Bank Holiday Wining & Dining

If you're entertaining, or its a family gathering, or something special (for someone rather special) come and visit us at our shop in West Liss and choose something from our list of quality Italian wines.

In the sparkling range, we have three styles of Processo - Frizzante for a quality aperitivo - or a chat in the kitchen; Chloe for a very versatile and food friendly glass; or Cartizze for a very special aperitivo or something to accompany fresh fruit or light desserts.

Something different and rarely seen is Nerodise - a sparkling rose' made from 100% Nero di Troia from Angelo Paradiso in Puglia. A top class slightly drier alternative to Processo.

In stock now is the new 2012 vintage of Salapia a white wine from Puglia from 100% Bombino Bianco, full of clean crisp fruit, just perfect to accompany all vegetable dishes, fish, seafood, white meats, or just a glass on its own.

There are lots of reds and whites to accompany all types of food and dishes, dinner parties, roasts, barbeques (they are promising sun) and we can advise you with food and wine matchings.

There is also new season olive oil from Puglia, and wine jelly if you fancy a change from quince jelly with your cheese.

Soon to be announced will be dates for regional wine suppers, where we will match regional menus and wines across Italy.

P.S. If youv'e just finished the lawn - try a glass of Nerodise!

Thats all for now - I look forward to seeing you.

Salute from all @ Ricco

Trevor

Our Mother's Day Selection

Trevor from Ricco introduces 4 fantastic wines to enjoy on Mother's Day.

'Nerodise' Spumante Extra Dry - a perfect wine for Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day this Sunday, looking for a gift that she will really enjoy?

You can't go wrong with a bottle of our exclusive sparkling rosato from Cantine Paradiso of Puglia, 'Nerodise' Spumante Extra Dry IGT 2011.

A beautiful, award winning sparkler from 100% Nero di Troia. Fresh, dry red fruits on the nose and a wonderful clean palate make this a very versatile wine. Perfect for drinking on its own but can also accompany a meal - great with vegetable dishes and white meats.

Give us a call or visit the shop for  more information, open Thursday to Saturday, 10am-8pm.

Fine Art & Fine Wine - March 2013

From the 12-17th of March 2013 Ricco is playing host to the Stilwell art group as they hold one of their major exhibitions of the year in our wine shop and throughout the adjoining building.

This fantastic art group, based in Southern England, have gained an enviable a reputation for themselves through the quality and originality of their work and diversity of their exhibitions. 

The exhibition is launched at 6pm on Tuesday 12th March when you are invited to meet the artists and (of course!) have the opportunity to enjoy a glass of fine Italian wine. The exhibition then runs from Wednesday 13th to Sunday 17th of March from 11am-8pm.

A percentage of all sales will be donated to the Dreams Come True Children's Charity.

For more information email us or contact 01730 894751.

'Aglianico' and 'Nero di Troia' from Azienda Agricola Tarantini 

Angelo Paradiso

Had a tasting of these at the weekend, drinking nicely. Both typical examples of their type, perfect with steaks, sausages, roasts, game and horse (if you're partial to supermarket Lasagne!). Seriously though, both these wines are a snip at £5.50 each when you buy 6, £4.95 each when you buy 12 and £4.50 when you buy 24 or more. 

Stocks are limited, so phone 01730 894751, email us on info@riccowines.com or visit the shop - Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10am-8pm.

This Saturday 23rd we are tasting wines of Sicily and Puglia at the shop - new vintages, new wines from De Gregorio, Cantine Paradiso adn Podere Belmantello. Hope to see you here!

Quality assurance: VDT, IGT, DOC, DOCG

A question we are often asked here at Ricco is 'What does VDT/IGT/DOC/DOCG mean?'.

One of these four acronyms will be found on the label of every quality bottle of Italian wine, but perhaps understandably their significance is often not understood.

Put simply, these four marks are the Quality Designation - part of a series of laws introduced in the last 50 years to regulate and safeguard the quality of Italy's wine and can be described as follows.

VDT or Vino Da Tavola.

The least strict of all the designations and lowest category of wine which can be produced. Categorised as a table wine, these have no specific geographic origin and can contain (almost) whatever the producer wishes to use. They are forbidden by law to display either their grape variety or a vintage. The quality of a VDT wine varies enormously; from very poor to excellent - some very good winemakers will use the more relaxed VDT rules to make wonderful, interesting wines from unusual blends which could not be classified under the other designations. In the UK, you will sometimes find VDT's used as restaurant house wines and served by the carafe.

IGT or Indicazione Geographica Tipica (typical geographical indication).

Introduced in 1992 this denotes a higher quality of table wine and IGT's are subject to greater control than VDT's. Grapes used in an IGT wine must be grown within a specific area, but producers are not subject to rules regarding processes such as ageing or bottle ageing. The focus of an IGT wine is more on where it was made, rather than the grapes used or style created. As with VDT, quality can vary but it does allow for the creation of some very interesting wines. Here at Ricco we stock a number of IGT wines of excellent quality such Piergiovanni Giusti's "L'Intruso IGT" produced from 4 grape varieties. Prior to 1992 this wine would have to have been labelled a VDT - a classification that would perhaps not do credit to a winemaker of Piergiovanni's professionalism and standing.

DOC or Denominazione di Origine Controllata (controlled designation of origin).

DOC is the quality designation for the majority of Italian wine. It indicates that the wine has been produced in a specific region, from specific grapes and in a specific style. Amongst other regulations, producers must (by law) keep the grapes used for creating DOC wines separate from other grapes when recording in the official cellar registers. Since its introduction in 1963, the DOC classification has done a great deal to increase the overall quality of Italian wine since standards of production are theoretically controlled by law.

DOCG or Denominazione di Origine Controlla e Garantita (controlled designation of origin guaranteed).

Our 'Camilla' Barolo. A DOCG wine,
complete with its strip of official guarantee.

The highest level of quality designation, for a wine to be labelled DOCG it must meet all of the conditions of a DOC wine and more still. Yeald is controlled and a tasting commission must sample and approve each batch of wine before its DOCG is granted. Every bottle must also display an official strip or guarantee which is only released upon approval of the tasting committee. The most famous DOCG wines include Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino.

The above is meant only as a beginners guide to the basic principles of the Quality Assurance system. The important thing to remember is that buying a bottle of wine from the supermarket stamped DOC or DOCG does not guarantee you an enjoyable or well made bottle of wine, just a regulated one. 

It is here that a wine merchant like Ricco is key - we source quality wines direct from the supplier. We know the people who make the wines, we visit their cantinas and we actively search for the best quality wine at the best possible price. We know what goes in their wine and (equally as important) what does not go in their wine.

Introducing Cantine De Gregorio

An introduction to our newest supplier - Cantine De Gregorio of southern Sicily.