Do you knowledgeable, compassionate SlowTravelers have any advice for how to enjoy an enoteca when you don't know a whole lot about wine? I'd love a few tips on what to expect when walking into one, and suggestions for how to avoid feeling like a total fool! (maybe a SloeTrav CDrom? Think of the possibilities!) Cheers--Pam
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Posts: 31 | Location: hadley,ma,usa | Registered: 27 September 2002
First off there are many a form of enotecca. Most will offer some form of food. A few may only have a cube of cheese and a slice of bread. Others will have a menu and many will have a display of their food for you to point to and order.
As to the wine itself, most will offer a selection of local wines. In Venezia you are likely to get offered a selection of wines of the Veneto with some wines from Friuli and Alto Adige thrown in. The more important wine bars will have "vini natzionale" or wines from other regions that are famous throughout the country.
If you have never tried a wine from the place you are in, jost ask for vini locali (local wines). Then make a note of what you like. Lear a few wine terms...
Morbido is smooth Corpo is body Corpuloso is full bodied Leger is light
so if the wine isn;t smooth enough for you, ask for a wine that is Piu Morbido. If it is too smooth, ask for a wine that is Forte (or strong). Use tannic and acidic if a wine is too harsh and bitter oor too sour resectively. It will be understood.
A wine may be called typico or particulare. Typico means in the style of the area. Calling a wine typical in California may be thought of as not being complementary. But in Montalcino wher ethe local wine is Brunello or Rosso, being typical means something quite good indeed. If a wine is described as particular, it means it is of some distinction or has a special flavor.
If you went into a restaurant last night and had a bottle of something you liked, tell the person at the wine bar what it was. They may be able to move you to something else you will like.
Chose your food and ask for a wine to go with it. They know what goes with what usually and you will discover the local traditional dishes and wines.
One thing about wine lovers is that they love to talk about wine. So if the person doesn't want to figure out what you like or talk about the wine, then go somewhere else. Express your ignorance and a good wine salesperson (and that is what they are) will try to lead you to something you like.
Last, wine is very international. So if someone has taken courses in wine (very common over there, rarer here), they are more likely to have some degree of English at hand.
{The chorus is singing a prayer to Dionysus...} Dionysius "A hymm to me, the god of wine..." Xanthius (His slave) "I thought you were the god of drama?" Dionysius "I am the god of wine and the god of drama. A little wine will get you thru a lot of drama"
words of wisdom to live by from Stephen Sondheim
Posts: 4612 | Location: Casa del Fenicottero Rosa, Silver Spring, MD USA | Registered: 06 August 2002
I'll be in Rome for a week in early February--a spur-of-the-moment indulgence, to take advantage of cheap NWA fares! Dean, your notes are helpful--just being aware of a few terms in Italian gives my confidence a boost, and Casina, I'm glad you mentioned Morellino...when in Montichiello last spring Daria, the proprietess (?) of Osteria la Porta opened a bottle, and it was delicious--but I'd forgotten until you mentioned it. Thanks, all, for taking the time to respond. Pam
Posts: 31 | Location: hadley,ma,usa | Registered: 27 September 2002
{The chorus is singing a prayer to Dionysus...} Dionysius "A hymm to me, the god of wine..." Xanthius (His slave) "I thought you were the god of drama?" Dionysius "I am the god of wine and the god of drama. A little wine will get you thru a lot of drama"
words of wisdom to live by from Stephen Sondheim
Posts: 4612 | Location: Casa del Fenicottero Rosa, Silver Spring, MD USA | Registered: 06 August 2002
Now that Dean has educated you on Italian wine, you may enjoy going to the Enoteca Antica on Via della Croce when you're in Rome. They have a blackboard with listings and some of the staff behind the bar knows some English. Sitting at the bar I think is more enjoyable than trying to snag a table.
quote:Originally posted by dorian: Sitting at the bar I think is more enjoyable than trying to snag a table.
A good tip indeed. Always sit at the sushi bar and always sit or stand at a wine bar. These are both venues where a personal relationship, no matter how brief, with the barkeep will result in a better experience!
words of wisdom to live by from Stephen Sondheim's The Frogs {The chorus is singing a prayer to Dionysus...} Dionysius "A hymm to me, the god of wine..." Xanthius (His slave) "I thought you were the god of drama?" Dionysius "I am the god of wine and the god of drama. A little wine will get you thru a lot of drama"
Posts: 4612 | Location: Casa del Fenicottero Rosa, Silver Spring, MD USA | Registered: 06 August 2002
Friends who were in Greve in Sept. told us that at the enoteca there one purchases a card - like a debit card - and then uses it to have tastes of any wine. The cost of the taste is deducted from the card and you can sample until the money is all used. Has anyone experience this?
Posts: 414 | Location: Boulder, CO | Registered: 22 May 2002
Bruno Dalmazio has a similar system but it was broken when I was there. There is a lower tech system that gives you the same result without having to estimate how much you are going to spend before you spend it. Its called a check! The wine abr keeps track of what you have, adds up the cost and gives it to you when you are done!!!
words of wisdom to live by from Stephen Sondheim's The Frogs {The chorus is singing a prayer to Dionysus...} Dionysius "A hymm to me, the god of wine..." Xanthius (His slave) "I thought you were the god of drama?" Dionysius "I am the god of wine and the god of drama. A little wine will get you thru a lot of drama"
Posts: 4612 | Location: Casa del Fenicottero Rosa, Silver Spring, MD USA | Registered: 06 August 2002
I've been to the Cantina in Greve that uses the card system. It is a big room with several tables, each with 10 or so wines. You insert the card, choose your wine, press a button and the wine squirts out into your glass. Tastes start at .40 and go up to 2 or even 3 Euro per taste. After a few 40 centers you start on the more expensive tastes, otherwise you might be completely crosseyed by the time you leave.
When in Rome try some of these Enoteche (and Wine Bar): Trimani (near via Goito) Pasquino (p.zza Pasquino) 313 (via Cavour 313), just to suggest you three place where you will find great wines and every kind of them. Lia Bed & Breakfast Association of Rome www.b-b.rm.it webmaster@b-b.rm.it
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