Loco for Lodi Wine #1 – Uvaggio Vermentino

100% Vermentino from Lodi, California.

SRP of $14 and available for as low as $12. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

“Uvaggio – sounds like ‘Bellagio’ – is Italian for ‘really great wine made by two incredibly hip wine lovers’. We have moved far beyond the conventional chocolate and vanilla by making Barbera, Moscato, Primitivo and Vermentino. We say since California has a Mediterranean climate, we should make wine with the grapes that actually thrive there.

Indigenous to Sardinia and Liguria, Vermentino is becoming popular as the white grape to grow in the Maremma region of Tuscany. It produces an aromatic and flavorful wine, perfect as an aperitivo or with a meal. Think of Vermentino as where Pinot Grigio meets Gruner Veltliner, having aromas and flavors of pear, lime, green melon, and cilantro-like mint.

Our Vermentino will partner well with seafood, more delicate Southeast Asian cuisine like Thai or Vietnamese, chicken, pasta, or any Mediterranean dish calling for a white wine.

12.5% Alcohol”

Lodi, pronounced Low-die, is 90 minutes east of San Francisco and 35 minutes south of Sacramento. Grapes have been grown in the area since the 1850’s when settlers who came out for the Gold Rush struck out but instead found a different type of gold. The area even prospered through Prohibition thanks to the provision of the Volstead Act that allowed for home winemaking, which created a great need for grapes to be shipped across the country.

Lodi has a Mediterranean climate with a variety of soils conducive to grape growing. There are about 75 wineries in the area and more than 750 growers. In total the area accounts for 17% of California’s total production. About 60% of the wines produced are red.

Most importantly, and perhaps because the area doesn’t have quite the name recognition as places like Napa, the region as a whole is dedicated to producing high quality wine at very reasonable prices. Thus the “Other regions can have Saturday night, we’ll take the other six” declaration, a statement we can’t help but love. Wineries and growers in the area also tend to have an innovative spirit which explains why Vermentino and other Italian varietals are not at all uncommon here.

Vermentino is a white grape variety that is primarily produced in Italy and also in France in the Languedoc-Roussillon area. We recently covered this grape for the first time as part of our feature on the indigenous white varieties of Italy: Excellent Italian Whites – Exploring the White Wines of Italy Including Two Bulk Buy Selections! Let’s see how the California version of this grape measures up…

The 2011 Uvaggio Vermentino begins with a very nice light fruit and floral aroma. This easy to drink wine tastes crisp and fresh with an excellent texture, good acidity and flavors of lime and green apple. On the finish the fruit turns tart, a little white pepper appears and then you’re left with lingering mineral notes. This would be a great match with seafood. We have reviews of several other wines from Lodi coming over the next couple weeks so stay tuned as we explore this excellent value region!

Wine in the Loco for Lodi Series:

• Uvaggio Vermentino 2011 – Loco for Lodi
• Michael David Winery Petite Petit 2010 – Just Plain Fun To Drink
• Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel 2010 – A Classic Lodi Zin
• Macchia Amorous Sangiovese 2011 – Lovely!
• Ravenswood Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel 2010 – Super Ripe and Rich
• Sorelle Winery Bella e Rosa 2012 – More Than Your Typical Rosé
• Noble Vines 337 Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – A Brilliant Burger Wine
• Sorelle Winery Bellezza Fra Barbera 2011 – A Beauty Of A Barbera
• Gnarly Head Authentic Red 2010 – Ready to Party

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

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