I’mconvincedthatmyobsessionwithwineandfoodcanbeattributedtofiftypercentofmyancestralcomposition–theItalianhalf.IsupposeIshouldcredittheotherhalf(Irish)withmyfondnessforstrongerbeverages,andforblarney–mypenchantforlong-windeddescriptionsofthings(likewineandfood)mostnormalpeoplesimplyconsume.
So,onthismostreveredofItalianAmericanweekends,whenwecelebrateChristopherColumbus–we’lltakealookataspecialItalianwine,itsversatilityinpairingwithamultitudeofdishes,anditsloftystandingintheworldofwine.Unfortunately,mostofusthinkItalianwinesshouldonlybeservedwithItalianfoodslikepastainaredsauce.ButwhatIlovemostaboutItalianwineisitstremendousdiversityinpairingwithawholehostoffoods.Withinthegeographicconfinesofits20regions,Italyproducesavirtualseaofwinefromadizzyingarrayofgrapes.