> “L’arte di bere il vino e vivere felici” by Gigi Padovani
This is one of the latest books I’ve read… light and reader-friendly.
It’s a book that reveals, without too many technical terms, the secrets to testing wine properly to positive people and life enthusiasts!
Each chapter is introduced by an aphorism – which, you know, I like a lot!
Gigi starts with a suggestion: use your heart and your head when choosing a white or red wine. When he describes a wine colour, he talks about grapes skin – not peel. And the chapters on the various glass and label shapes are really informative.
Read the book and then invite your friends for dinner, you’ll make a terrific impression! The fourth chapter, really amusing, tells about the art of opening a wine bottle and contains a fitting quote from an American writer:
The simple act of opening a bottle of wine has brought more happiness to the human race than all the collective governments in the history of earth!
- By Jim Harrison
It’s true!
The book then talks about serving temperatures, a much-debated topic among sommeliers… and this is not to show off our knowledge, but simply because temperature is really important! Wine tastes best when served at proper temperature! It’s to show respect for the winemaker who produced it, for the land it comes from and, above all, this is an act of love towards those who drink wine! A sparkling wine served warm – that is, above 8°C – it’s a crime!
So, now, here is a list of the right serving temperatures:
16-18°C
Full-bodied red wines aged for long: Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello di Montalcino, Amarone, Sagrantino di Montefalco…
14-16°C
Medium-bodied reds, tannic rosé or aged passito wines, wines with added alcohol: Valpolicella, Taurasi, Nero d’Avola, Cerasuolo Rosé, Marsala or Sauternes.
10-12°C
Matured whites such as Friuliano, Timorasso, Lugana; young rosé wines like Bardolino.
8-10 °C
Young white, passito and sparkling wines: Greco di Tufo, Vermentino, Passito di Pantelleria, Franciacorta, Trento DOC, Champagne…
In the section on wine scents there’s a quote from “The Comrade” by Cesare Pavese (1908- 1950):
Tre nasi son quel che ci vuole per bere il Barolo… (Three noses is what you need for drinking Barolo wine…)
And a beautiful description of the wine aroma wheel. Here again, you can use the book to “play” with your friends and find the virtues and vices of each label!
At the end of the book are the sections “Bere con arte” and “Dialoghi con il cibo”, about the art of drinking and wine-food pairings. Finally, in the very last chapter, a unique description of wine drinkers and the geography of wine in the world.
But the section I really love is the one about Abbé Pierre Pérignon and the passion for sparkling wines.
Bravo Gigi!
Wine Princess suggests:
How to enjoy the book: while sipping a SURRAU Rosé from Cannonau di Sardegna DOC rosé grapes. An excellent sparkling wine, dry and full-flavoured, fruity, with a balanced smoothness.
A wonderful quote:
Understanding and loving wine is the secret to happiness!
(Gigi Padovani)