRP $35 

The 2023 Poderi dal Nespoli Lostar Forli IGT Chardonnay is fermented 30% in barrique and aged 5 months in barrique with partial malolactic.  Brilliant straw colored.  A hint of vanilla and apple aromas.  Medium-bodied on the palate with notes of apple nicely balanced with acidity. ABV 13%, SRP $39 (not currently available). 

The Red Wines of Poderi dal Nespoli 

Moving on to the red wines we will start with my favorite of the pick. The 2021 Poderi dal Nespoli “Il Nespoli” Romagna DOC Sangiovese Superiore Riserva is made from 100% Sangiovese.  Scipione said that this is their best label of the winery and I would agree.  The wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged 12 months in French oak.  Deeper ruby in color with aromas of dark cherry, blackberries and licorice.  Medium to full-bodied and very smooth and elegant on the palate.  Nicely structured with soft tannin and rich in ripe cherries and a touch of vanilla.  ABV 14.5%, SRP $49 

This next wine they have been making since the early 80’s.  The 2020 Poderi dal Nespoli Borgo dei Guidi Rubicone IGT is a blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.  The Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are made from 40-year-old vines.  The wine is vinified in stainless steel and aged 8-10 months in barrique.  Dark fruits of blackberries and plums on the nose.  Full-bodied and structured with dark fruits showing nicely on the palate.  This wine is well balanced.  A touch of oak showing on the finish.  ABV 14%, SRP $45 

The 2022 Poderi dal Nespoli Gualdo Romagna DOC Sangiovese Predappio Biosimbiotico is made from 100% Sangiovese.  It’s vinified and aged in stainless steel at least 10 months.  This is an organic wine from their single vineyard in the Predappio sub zone.  Deeper ruby in color with aromas of black cherry, violet and licorice.  Medium to full-bodied with dark cherries on the palate.  Delicate tannins and good acidity.  ABV 13.5%, SRP $39 

The 2023 Poderi dal Nespoli Prugneto Romagna DOC Sangiovese Superiore is their highest produced wine.  Another single vineyard and organic wine, it is vinified and aged in stainless steel with 30% aged several months in large oak casks.  Ruby colored with aromas of forest fruits.  Dry and full-bodied on the palate showing juicy dark fruits, especially blueberries.  Moderate in tannin and a presence of oak on the finish. ABV 13.5%, SRP $18 

From the richer character of their Sangiovese to the crisp, food friendly whites, Poderi dal Nespoli's wines offer a compelling window into a wine region that rewards the curious drinkers willing to explore.

Importers: A number of these wines are imported by Kindred Vines Import Co along with Grace Imports. These wines were provided as samples, but opinions are always my own.

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The Historic Coppo winery of Piedmont and their UNESCO underground wine cellars

It’s been almost 10 years since I’ve featured the wines of Coppo when I shared their 2013 Coppo La Rocca Gavi.  Wow!  That makes me sound old in the world of blogging.  When fellow wine writer, Jeff of Food Wine Click, presented the opportunity to taste some of the wines of Coppo again I was happy to jump on board.  I had the chance to try two Coppo wines I had yet to try their Monteriolo Chardonnay and Pomorolo Barbera.  Let’s chat a little about the winery first. 

The beginnings of Cantina Coppo 

The Coppo winery was initially established in 1892 and is considered one of the oldest wineries.  This is due to its recognition in 2012 by Unioncamere by as being a business that has had uninterrupted activity in the same sector for over 120 years.   

Coppo vineyards by Coppo winery

Piero Coppo was the original founder who had a passion for the wine industry and with his keen attention to detail he managed all stages of the winemaking process from beginning to end.  He married his wife, Clelia Pennone, whose family was a known wine producer, Pio Pennone, that had been producing and exporting wine for over 2 generations.  Piero’s mission was “to produce wines to express the local environment specificity” with “a constant commitment to uncompromising quality”.  Piero’s winery grew to about 128 acres with vineyards in Canelli, Gavi, Agliano Terme, Castelnuovo Calcea and the Langhe.  The focus was on grapes to include Barbera, Chardonnay, Moscato, Gavi and Nebbiolo. 

Canelli, the birthplace of Italian sparkling wine 

Upon Piero’s marriage Clelia, he joined Pio Pennone on their premises in Canelli where the company is still headquartered today.  Canelli is considered the birthplace of Italian sparkling wine.  In the late 19th century, Canelli was the location of the first Italian sparkling wine that was bottle fermented.  This is credited to Carlo Gancia, a pioneer that used Moscato grapes to produce these sparkling wines via the Champagne method.  He produced these wines in the underground cellars, or underground cathedrals, that are today recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The UNESCO recognized underground cellars of Coppo 

The tunnels that run underneath Canelli were originally excavated in the late 18th century.  They were dug out in the tufa by hand.  These tunnels, or underground cathedrals as they call them, were used for making and aging wine.   

