The tasting by contrast of this month will be about white wines again and we will examine two very interesting varieties, capable of making wines of remarkable personality and finesse. Viognier and Trebbiano Spoletino are the protagonists of our tasting by contrast which will be compared in our glasses. Grapes of uncertain origin - for both, in fact, there is no sure evidence about their origin - they however share the same destiny. Viognier and Trebbiano Spoletino have both been forgotten in the past by producers for a very long time, therefore reevaluated and brought to success again. A reevaluation happened in relatively recent times - about twenty years ago - which allowed both grapes to become extraordinarily successful while becoming popular varieties in their respective territories while conquering the fame even beyond the borders of their lands.

 This happened, in particular, for Viognier which, besides being appreciated outside the borders of its original land, it has also been successful in catching the attention of many vintners in the world. Grapes having a remarkable wine making appealing, they are particularly famous for their elegant wines having a strong personality. Both varieties seem to share the same wine making versatility: they are in fact used for the production of table and sparkling wines as well as sweet wines made from dried grapes. Even wine making practices seem to have many things in common as producers usually vinify both grapes in inert containers - steel tanks, in particular - while avoiding the use of wood, therefore cask. The reason is mainly determined by the fact, in both cases, producers tend to favor the aromatic expression of the grapes, a very important characteristic both for Viognier and Trebbiano Spoletino.

 Viognier is known for being the protagonist of Condrieu wines, an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée of France and belonging to the Rhône Valley territory. This variety is also famous for the wines produced in the smallest appellation of France and corresponding exactly to the estate of a single producer: Château-Grillet. This estate covers an area of about 3.5 hectares (about 9 acres) and, as a matter of fact, is an enclave of Condrieu appellation, both belonging to the larger Rhône Valley AOC. The success of Viognier - capable of making elegant wines with good aromas - caught the attention of producers in other countries and today this variety is considered as an international grape. It should be said wines produced with Viognier are quite prone to oxidation, therefore their consumption is generally recommended during their youth. In this way, in fact, Viognier can express its best aromatic potentials in which it is possible to perceive tropical fruits, apricot and even violet.

 The origin of Viognier, including the origin of its name, is quite uncertain. The most supported theory wants this variety coming from Dalmatia - in the modern Croatia - introduced in the Condrieu territory by ancient Romans. Indeed, there are many theories about the origin of Viognier and its presence in Condrieu, most of them sounding like legends or work of fantasy. The origin of the name is uncertain as well. Some support the idea Viognier comes from the name of French city Vienne, for others it comes from Gehennae - the place where, according to the New Testament, sinners were burned by fire, therefore meaning the hell - because of the supposed difficulty in cultivating this grape. After having faced a concrete risk of extinction - in 1965 there were a little less than 9 hectares in total - today it is widely appreciated and cultivated in the world. It should be finally noted a research done in 2004 on Viognier's DNA discovered a close connection to Freisa - a red grape from Piedmont, Italy - therefore introducing the hypothesis of the origin within the territory of Alps.

 Rising glory of the Viticulture of Umbria, in the last recent years Trebbiano Spoletino got more and more successful thanks to the quality of its wines. This interesting grape is cultivated since remote times in the territory going from Trevi - a village not so far from Foligno - passing through Montefalco up to reaching Spoleto, the town from which Trebbiano Spoletino is named after. In past times, Trebbiano Spoletino was cultivated with the technique called vite maritata (literally, married vine), that is by allowing vines to climb on living trees. This technique, notoriously of Etruscan origin, was widely used in past centuries and even today, in Umbrian countryside, it is possible to see century-old Trebbiano Spoletino vines climbing on living trees. These special Trebbiano Spoletino vines - tens of years old - are capable of making wines of extraordinary finesse and longevity, expressing an organoleptic profile of sumptuous complexity associated to body and elegance.

 The origin of Trebbiano Spoletino is uncertain and even historical information about this variety are pretty scarce. There are mentions about the wines of Spoleto since remote times, in particular thanks to the writings of Pliny the Elder and Martial, who praised the golden color of the wines made in this area as well as their high quality. However, it is quite hard to tell whether they were referring to Trebbiano Spoletino or not. We have the first mention of this grape in 1878 thanks to Francesco Francolini - headmaster of the itinerant agriculture teaching post of Spoleto - in his “Bollettini Ampelografici” (Ampelography Bulletins). In 1908 Francesco Francolini mentions Trebbiano Spoletino again in his work “La Valle Spoletina e le sue condizioni Economiche-Agricole”) (The Valley of Spoleto and its Economic-Agricultural Conditions), praising the quality of its wines, including sparkling wines. The name could make one think the grape belongs to the vast family of Trebbiano, indeed Spoletino has no connection to these grapes including the usual etymology of the term. It is in fact believed the name Trebbiano associated to Spoletino comes from Trevi - a village between Foligno and Spoleto - therefore meaning grape from Trevi and supporting the idea this village is the native place of this interesting Umbrian white grape.

