What\na wonderful event the Winefestival takes place in Merano. I have been going to\nthis pleasant event for about 25 years, together with my friend Sergio\nAntonini. As usual we stay at the Hotel Patrizia in Tirolo, where the kindness\nof the staff and guests is never lacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\nmissed Merano for a few years because there were restrictions on inviting\njournalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This\nyear, fortunately, both Sergio Antonini and I had accreditation and went to the\nsplendid city of Merano. We went to the opening of the exhibition, we met the\nfriendly and beautiful Stefania Naive Mafalda, and without a glass, we went to\nsee who the exhibitors present were, noting that there were also new companies\ncompared to the past, we greeted the exhibitors we knew and we signed up for a\ncouple of Masterclasses, one was from the Lis Neris company and the second was\nfrom Tenuta Nicosia, a company with vineyards also on Etna. I really love the\nwines produced on Etna, because I generally find them very mineral and tasty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\ndid numerous tastings of well-known wines and wines I didn’t know, both Italian\nand foreign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nexhibition is well organized and the wines served were a perfect temperature. I\nwent to visit Enrico Baldin to taste his “Encry” champagnes and I was\nparticularly impressed by his Extra Brut which had an incredible minerality in\nboth olfactory and gustatory terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\nwere many companies present both in the hall on the ground floor and in the\nother rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\n“Culinary” sector was also interesting, in which many companies in\nthe food sector were present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But let’s get to the two\nMasterclasses in which I participated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first was that of the\nFriulian company Lis Neris which is located in San Lorenzo Isontino, in the\nprovince of Gorizia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wines tasted were four\nwhite wines, Pinot Grigio in the 2022, 2018, 2013 and 2009 vintages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\n2022 reflects the hot year that it was, in fact on the nose the wine had aromas\nof slightly ripe fruit, apple, pear, tropical fruit (mango and papaya), pine\nand star anise. On the palate it is buttery, savory and mineral. It has a\nmedium body and the balance between alcohol and freshness is a little\nfluctuating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On\nthe nose I found the 2018 very mineral with strong graphite and smokiness of\nthe mineral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On\nthe palate it is well balanced with medium body, slightly ripe pineapple and\nquince flavour. 2018 higher than 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\n2013 has aromas of flint, vanilla, pear, apple, graphite and almond (Coccoina\nglue). On the palate it is savory and mineral, with a sufficient medium body\nand a good balance between alcohol and freshness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally,\nthe 2009 has aromas of pear, vanilla and light blond leather. On the palate it\nis a little buttery, savory, mineral but with a slightly fluctuating balance\nbetween alcohol and freshness as in the 2022. It was an interesting and\npleasant vertical. Moving on to the Masterclass of the wines of Siciliana Tenuta\nNicosia, a company I didn’t know, we started with a sparkling wine and then\ncontinued with six other wines as better described below. The Masterclass was\nentitled “The South-Eastern side of Etna. The Classical Method and the\nMonte Gorna and San Nicol\u00f2 districts”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\nreally like Etna wines because in general they are very mineral and tasty. We\nnow come to describe the wines of this Masterclass which are not wines with\nhigh scores but are simple and pleasant wines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NICOSIA\nESTATE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n STOP THREE\nSAINTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CARRICANTE Brut, vintage 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pas\nDos\u00e8 disgorged in March 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shiny\ngolden yellow color with quite fine and quite numerous bubbles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Olfactory\nmix made of aromas of chinotto, amaretto di Saronno, cedar peel, brioche bread,\nwhite flowers, iodine, flint, ending with whiffs of brewer’s yeast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On\nthe palate the bubbles are a bit evident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nbody is medium and the wine is well balanced between alcohol and freshness.\nIntense lemon and chinotto flavours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its\npersistence is long even if the body thins out quite quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (88\/100)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NICOSIA\nESTATE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CONTRADA\nMONTE SAN NICOLO’, 2020 vintage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ETNA WHITE\nD.O.C. (ORGANIC)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (grape variety: 95% Carricante and 5% Minnella)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Straw\nyellow color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From\nthe glass rise aromas of summer melon, mint, fireplace ash, iodine, chalk, ending\nwith memories of yellow flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon\ntasting, it has a medium body and is savory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Balanced\nwine with freshness that covers the alcoholic mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its\ntaste persistence is long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (88\/100)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NICOSIA\nESTATE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CONTRADA\nMONTE GORNA, 2022 vintage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ETNA WHITE\nD.O.C. (ORGANIC)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (grape variety: 90% Carricante and 10%\nCatarratto)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Transparent straw yellow with gold reflections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The olfactory debut recalls the mineral scent of\nkerosene, iodine, tropical fruit, chalk, graphite and ends with memories of\nPineau des Charentes wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pleasant, tasty bite of tropical fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The body is medium and the wine has a good\nbalance between alcohol and freshness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its taste persistence is long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (90\/100)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NICOSIA\nESTATE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n STOP THREE\nHOLY SIXTY-MONTHS, vintage 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ETNA\nD.O.C. BRUT NOT DOSE’ <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (grape variety: 100% Nerello Mascalese)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Light golden yellow with numerous fine bubbles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The nose features aromas of flint, ripe banana,\nlemon, vanilla, finishing with whiffs of light eggnog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The taste has fine bubbles and an intense lemon\nflavour. The body is medium but tends to thin out a little, leaving the flavor\nof lemon and lemon tea in its trail of persistence. Savory and well-balanced\nwine with freshness and flavor that make the alcoholic mass imperceptible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (89\/100)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NICOSIA\nESTATE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CONTRADA\nMONTE SAN NICOLO’, 2020 vintage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ETNA ROSSO\nD.O.C. (ORGANIC)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (grape variety: 100% Nerello Mascalese)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Very light ruby \u200b\u200bred with garnet flash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bouquet composed of scents of medicinal herbs,\nlight geranium, cherry, rosemary, cloves, furniture wax finishing with pinches\nof acetic acid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The body is medium, the acidity is strong and\nthere is a bit of a green note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tannins are sweet, velvety and quite broad\n(5\/6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its taste persistence is long, thanks to its\nfreshness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (87\/100)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NICOSIA\nESTATE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CONTRADA\nMONTE GORNA, 2020 vintage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ETNA ROSSO\nD.O.C. (ORGANIC)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (grape variety: 90% Nerello Mascalese and 10%\nNerello Cappuccio)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Light ruby \u200b\u200bred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aromas of ripe cherry, star anise and juniper\nberry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the palate there is a medium body and the\nwine has the freshness that covers the alcoholic mass making the wine balanced.\nThe tannins are sweet, quite broad (5\/6+) initially velvety and then dry the\nupper gum a little. Its taste persistence is quite long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (89\/100)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NICOSIA\nESTATE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CONTRADA\nMONTE GORNA Old vines, 2015 vintage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ETNA ROSSO\nRESERVE D.O.C.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (grape variety: 100% Nerello Mascalese)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ruby red coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The olfactory treasure chest opens to aromas of\nchalk, vanilla, graphite and ripe banana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon tasting it is immediately pleasant to\ndrink, a medium body and a good balance between alcohol and freshness while the\ntannins are sweet, quite broad (5\/6-), initially velvety and then dry and burn\nthe upper gum a little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its taste persistence is long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (89\/100)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n These were the two\nMastercasses in which I participated, the rest of my time was dedicated to\ntasting wines from companies present and talking to producers, enthusiasts and\nworkers in the wine sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As always in Merano, time\npasses quickly and as we leave and return home, our thoughts turn to the\nfollowing year’s event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What a wonderful event the Winefestival takes place in Merano. I have been going to this pleasant event for about 25 years, together with my friend Sergio Antonini. As usual we stay at the Hotel Patrizia in Tirolo, where the kindness of the staff and guests is never lacking. I missed Merano for a few […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":15604,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[718,719],"class_list":["post-15624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized","tag-paolo-baracchnino","tag-ventitreesima-edizione-merano","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Paolo-Baracchino-e-Lara-Khariton.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pav13q-440","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15624"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15627,"href":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15624\/revisions\/15627"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paolobaracchino.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}