Aug 21: On the 68th Independence Day of India, I have chosen to recommend an Italian wine partly for the historical reasons since Italy became an Independent Republic around the same time as India (a year earlier, in June 1946) but also for patriotic reasons as the winery Piccini brought out Memoro Italia in 2011 to commemorate the 150 years of re-unification of Italy which became a nation state in 1861

Memoro is Latin for ‘remember’. In the fullest sense, Memoro Italia is born from Piccini family’s Italian pride. Just like India that was a kaleidoscope of several smaller kingdoms that became unified to form a free nation on August 15, 1947, different regions of Italy united in March 1861 (Rome joined in 1870) to become a nation state (although it took another 85 years for it to become an Independent Republic).

Memoro is a reflection of the unification and so has been made as a cuvee wine, a blend of not only different grapes of different origins in Italy, but also of different vintages. It uses 4 grape varieties from 4 different corners of Italy where Piccini produces wines. Primitivo from Puglia is the dominant partner in the blend (40%) with Montepulciano from Abruzzo (30%), Nero d'Avola from Sicily (20%) and the balance 10% Merlot de Veneto from Veneto contributing to the ‘all-Italian’ personality. Since different vintages and grapes from different regions were used, the wine had to be labeled as Vino Rosso d’Italia under the new Vino d’Italia denomination. It has 14% Alcohol by Volume (ABV), reasonable considering the regions contributing to the grapes.

Memoro is not a very highly complex wine but reasonable for Retail Price of Rs.1550. It is an interesting wine with equally interesting story-four different grape varietals, each typical expression of a distinct Italian region, in one bottle. The project was the fruit of a long research and experimentation, testing and blending of different wines from throughout Italy. The result is a cuvee of 12 months oaked aged Montepulciano from Abruzzo, the sun-soaked Nero d’Avola from Sicily, the colder climate Merlot from Veneto and the passito Primitivo from Puglia.

It’s a warm, modern style wine with notes of dark cherries, figs and coffee with hints of oak holding the flavours together. Warm and full on the mouthfeel with bright fruity flavours on the palate with persistent and pleasant finish make it charming.

Although great with most red meats-I have enjoyed it with a Duckburger; it would go well with vegetarian meals too, especially, mushrooms and cheese, asparagus and Aubergine-based dishes. Drink this medium bodied wine, slightly cooled at 16˚C.

Memoro is primarily a restaurant wine since it can match with multiple dishes without fuss. You may have to walk an extra mile to find it in Retail at Rs 1550, the price indicated on the Delhi Excise website for last year. I am sure you will enjoy the  Independence Day (or any day you feel ‘free’) better with a glass or two of Memoro Rosso from Piccini, which is imported by Prestige Wines and Spirits.

Subhash Arora

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