Italy’s Veneto region is one of its most dazzling and romantic. Shakespeare’s tragic romance Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona. Venice and its hallowed lagoons is the repository of its art world. Its pristine and majestic mountains in north-eastern Italy, bordering Austria, is a UNESCO world heritage site, encompassing the Dolomite National Park, the Gardaland theme park, the spas of Abano Terme and the memorial sites of World War One.
It is only fitting that one of the truly outstanding wines from the Veneto region is named Gran Passione. A blend of native Corvino grapes and international Merlot, this is a full-bodied wine with intensity. The deep purple color gives a hint of what’s inside the bottle; dark rub-red fruits redolent with flavors of blackberries and dark cherries with hints of licorice and cloves. Added complex fruit flavors like plums and raisins add to the heady mix. Concentrated flavors do not happen by accident. They are nurtured from the vine to the crush and on through the fermentation process. Grapes are hand-harvested after the grape bunch stems are cut just before harvest to dislocate the grapes immediately prior to crush, allowing them to further develop flavors and concentrate sugars that will fuel fermentation. This time-honored process of drying grapes before fermentation, known as appasimento, is the same method used to produce Amarone, the crown jewel wine variety of the region.
Grape skins are allowed to remain in the fermentation process for a considerable period of time, which allows the wine to extract more complex flavors and to develop its characteristic deep Ruby-jewel color.
Passing notes of baking spices, such as nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla make this an ideal accompaniment to Roast Chicken with Sage, or Duck with Rosemary. A Leg or Rack of Lamb for a special romantic dinner accompanied by a mushroom, shallot and garlic sauce made with some of the wine is just the right centerpiece for a candlelight dinner. Save some for dessert. Warm berries topped with Ricotta and honey or an assortment of flavorful cheeses with nuts and dried apricots and raisins will do just fine. Buon appetito!
