Swill or Swell: Episode 20

Trentatre Rosso

watch the episode here

Welcome to Swill or Swell, a weekly series where I taste grocery store wines and let you know if they’re worth the buck or just meant for the drain! 

CAVEAT! As you read this, please keep in mind that wine is subjective! This means that everyone enjoys different things and something I like might not be something you like and vice versa. I’ll be as objective as I can with facts about the wine’s quality, but in the end if your opinion differs from mine...that’s perfectly fine! Wine is only worth drinking if YOU like drinking it!

LET’S INTRODUCE THE WINE

Today we’ll be tasting an Italian Trentatre Red Wine. I purchased this from Trader Joes for just $5.99! This wine is known for being a juicy, affordable “pizza-friendly” wine in Italy, so let’s see if this lives up to it.

TRENTATRE ROSSO FUN FACTS

There are three varietals in this wine: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Montepulciano. Let’s talk about the lesser known one, Montepulciano.

• It’s commonly confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a regional name for the Sangiovese-based wine in Tuscany.
  
• This grape is grown almost entirely in Italy.
  
• It's the second most planted red grape in Italy.
  
• On its own, it’s a deep purple color.
  
• The best versions come from top producers in Abruzzo (Montepulciano d’Abruzzo).

Now, let’s talk about the Apulia region.

• Apulia is Italy’s secret to “value” wine.
  
• Puglia is surrounded by water on three sides allowing cool breezes off the Mediterranean to moderate vineyard temperatures.
  
• Famous for Primitivo iz Zinfandel.
  
• The only city which drinks more wine in the world than Buenos Aires is Paris.
  
• A major factor which facilitated the development of the Argentinean winemaking industry was the arrival of the Transandine Railway in Mendoza in 1885. The railway allowed wines to be exported from Mendoza to the greater market of Buenos Aires.

WINE TASTING NOTES

Look: Medium magenta (halfway between purple and red)
Smell: Chocolate covered cherries, tomato leaves, coconut/vanilla
Taste: I liked the immediate flavor, but there’s almost too much of a chocolate taste to this wine. I’m also getting medium+ acidity, medium tannins, and a medium body from this.
Think:
Food Pairing - Something with a lot of fat to try to counteract that aftertaste
Occasion - Maybe an Italian food night in.
Rating - I personally would give this a swill. I wouldn’t buy this again.

Want to learn more? Check out my Instagram every Thursday at 5PM PST for a new episode of Swill or Swell! Have a wine you’d like me to taste? Write your request in the comments below or send me a message on Instagram!

Cheers!