A Special Tasting with Andrea Rinaldi
Posted by Wine Gourmet on
His grandfather planted the vines, his father started the business, and now he continues the family tradition of excellence.
Join us this Friday, March 1st from 2-6pm for a special wine tasting, with Andrea Rinaldi of Azienda Agricola Rinaldi Vini - son of the company’s founder, Oreste Rinaldi.
Click here to RSVP!
About Rinaldi Vini
Azienda Agricola Rinaldi Vini is located on the hills of Alto Monferrato, Italy, close to Acqui Terme, in the heart of one of the most precious areas of southern Piedmont. This family business was founded in 1961 by Oreste Rinaldi, and is run today by his son Andrea. The family produces wine from their vineyards located in a particularly desirable area, with a favorable microclimate and a perfect southwestern exposure.
Currently Rinaldi has 20 hectares of vines (50 acres) - 19 hectares owned, 1 hectares rented. They produce Moscato, Brachetto, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malvasia, with an annual production around 15,000 cases.
Their single vineyard Bricco Cardogno, planted to Moscato, measures 2.5 hectares (6.75 acres) and was planted over 50 years ago by Andrea Rinaldi's grandfather. It is located 240- 300 m above sea level, with limestone (tufa) soil. All grapes are hand harvested with extreme care - quality starts in the vineyard. The single vineyard Bricco Rioglio is planted with Brachetto grapes and is limestone based with 15-year-old vines (Bricco is a "tea cup" in local dialect).
Tasting Lineup
- Busy Bee Asti Spumante
- Pink! Moscato d’Asti
- Joyful Extra Dry Spumante
- ReDream Red Moscato
- Celle Monferrato Cabernet Sauvignon
- Panta Rei Monferrato Rosso
Tasting Notes
Busy Bee Asti Spumante
100% Moscato
No Oak. Aged on the lees for several months and in the bottle as well. Straw yellow color, fruity whit hints of apple, peach and mint.
Pink! Moscato d'Asti
90% Moscato, 10% Brachetto d’Acqui
A light rosé offset with striking spice and fruit scents. Fresh acidity compliments its sweetness, a well-balanced wine. An excellent aperitif, pairs well with fruit cakes and fruit salad, for brunch or poolside.
Joyful Extra Dry Spumante
85 % Barbera, 10 % Cortese and 5 % Moscato
Straw yellow color, fruity with hints of apple and mint.
"Pale in color, Joyful offers reticent scents of pears and apples. It has a nice, creamy mouthfeel and light orchard fruit flavors. Finishes on the dry side despite 14 g/L RS. Pleasant by itself but would also be a good mixer. A blend of 85% Barbera, 10% Cortese, and 5% Moscato from Italy’s Piedmont region."
- International Wine Review (Sparkling Wines for the Holidays: The Best of 2018), 88 points
ReDream Red Moscato
100% Malvasia Nera
The wine is ruby red but not too deep. It is fruity and pleasant. This frothy and fruity red wine delivers flavors of honeysuckle and black pepper.
"The non-vintage Rinaldi Red Dream, which comes from 100% Malvasia Nera, has about 7% alcohol, so it is slightly more potent than its two siblings. Gorgeously fresh and frothy, with loads of cherry, honeysuckle, spice box, and spring flowers, this is an exciting party wine that is brilliantly packaged, and I doubt a person can be found who would dislike it. However, these wines are meant to be drunk in their exuberant youth, so this one as well as the following two efforts should be consumed over the next 6-12 months."
- Wine Advocate, 90 points
Celle Monferrato Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon - 20 years old vines
“Celle” means prison. The vineyard name comes from the traditional practice of referring to vineyard lots as “cells”, given the appearance of how these coveted blocks were divided. Vibrant red, beautiful intensity is characteristic of Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is spicy, the palate smooth and long. A fresh wine with a balance of acidity and sweet tannins and red fruit. Pairs well with game dishes and strong cheese.
Panta rei Monferrato Rosso
50% Barbera and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% of the wine is appasimento. Then, the blend is aged 14 months in French oak barrels and 6 months in bottle before release.
This wine is quite tasty, smooth, silky and powerful. It is loaded with dried red fruit notes from the appassimento of the grapes and it also has a lot of spicy aromas and flavors from the oak aging.
Silver Medal - Lyon Competition 2018
Silver Medal - London Wine Competition 2018