One of the most anticipated events of the year is the annual Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri Awards national road tour. Presented in Chicago at the Bridgeport Arts Center on the Southwest Side just west of the Chicago White Sox’s Rate Field (formerly Guaranteed Rate Field. I still call it Comiskey Park), the event is a showcase for the best of Italian wines, food, and hospitality. The Tre Bicchieri Awards (three glasses in English) are the Oscars of Italy’s wine industry.
Marco Sabellico, Editor of Vini d’Italia, the exclusive guide to Italian wine, presides over the event, which has grown every year since its inception. Besides the awards presentation, the highlight is the annual release of his encyclopedic wine guide, Vini d’Italia.
“This is our 14th year of publication, Sabellico said proudly, “and the 2027 edition is already in production.
“What is exciting this year is the resurgence of our native grape varieties. They are being brought back to life and put into production. The high level of experimentation has brought some really exciting wines to market, and people are getting the opportunity to taste some of them today.”
Vini d’Italia is the authoritative guide to Italian wines. Sabellico says he is gratified by the fact that younger wine enthusiasts are finding the guide to be a valuable resource.
“With so many changes in the industry and in people’s palates and preferences, I’m happy to see that younger wine enthusiasts are finding the guide of interest. I hope they are discovering new things about our wine by reading it.”
Italy boasts over 2,000 grape varieties. Besides the Italian flagship grape varieties such as Sangiovese, Tuscany’s staple for Chianti, Montepulciano of Abruzzo, and Nebbiolo, Piedmont’s noble grape for Barolo, the white wines have also grown in popularity. That’s because younger wine drinkers are going for lighter cuisines and more exotic, spicy dishes.
“Every region has its own hidden treasure. For example, in Lazio region we have some wines made from Bellone, which was a grape variety that was almost forgotten. We have Pecorino in Marche d’Abruzzi, which was almost lost twenty years ago. It was brought back by some very dedicated producers, so that now, it’s become a staple of the region.
“From Sicily and Sardinia to the Valle d’aosta, there’s always something new to discover.”
There were so many great wines to taste at Tre Bicchieri, it was impossible to try them all. The best way to approach the task was to make an educated selection from the handy guide posted at the entryway and dive into the crowd.
My first encounter brought me to Federica Zenzi, of Zenzi 1870 winery from Lake Garda, the scenic hillside area above Verona. Lake Garda is a favorite spot for vacationers and is one of the great hidden gems of the region. I spent several idyllic weekends there.
Lake Garda was also the setting of the opening scene of the James Bond film Quantum of Solace (2008): The scene features an Aston Martin chase along the Gardesana Road, passing through the villages of Limone sul Garda, Malcesine, and the dramatic Tremosine gorge, called Strada della Forra.
The wines are a true reflection of the depth of beauty of the region.
“This is our Tre Bicchieri (3 glasses) winner Amarone Della Valpolicella,” Zeni presented. “It’s a hearty Red wine made from hand-selected Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, all native grapes to the Valpolicella Classic Zone.”
A deep Ruby red color gave me a hint of its vibrant flavors of well-ripened berries and baking spices. This is a wine to enjoy with grilled meats and strong cheeses.
Aged in large oak barrels for 2-3 years, it leaves a velvety, round feeling in your mouth.
“The large barrels give the wine an opportunity to ‘breathe’ and allow a chance for the natural fruit flavors, such as dark cherries and blackberries, to come through. There’s just enough wood contact to give it some spiciness, but most of the flavor really comes from the fruit.”
My next stop was to Tuscany for some epic Chianti poured by Filipo Frullini of Torre a Cona of Florence.
“We are well-known in Florence, and our grapes are all grown on our estate,” Filipo explained.
Torre a Cona Chianti Colli Fiorentini is a vibrant, Italian red primarily made from Sangiovese grapes with a touch of Colorino, offering fresh red fruit of cherries and raspberries. Floral notes are balanced with a bright acidity.
In Italy, this is the kind of wine they drink everyday (we all should be so lucky) with popular Italian dishes like pizza or pasta. It’s refreshing and food-friendly, with just enough oak aging to make it interesting.
Next up, Danielle Girolami, Export Manager for I Viticoltori-Felice and Armando Merge, poured me a delightful Bianco Spumante from Poggio Volpi of Roma DOC.
Pale, with a bright straw yellow shine, this is an inviting sparkler with lively, foamy bubbles. Its elegantly shaped bottle makes it a perfect party wine to pour as guests arrive.
A terrific companion to any spring gathering, it has a nose that reveals aromas of ripe citrus fruit and white flowers, with aromatic herbs and a hint of spice.
Delicate and elegant on the palate, it has a creamy texture that makes you want more.
There were many other great wines to taste. Sadly, I was unable to spend more time with them. You can have your own Tre Bicchieri experience by visiting their website at Gambero Rossointernational.com.
