The California wine industry was founded by Spanish settlers in the 16th and 17th centuries, but it was really given its kick-start in 1933 with the end of prohibition.
Many of the original Italian settlers in the grape-growing districts stayed in business during that period by growing other fruits and vegetables. When the chance came to jump back into the wine-making business, they took it.
Names sprang up that became synonymous with wine, including Ernest & Julio Gallo, Louis Martini, Krug (owned by the Mondavi family), Christian Brothers and Trinchero.
Most of these vineyards produce some wines that stay true to their Italian ancestry. One among them is Trinchero, with their Terra d’Oro (land of gold) line of wines.
Terra d’Oro 2011 Pinot Grigio ($12)It would not be a column about Italian wines if there wasn't a pinot grigio mentioned. The grape may be of Italian origin, but this wine has California written all over it.
This pinot grigio is one of the finest we have tasted from this vintage. The aroma is soft, flowery and very intense, stressing bosc pear, white peach and citrus. The flavor is the same - fruity and very pleasant, with a good acid background.
Terra d’Oro 2010 Sangiovese ($18) Sangiovese is the grape that made Chianti famous. This American sangiovese is a classically styled wine encompassing all of the traditional Italian aromas and flavors, but in a California incarnation with plenty of fruit.
The aroma is a feast of dark cherry clove, mocha and hints of vanilla, while the flavor heads in a different direction by accenting blackberries and plums, pepper and cinnamon. It finishes with a blast of fruit.
Terra d’Oro 2010 Barbera ($18)Barbera has always been one of the Terra d’Oro keynote varieties.
The wine presents a forward cherry and berry aroma, with a positive oak background and a slight spiciness. The flavor suggests cherry, cola and spice, ending in an equally fruity finish.
This wine can accompany any spicy meat dish and would be a standout in a backyard barbecue situation.
Terra d’Oro 2010 Amador Zinfandel ($18)Zinfandel, Italian? It was once believed to be an American grape, born and bred right here in the good 'ole US of A.
Nobody knows when the zinfandel grape arrived on our shores, but DNA testing has proven that the grape is a close relative to the very Italian primitivo grape; thus, it can be considered an Italian grape.
Since the grape is Italian, the Terra d’Oro winemakers reverted to the Italian style of winemaking to make this wine and endow it with an Italian personality.
Terra d'Oro Zinfandel Port ($18)The premise of this wine seems a bit ridiculous. It's a grape grown in California, claiming Italian ancestry in a Portuguese style, and is favored by the British.
Ridiculous or not, it is so. If you are unfamiliar with port, it is a fortified wine that has had some brandy added to it to end fermentation early by killing the yeast while bringing the alcohol level up to about 18 percent.
The Terra d'Oro Zinfandel Port proudly displays all of the charms of the zinfandel grape, while staying true to the port wine tradition. It displays aromas of sugared berry fruit, dates, chocolate, caramel and orange peel. The flavor concentrates on raisin, cocoa, coffee and toffee, which trail off to a long and luxurious finish.
This is a wine that is built to accompany desert, no matter if it is cheese, berry pie or chocolate. If you are a port aficionado, you will find this wine a new and novel experience. If you are however, a novice to port, you are in for a delightful and memorable experience.
Nixa resident Bennet Bodenstein is a wine columnist and helps manage ArticlesOnWine.com with his wife, Sheila. He can be reached at frojhe@suddenlink.net.[[In-content Ad]]
