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SKU 724746
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La Carraia Sangiovese Umbria Igt 2010 750ml
La Carraia
- Umbria
- Italy
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The name of this grape, meaning 'blood of Jove' conjures up evocative images of long dead civilizations, and gives the Sangiovese varietal a sense of the holy, the sacred, the special. Indeed, this particular type of Italian grape has been cultivated and processed for thousands of years, and is said to be the original favorite grape varietal of the Romans, and the Etruscans before them. Throughout history, vintners have continued to plant this varietal, and they continue to produce wonderful wines to this day. The long bunches of very dark, round fruit are treasured by fine wineries in Italy and a few other places around the world, and when young, these grapes are lively – full of strawberry flavors and a little spiciness. However, it is when they are aged in oak that they take on some truly special flavors and aromas, as seen in some of the finest wines of the Old World.
The region of Umbria in central Italy is one of the country's most interesting wine regions, as well as being one of the most ancient. Umbria was home to many of the Roman's finest wines, and ancient civilizations such as the Romans were quick to recognize the potential a small region such as Umbria had, with its rolling, lush green hillsides, long hot summers and cooler ripening periods. Today, the region has a strong and characterful wine industry, with wineries in Umbria keen to experiment with blending together native grape varietals such as Sangiovese and Grechetto with imported Bordeaux varietals, in order to produce truly unique and exceedingly delicious wines. Tradition still plays an important role in Umbria, however, and wineries in the region are keen to use modern techniques alongside their time honored methods in order to produce the best wines possible.
It isn't difficult to understand why Italy is famed not just for the quality of its wines, but also for the vast variety and range of characteristics found in the wines there. The terrain of the country varies wildly, from the lush rolling green hills and valley of Tuscany, to the sun drenched rocky coasts of Sicily, the mountainous and alpine regions of the north, and the marshy lowlands of the east. Italy really does have a little bit of everything. Combine this huge range of landscapes with an almost perfect climate for grape cultivation, and you have a country seemingly designed for viticultural excellence. The results speak for themselves, and it is clear to see that wine has become an inseparable part of Italian culture as a result of its abundance and brilliance. Each village, city and region has a local wine perfectly matched with the cuisine of the area, and not an evening passes without the vast majority of Italian families raising a glass of locally sourced wine with pride and pleasure.
