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Viola Wine Cellars 2017 Collina 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.
The winemaking bug had bit, and with the expansion of a few vineyards out in the Columbia Gorge to include unique Italian varietals, Darryl was able to combine 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
2017 Collina 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, with snow-covered mountains and hills that run down to the ocean receive abundant rain. Sound familiar?
The Collina d’Allegre is Darryl’s homage to Friuli, a blend of equal parts Sauvignon Blanc, Moscato Giallo, and Pinot Grigio. The Sauvignon Blanc imparts a grassy and herbal character to the wine. The Moscato Giallo imparts a golden hue and rich floral aromatics. And the Pinot Grigio brightens things up acid and citrus. The herbal, floral, and citrus notes in the Collina d’Allegre make for a dry, vibrant, and mouthwatering wine.
Watson is a 4 1/2 year old English Springer Spaniel, who can be found happily lounging about and hoping for a snack from Darryl and guests to the winery.
A Cellar 503 selection in March 2020, Winery Dogs Columbia Valley | Moscato, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc
