Tasca d’Almerita

Sicily is one of the few places in Italy that I haven’t really had a chance to visit properly. While visiting Reggio Calabria on a previous visit, I took the ferry over to the port of Messina, which is the closest point to Southern Italy,  and did a little shopping with my wife, daughter and parents. My father and I got the best haircuts we’ve ever had. We were killing time waiting for the stores to reopen after lunch and decided to get haircuts. We were each in our chair for over an hour. It was definitely an experience I’d love to repeat.  One of the other great experiences I had in my brief visit to Sicily was a homemade pasta with Bolognese Sauce, made with all pork, from pigs that were fed a diet of  acorns. The pasta I had at lunch was so good, I ordered a second portion for dessert. This brief encounter I had with Sicily has left me wanting more, I plan on a more extensive visit to Sicily next year. In the meantime, I experience Sicily through their wines.

Varano's featured wine for May

Here you will find the estate of the Tasca  d’Almerita family, with roots dating back to the nineteenth century. It was probably some time in the nineteen fifties that the Tasca family, specifically Count Giuseppe Tasca, made the conscientious decision to focus their wine making on producing quality and not bulk wines. This elevated the quality of the local Nero D’Avola wines and elevated the status of the winery. Count Guiseppe is noted for being the father of high-end red wines in Sicily.

In addition to producing great wines, The Tasca family is renowned for their cooking school, a friend of mine spent some time there and told me the food is amazing. I had the privilege of attending a luncheon at a Boston restaurant several years ago, and Marchesa Anna Tasca Lanza who runs the cooking school was the guest speaker. The chefs of the restaurant prepared dishes from Anna’s cookbook and served them to us. Nothing like a four course Sicilian luncheon in the middle of the work week.

Regaleali is famous for their rose wine and their signature red, Rosso del Conte, which is probably the most renowned red wine in all of Sicily. As with all great wines, the price tag is in line with the quality of such a wine. I personally just tasted the Rosso del Conte in Verona at Vin Italy. It is one of those wines that leaves you wanting to buy a case for your own personal consumption, and maybe share it with some good friends. For everyday, a great compromise is the Regaleali Nero D’Avola IGT. The Nero D’Avola form Regaleali was one of the first Nero’s to be introduced to the American market. A very approachable red wine, with a very European style, this wine is an everyday workhorse. Wether you just want a nice glass of red wine in the afternoon while eating a slice of pizza, some grilled meats, or a dish of pasta with meatballs or sausage, this wine is going to pair perfectly every time. The price value of this wine is what puts this over the top, this is a very affordable wine, which will satisfy your palate every time. Ruby red in color, the bouquet of cherries and raspberries will tantalize your taste buds and excite you and make you want more.

Varano’s will be featuring this red wine for the month of May, this is one of those wines that drinks great every time you pour it. After tasting it in Italy last month, I couldn’t wait to come back and feature it at our restaurant. If you’re looking for a new “go to” wine, to serve with pasta or eggplant parmesan, we’ve got it for you. Come in and see what all the fuss is about, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.