Coppo underground cellars by Noemi Mengo

They run for a total of 16,400 feet and 130 feet deep and provide a consistent humidity and temperature level.  In 2014 they were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can visit these tunnels today in Canelli.

Coppo underground cellars by Noemi Mengo

Coppo wines 

The 2022 Coppo Chardonnay Monteriolo Piemonte DOC has been produced since for 40 years since 1983.  It is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes.  These grapes are grown on marly, chalky soil at vineyards that sit about 2,100 feet above sea level.  The grapes macerate for 14 days and are aged for 8 months in French oak barriques are 50% new and 50% used barrels.   

This wine was straw colored with some goldish hues.  A slight toast with a touch of vanilla on the nose.  Medium in body with fresh acidity and ripe tropical fruit with a creaminess on the palate.  SRP $59 

I wasn't planning on doing any pairings this week since we are in our final week of the football season with my boys so to say I've had little time is an understatement.  I did make a chicken, broccoli and pasta dish that did end up pairing well together with this Chardonnay.  Secretly I prepared it in my instant pot as well.  This has become my best friend being short on time, but still wanting to eat a good meal.
 

The 2021 Coppo Pomorosso Nizza DOCG is Coppo’s leading Barbera that helped Coppo get worldwide recognition for it’s quality.  They have producting this wine, made from 100% Barbera, since 1984.  It wasn’t until 2014 when the Nizza DOCG was granted approval that it fell under this new designation.  Nizza is a small sub region within Monferrato. 

The wine is named after the red apple tree that grows at the top of the hill where the vineyards are located.  This wine spends 14 months aging in oak with an additional 6+ months in the bottle.  Coppo recommends that this wine will hit it’s peak with 5-10 years of ago.  Unfortunately, in order to share this wine with you I had to use my Coravin to pull some out, but I will revisit this bottle at a later time. 

The 2021 Coppo Pomorosso was deep ruby in color with purple highlights.  A rich nose of blackberry and black cherry with some spice and a hint of cocoa.  On the palate this wine is full-bodied with bright acidity.  Dark black plush fruits with plum and blackberries filling the palate.  spice with a touch of cocoa again along with a hint of oak on the elegant finish.  This wine was surprisingly 16.5 ABV, which I didn’t pick up at all.  SRP $69

The Coppo winery was acquired in 2021 by Gruppo Dosio that is led by Gianfranco Lanci, but the Coppo family still manages parts of the winery and is also part of the Board of Directions at Gruppo Dosio.  

Join the rest of my fellow wine writers as they sample an array of Coppo wines with some suggested pairings.

 • Camilla from Culinary Cam says "Let's Talk About Cortese and Barbera Grapes: Two Wines from the Historical Underground Wine Cellars of Coppo + Pairings"
• David from Cooking Chat shares "Pairings for Coppo Barbera and Moscato d'Asti "
• Payal from Keep the Peas shares "Coppo Winery 2023 Chardonnay 'Costebianche' x Vegetarian Punjabi Food"
• Linda from My Full Wine Glass shares "Two Piedmont classics: Nizza Barbera and Moscato d'Asti "
• Robin from Crushed Grape Chronicles reports on "Tunnels and Tufa - The Underground Cathedrals and Coppo Cellars"
• Terri at Our Good Life shares "Pairings with Nizza Barbera and Coppo Monteriolo Chardonnay"
• Martin at Enofylz Wine Blog shares "Historic Wines, Timeless Pairings: Coppo’s Nizza Barbera and Barolo with Wild Mushroom Risotto"
• Gwendolyn at Wine Predator shares "From Coppo's UNESCO Cellars: Nizza and Gavi Paired with Shrimp Ceasar and Duck with Winter Squash Gratin"

• Lynn at Savor the Harvest shares "Chardonnay From One of the Oldest Family-Run Wineries in Italy - Coppo"
• Jeff at Food Wine Click! shares "Dinner with Coppo Wine Cellars Flagship 'Pomorosso' Nizza Barbera"

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*These wines were received as samples, but opinions are always my own.  I may receive commissions for any purchases made via links included this article in support of the operations of Vino Travels.

A Taste of the Languedoc

It’s been awhile since I joined my fellow wine writers of the #Winophiles group, but I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to share some wines from the Languedoc I tried along with what I learned about this wine region of France.  I must admit my French wine knowledge is lacking, but I’m always intrigued by the wines of France.  I’m an old world wine girl, hence my love for Italian wine.  It’s always easier to gravitate towards what you know, but you don’t learn unless you put yourself out there to try new things.  I attended a virtual wine tasting awhile back hosted by Gregory & Vine and Laura Maniec-Fiorvaniti, Master of Wine and owner of the Corkbuzz in New York City.  Let’s dig into the Languedoc and get a taste of what it has to offer. 

The Languedoc wine region is located in the southeastern part of France.  This area has a rich winegrowing history dating back 2,500 years.  The region is mostly dominated by red wines at 59% with almost equal parts split between white and rosé wines at 21% and 20% respectively.  The Languedoc has 23 AOC’s with over 3,000 winemakers including small growers, negociants and cooperatives farming across 90,000 acres of vines. 