 The wine we will choose for our tasting by contrast will examine wines made with 100% Viognier and Trebbiano Spoletino. As for Viognier, we will choose a wine belonging to the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée Condrieu, which can be exclusively produced with variety only. The choice becomes a little more difficult for Trebbiano Spoletino. This variety is used for wines named after this grape and belonging to Denominazione d'Origine Controllata Spoleto, in which can be used a minimum quantity of 85%. Trebbiano Spoletino is also used in wines belonging to Indicazione Geografica Tipica Umbria, therefore we can also choose a wine made outside the territory of Spoleto. In both cases we will choose young wines - therefore being not more than two years old - and produced in inert containers. Our Viognier and Trebbiano Spoletino will be served at the temperature of 10 °C (50 °F) and poured in tasting glasses.

The color of Trebbiano Spoletino

 Let's start the tasting our white wines and pour them in their respective glasses. The first organoleptic aspect we are going to evaluate is - of course - appearance, that is color and transparency. Let's start from Viognier and tilt the glass on a white surface. We will observe the base of the glass, where the liquid mass is thicker, and evaluate color. Viognier shows a brilliant greenish yellow color and a high transparency: it is perfectly possible to see the object put between the glass and the white surface. Nuances, observed at the edge of the wine near the opening of the glass, confirm the same color. Let's now pass to the evaluation of Trebbiano Spoletino and tilt the glass on the white surface. The color of the wine from Umbria shows an evidently darker and deeper hue than Viognier: here can be clearly seen an intense straw yellow color, even gold yellow. with a high transparency. Nuances, observed near the opening of the glass, confirm the same color.

 The olfactory profiles of Viognier and Trebbiano Spoletino give the nose of the taster interesting aromas, for certain aspects, even surprising. Both grapes make in fact wines with a remarkable aromatic elegance and, on this regard, we should notice neither Viognier nor Trebbiano Spoletino are aromatic varieties. Viognier, in particular the one produced in Condrieu, gives aromas recalling peach, apricot and citrus fruits, as well as tropical fruits - mango in particular - and an aroma we would not expect in a white wine: violet. With time, Viognier can develop aromas of musk, tobacco and spices, in particular ginger. Trebbiano Spoletino is nothing less. The white from Umbria is capable of expressing aromas of remarkable elegance in which can be perceived melon, medlar, peach, kiwi and citrus fruits, as well as aromas of tropical fruits such as lychee. In certain cases, in Trebbiano Spoletino can be perceived the aroma of hazelnut as well as mineral sensations.

 Let's evaluate the olfactory profiles of the wines of our tasting by contrast from the glass of Viognier. Let's hold the glass in vertical position and, without swirling, we will do the first smell in order to perceive opening aromas. Viognier gives the nose aromas of peach, apricot, pear and - in case we opted for a Condrieu wine - we can perceive a pleasing aroma of violet. After having swirled the glass, the profile of Viognier is completed by pineapple, mango, apple, acacia, broom and banana. Let's now pass to the olfactory evaluation of Trebbiano Spoletino, by starting from the examination of opening aromas. From the glass, held in vertical position and without swirling, will be perceived pleasing aromas of apple, medlar, peach and citrus fruits, frequently recalling grapefruit. After having swirled the glass, let's do a second smell which will complete the profile of Trebbiano Spoletino with melon, kiwi, lychee, hawthorn and pear to which could follow the aromas of hazelnut and mineral. We will now compare the two glasses: differences of the respective profiles are evident and well recognizable.

 After having evaluated the olfactory profiles of both wines, let's now taste them in order to understand gustatory differences. Just like the previous phases, we will start the evaluation from Viognier. The attack of this wine is characterized by a pleasing crispness and the pseudo-burning sensation of alcohol is moderate, however enough to balance the wine. In the mouth is perceived a good structure with the flavors of peach, apricot and mango confirming what was already perceived to the nose. Let's now take a sip of Trebbiano Spoletino and evaluate its attack. In the mouth is perceived an intense crispness and the pseudo-burning effect of alcohol is more intense than Viognier, also in this case enough to make the wine balanced. The structure of the Umbrian wine is clearly perceptible as well as the pleasing sensation of roundness. In the mouth are perceived flavors of medlar, apple, peach and a pleasing sensation recalling citrus fruits.

 In the last phase of our tasting by contrast we will examine the sensations left in the mouth by the wines after having swallowed them. The finish of Viognier is characterized by a good persistence in which are clearly perceived the flavors of apricot, peach and mango, as well as the acidity's crispness. The finish of Trebbiano Spoletino is persistent as well, in which are perceived flavors of peach, apple and medlar, sometime pineapple too. The sensation left in the mouth by the white from Umbria is characterized both by acidity's crispness and the good sensation of body. On this regard, Trebbiano Spoletino seems to have a fuller body than Viognier and the pseudo-burning sensation caused by alcohol is more intense. The two grapes of our tasting by contrast both reveal personality and character, developing from the respective glasses an elegant class and finesse.