A Tour with a Dinner Tasting at Emidio Pepe

We wrapped up our tour of wineries in the Teramo province with a tour and a dinner tasting at Emidio Pepe. Grandaughter Chiara Pepe shared the family's history and their winemaking philosophy as she strolled us around the house, the winery and the vineyards.

Her grandfather, Emidio Pepe, was an artisanal winemaker from his start in the 1964. He wanted to make high quality, small production wine that told something truthful and showcased the year. He planted local grapes and used pergola training to preserve the naturally high tannins and acidity levels and to ensure polyphenolic ripening from the inside. Their style of winemaking at Emidio Pepe is to make soft, more delicate wines that can age well. Nothing has changed since her grandfather started the winery,

Chiara explained, though they did become certified organic in 1998 and biodynamic in 2006.

As Chiara showed the concrete tanks that Emidio Pepe prefers as he feels they help to achieve a more elegant style while also ensuring that his hard work in the vineyard is not changed in the cellar, Emidio Pepe himself, aka Mr. Montepulciano, joined us. As they described the production process, Chiara said that de-stemming by hand was the second most important step in making a quality wine. The first was a spontaneous fermentation from indigenous yeast, "You can't have a wine that talks about a place without natural yeast," she stated.

The family grows organic wheat on the property to make pasta and bread as well as growing other fresh produce. Eliminating modified foods from their diet was important to achieving the quality of life they prefer for their family. Guests that stay in one of the property's guest apartments can reap the rewards of the family's organic lifestyle, as well.

The tasting:

Emidio Pepe Trebbiano 2014 - Fresh, dry and fruity with grapefruit, nectarine, and a mineral-laced finish.

Emidio Pepe Trebbiano 2013 - Also, fresh, dry and fruity with grapefruit, nectarine, and a mineral-laced finish.

Emidio Pepe Trebbiano 2004 - Fresh, dry and citrusy with a touch of honey over the mineral-laced finish.

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2010 - Fruity with plum and raspberry, with a soft, rounded velvety feel, generous and complex with a persistent finish.

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2001 - Great balance between

elegance and power, still bold but showing some signs of maturity. The weather was similar to 2010. Velvety tannins, good acidity with juicy plum and leather notes in the lengthy finish.

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 1983 - Emidio Pepe said this wine was originally too big, too powerful and too dark. He waited several extra years before releasing it and now describes it after its evolution as a sheer, elegant wine with a long and persistent finish. I found aromas and flavors of dried fruit with earth, leather, and a savory cured meat note in the lingering finish. Complex and interesting and very enjoyable now.

All of these wines are highly recommended.

An Immersive Introduction into the World of Asolo Prosecco

Dinner Views at Osteria Alla Baracca. I was very excited to visit the Asolo DOCG Prosecco region at the end of May on a press trip as it is an Italian area that I have not previously traveled through. Asolo is located in the Province of Treviso at the foot of Monte Grappa in the high hills to the west of the Piave River with views of the Dolomites. The grapes are grown in 17 communes surrounding the town of Asolo. The days were very warm while I was there but I needed a sweater or light jacket on most evenings due to the diurnal swing that makes it a great area for grape growing. Wines from the Master Class Tasting. Asolo was elevated to the DOCG level in 2009. The majority of the Prosecco that I have found in Houston is Prosecco DOC which is mostly from very large producers. Asolo was separated from this category and the region was given this higher status because there are terroir elements that make it distinctive in the world of Prosecco. The Sant'Anna Vineyard. Many of the vin

Lunch at Cépage paired with Paso Robles Sparkling Wine

Cépage is the elegant new restaurant inside of the recently refurbished Paris Valley Road Estate & Winery Tasting Room. Cépage opened in 2022 and currently serves lunch and weekend brunch. Paris Valley Estate is a fairly new brand that is named after the two lane road in Monterey County where the owners, the Stoller family, planted their first vineyard over 20 years ago. The new name inspired them to renovate the former Arciero Winery in the opulent style of French Grand Cru domaines they had previously visited, explained winemaker, Doug Hidinger. I was visiting on a rainy day so I did not get to tour the grounds or take many outside pictures, unfortunately. The table was set and ready upon arrival. Hidinger was at lunch to present both the Paris Valley Road Sparkling Wine 2019 and the Sextant Edna Valley Sparkling Wine 2012 from a sister property of Paris Valley Road. Owner/Winemaker of Vino Vargas , Pedro Vargas, was also there to present his three sparkling wines. All of these

Tasting Tin City - Paso Robles

Located in a small industrial warehouse district, 3 miles south of downtown Paso Robles, is an easily walkable zone of contemporary industrial-style tin buildings called Tin City which is home to an innovative beverage scene. Tin City has several small-production wineries such as Anarchy Wine Co., Benom, Cordant Winery, and Giornata along with somewhat larger producers like Field Recordings . It is not unusual to be greeted by the winemakers in these modern tasting rooms and find them ready to share both their wines and their stories with their guests. Superfly Zinfandel blended with Cabernet and Petite Sirah At Anarchy Wine Co , expect to find a wide range of wines which includes a Bordeaux-Style Blend, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, a Red Rhône-Style Blend, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Zinfandel all deliciously served with a rebel yell in a rock and roll environment. Les Deux Freres means The Two Brothers and is unique

Wine Life - Houston

Search This Blog