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Viola Wine Cellars 2016 Bianco d'Allegre
A little bit of Italy, here in Oregon
Assagio.
Portlanders remember it as a cozy neighborhood trattoria with a fantastic wine list. And no wonder, given the commitment to great wine that owner/chef Darryl Joannides brought to the task. His love of Italian food was matched only by his love of Italian wine.
Fast forward a few years: After putting Assagio in the rear view mirror, Darryl dedicated himself to wine. He interned at a Sonoma winery, and later, with celebrated Oregon winemaker Andrew Rich at the birth of the Carlton Winemakers Studio.
After discovering the great diversity of Oregon wine, he opened a bottle shop in northeast Portland. But the winemaking bug had bit, and Darryl combined his two loves – Italy and Oregon.
Inspired by Italy, Viola Wine Cellars is about wine crafted in the Italian style using Northwest ingredients. With as few as four and as many as fifteen wines in production, Darryl is constantly experimenting to find the varietals that make great Oregon “Italians”!
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Viola Wine Cellars, Mosier, Oregon
2016 Bianco d'Allegre
In the northeast corner of Italy, at the tip of the Adriatic, lies a small region called Friuli – tucked between the seaport cities of Venice and Trieste. The mountains are snow-covered and the hills that run down to the ocean receive abundant rain. Sound familiar?
The Bianco d’Allegre is Darryl’s homage to Friuli, a blend of mostly Sauvignon Blanc, some Moscato Giallo, and a touch of Pinot Grigio. Sauvignon Blanc is, of course, generally considered a French wine, but made its way to Friuli during the days of the Austro-Hungrian Empire. The Sauvignon Blanc imparts a grassy and herbal character to the wine. The Moscato Giallo is an Italian varietal found within the Muscat family of grapes that imparts a golden hue and rich floral aromatics. And of course, Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for Pinot Gris; typically lighter and more acidic than you’d typically find in an Oregon Pinot Gris.
Blended together, the herbal, floral, and citrus notes in the Bianco d’Allegre make for a dry, vibrant, and mouthwatering wine that has great texture and character.
A Cellar 503 selection in January 2018, Italy in Oregon Columbia Gorge | Moscato, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc
