Marche, Italy
OCTOBER 2024
Many thanks to Wine Folly for their great maps!
We are going to hang out in Italy another month, heading south along the Adriatic to Marche [mar-Kay]. Ancona, the capital of Marche, is about 100 miles due east of Florence as the bird flies, but because of the Apennine Mountains, the drive is about 3.5 hours, down through Perugia. The land from the mountains to the sea is ideal for growing vines, especially Verdicchio, with white wine making up 60-70% of Marche's production.
The economy depends on agriculture and tourism as well as a thriving artisan industry including leather goods, shoes, furniture and household appliances.
Marche's cuisine emphasizes seafood: Moscioli (a local wild mussel), Vincisgrassi (a local lasagna-like pasta dish), Olive all'ascolana (a stuffed, battered & deep-fried local olive), Brodetto (fish stew), Tagliatelle al tartufo di Acqualagna (egg pasta with local white truffles), Ciauscolo (spreadable salami), Prosciutto di Carpegna (local-styled prosciutto) & more>
Think of these dishes when you enjoy your two club wines: a Verdicchio & a Sangiovese/Montepulciano red blend!
Casa Vinicola Gioacchino Garofoli
Both of your club wines come from the Garofoli winery, founded by Antonio Garofoli in 1871. Today, the fifth generation of Garofolis – Beatrice, Caterina & Gianluca – run the estate.
The property (located about half an hour south of Ancona along the coast) is made up of several vineyards totaling 50 hectares with Verdicchio as their primary grape. They produce several styles of wines including sparkling wines and a dessert white known as passito.
Garofoli 2022 Macrina Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi
Marche, Italy • Reg $15.99 | WINE CLUB $13.99 | Mixed Case $11.19
100% Verdicchio from the Castelli di Jesi DOC. Flowers and clementines on the nose. Then flavors of tangerines, nectarines, citrus. Finish is full of minerals and orange citrus notes. Absolutely killer for this grape. We couldn't be happier. Best Verdicchio we've come across in quite some time. Drink now to 1 year. Scallops, shrimp, clams, roasted chicken, turkey, pork loin & more.
Garofoli 2022 Farnio Rosso
Marche, Italy • Reg $18.99 | Wine Club $15.99 | Mixed Case $12.79
Blend of Montepulciano & Sangiovese. Fresh wine. Has an earthiness on the nose (kind of like a Gamay), with notes of dark raspberries & red plums. Flavors are deeper. Black plums & Bing cherries. Light, delicious & fun. Perfect fall wine. Enjoy with mushroom dishes, pizza, or pasta with seasonal vegetables. Really good. Drink now to 2 years.
Delighted with these two wines from Marche. Hope you are, too!
Your wine club pick-up tasting is always the 2nd Saturday of the month. Join to taste and learn about your September club wines as well as the Portalis FLAGSHIP club wines – 3 reds from Around Barcelona.
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop
If you are here because you’re curious about our wine clubs: Here’s more general info & online signup> You can also peruse the last 12 months of both clubs to get a feel for the themes we pick and the wines we showcase: Portalis EXPLORES (our everyday wine club) & Portalis FLAGSHIP (our signature club).