From: Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Blend: 51% Sangiovese, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon
Taste: Deep ruby red with slightly brightening edges. It is intensely fragrant on the nose with brambly blackberry compote, ripe plum, dark cherry, spicy notes of licorice and black pepper, and toasted aromas. This blackberry, cherry, and plum trio shows up on the palate alongside hints of cassis. The wine has a well-integrated acidity and chalky tannins, punctuating its long, harmonious finish.
Pairing: The winery suggests serving this wine with quail stuffed with foie gras and morels, roasts, braised meats, stews, and grilled meat. Specific pairing ideas include serving this alongside sheet-pan sausage and peppers, sausages & polenta (check out the recipe below; it’s fit for a crowd!), wood-fired pizza, pot roast or roasted lamb, braised pork ragù, wine-braised oxtail, braised beef short ribs, beef stew with carrots and potatoes, a tagine-style lamb stew, and all of the delicious bbq grilled meats and vegetables your summer-loving selves can think of.
Polenta and Sausages for a Crowd (Polenta Alla Spianatora)
By David Tanis
About. The Ravaioli family has guided and developed Poderi dal Nespoli through several generations, starting in 1929 when Attilio Nespoli took on his father’s wine merchant business and invested in the first plot of land just inland of the “Romagna Riviera” in the Bidente River Valley that connects Forlì to the Apennine mountains between Romagna and Tuscany. Over time, this ancient valley has served as an essential connection between Romagna and Tuscany. The region's Mediterranean climate and marine deposits from the Apennines lend a freshness to the Sangiovese-driven still reds made here.
The winemaking team at Nespoli specializes in small-lot artisanal Sangiovese production and has twice been awarded the coveted Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri for their efforts. In the early 2000s, siblings Celita and Fabio Ravaioli became the fourth generation of their family to run the winery. Poderi dal Nespoli produces high-quality wines whose spirit masterfully combines Alfeo Martini's dream with that of the Ravaioli family: to export fine Romagna wines to international markets. Furthermore, in 2010, work began to create the current Poderi dal Nespoli estate, including a state-of-the-art cellar, facilities, and vineyards. The Bottega del Vino shop and the Borgo dei Guidi agriturismo (bed & breakfast) have their own event space in the park.
The name of this wine refers to the historic little village of Cusercoli, close to the winery controlled by the Guidi Family. This is an important wine, a blend of Sangiovese grapes, which give fruity aromas with a touch of freshness. In contrast, the partially dried grapes of Cabernet provide a concentration of aromas and flavors. It spent 11 months aging in barriques (small French barrels), followed by 20 weeks of refining in bottles before release.
