{"id":4753,"date":"2013-04-03T16:05:36","date_gmt":"2013-04-03T14:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/?p=4753"},"modified":"2015-04-13T19:11:05","modified_gmt":"2015-04-13T17:11:05","slug":"discovering-italian-wine-in-an-enoteca-regionale-piedmont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/2013\/04\/03\/discovering-italian-wine-in-an-enoteca-regionale-piedmont\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering Italian wine in an Enoteca Regionale – Piedmont"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you friends with me on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>? I\u2019m\u00a0rossosara<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>Are you a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>subscriber to my newslette<\/a>r<\/em><\/strong>?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>I\u2019m also on Twitter @<\/strong>rosso<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

My other half is now a sommelier through the AIS<\/a> (Associazione Italiana Sommelier)<\/em>\u00a0and that means that wine has now, more than ever, been a big part of our culinary experience. Since we only got a car 3 years ago, it’s been a great excuse to get out and discover the countryside where few buses and trains will go.<\/p>\n

\"Tasting

Tasting Barolo in Barolo, Italy.<\/p><\/div>\n

This Easter weekend we went back to Piemonte. We spent Easter there three years ago (you can read about the delicious Easter lunch we had<\/a>) but this time we went to a different part of the region and focused solely on wine and countryside. I did drive by the Ferrero factory<\/a> (makers of Nutella) but they don’t allow visits, so you can leave that off your itinerary for Piemonte.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Monforte

Monforte, Piemonte<\/p><\/div>\n

The whole driving through the countryside to find wineries to stop in at and taste is not as popular as it is elsewhere, and I’m not sure if it ever will be. Places like agriturismi <\/em>(bringing tourists to farms, ranches & wineries)\u00a0cater to tourists, and some wine producers don’t want you showing up at their place of business without an invitation, so it’s best to do your research before setting out.\u00a0If it’s a nice day, you might still get a great drive out of it, but if you’re looking to taste wine, it’s best you have a plan.<\/p>\n

\"Piemonte

Barbaresco wine country, Italy<\/p><\/div>\n

My biggest tip is to look for the local “Enoteca Regionale<\/em>” – the regional wine “repository” or shop – which features local wines; many which are not found elsewhere! \u00a0Another name to look out for is the “Cantina Comunale<\/em>” – the city cantina- this will be much smaller in focus and may feature only uber-local wines and whatever else the people running the shop decide is worth their shelf space.<\/p>\n

\"When

Enoteca regionale in Barbaresco, Italy<\/p><\/div>\n

In my experience at the several ones I’ve been to, here’s what you can expect from an Enoteca Regionale<\/em> or a Cantina Comunale<\/em>:<\/p>\n