Languedoc-Rousillon wine region - sourced from Wikipedia

The Languedoc is abundant in sunshine receiving over 300 days of warm sun.  It has many climatic influences from the Mediterranean Sea and the cooling Atlantic wines along with the hillside and mountains influences to the north.   

For those conscious of organic wines, the Languedoc is the leading wine region in France for the most organic vines.  At the time of the virtual tasting they were at 33% and growing so I’m sure the numbers have incraesed since then.  Over 25% were in the process of converting as well making up 6% or organic vineyards worldwide.  Quite the astonishing number if you ask me!  One of the wineries that I’m highlighting today, Chateau Maris, is one of the pioneers of the region for not only organic, but sustainability and biodynamics as well. 

There is quite the diverse range of styles and terroir and the wines can be grouped into 5 classications: sparkling, sweet wines, the AOP Languedoc, village designations and sub regional areas.

Languedoc wine appellations - sourced from Wikipedia

The Wines 

The Languedoc produced the first sparkling wine in the world that came from Limoux in 1544.  The Limoux AOC is located on the southwestern side of the Languedoc region.  This area has a cool, moist climate with crisp, dry winds from the Atlantic from the west and warm Mediterrean winds from the east.  The soils there are mostly rocky filled with limestone and sandstone.  

Limoux AOC - sourced from the Wines of Languedoc

I tasted the 2019 Gerard Bertrand Heritage An 825 Brut Cremant de Limoux AOC which is owned by a famous rugby player whom owns over 17 estates in southern France.  Gerard grew up working alongside his family’s wine estate until he took it over in 1987 upon the passing of his father.  Five years later  he founded the Gerard Bertrand winery. 

 

The 2019 Gerard Bertrand Heritage An 825 Brut Cremant de Limoux AOC is named after the Abbey of St. Hilaire near Limoux that traced back to 825.  The abbey used to house monks who discovered effervescent wines.  This wine is made up of 60% Chardonnay, 25% Chenin Blanc and 15% Pinot Noir.  Produced in the traditional method, this pale rosé did not macerate the Pinot Noir with the juice, but went through a light bleeding.  This wine was light salmon in color with a tinge of orange. Aromas of citrus and yeast.   Dry on the palate with notes of citrus pith. ABV 12.5% SRP $23

Next up is the area of Pic-Saint-Loup AOC located in the hills and mountains in the northern part of the Languedoc. This area has dry, hot summers with cold winters. It is known for producing red and rosé wines made from Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. The soils of this area are composed of red sanstone known as “ruffe” as well as Jurassic limestone, basalt and schist. The volcanic subsoils of this area lend to minerality in the wines.  

 

I tasted the 2015 Chateau de Lancyre Vielles Vignes Pic-Saint-Loup that comes from old vines, averaging 30 years old. This wine is made up of 2/3 Syrah and 1/3 Grenache. Laura called this wine a “steakhouse wine”. Intensely colored to match it’s big, dark fruit flavors. This wine has a meaty structure, but also an elegance about it. SRP $21ABV 14%

Lastly is the Minervois La Liviniere AOC named after the village of La Liviniere. It’s meaning translates to a place planted with vines after the original name, Lavineira. In Minervois is Chateau Maris, a pioneer of the region for organic and biodynamic farming and sustainability practices. Wine Spectator labeled them as “one of the 5 most environmentally friendly wineries in the world”. They are Biodyvin and Demeter certified and is the first and only B Corp Certified European winery. They are known for making terroir driven wines.  

Minervois AOC - sourced from Wines of Languedoc

I tasted the 2019 Chateau Maris La Touge La Liviniere Minervois AOC which is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache that is vinified and aged in cement eeggs. Full-bodied, this wine has a meaty structure and is full of juicy black fruits and ripe red raspberries with a touch of pepper and herbs. ABV 14.5%, SRP $21 

Join my fellow wine writing friends as they share additional wines with some pairings from the Languedoc.

• Camilla of Culinary Cam serves up A Simple Poulet Rôti with the 2023 Les Foulards Rouges Octobre Rouge
• Robin of Crushed Grape Chronicles is sharing Heresie – Ancient and Modern Knights of Languedoc
• Gwendolyn of Wine Predator offers For Spring, try Salade Niçoise and this cheeseboard with red or rose wine from Languedoc
• Wendy of A Day In The Life On The Farm sips Grande Réserve de Gassac Blanc 2021: A White Blend from Languedoc
• Jeff of FoodWineClick discovers Languedoc – Hidden Value from France
• Here at ENOFYLZ Wine Blog I’ll be Pairing 2022 Jeff Carrel Languedoc Les Darons with Birria Pizza

You can shop on Wine.com in support of Vino Travels and find a variety of Languedoc wines to try for yourself.

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*These wines were provided as samples, but opinions are always my own.