STHE cenes I
Transcript of STHE cenes I
According to the renowned wine writer Robert M. Parker Jr., “Winebow is one of America’s most successful and well-knownimporters/ distributors of fine wines. Leonardo LoCascio, who has never been content to rest on his laurels, continues toexplore Italy’s backwaters, discovering increasingly intriguing wines from areas outside the two renowned viticultural regionsof Tuscany and Piedmont. LoCascio has pressed his producers to move away from interventionalistic winemaking, towardmore natural bottling and less traumatizing wine producing techniques. To his credit, he has never hesitated to represent
producers who may have only a handful of cases to sell, recognizing there is always a healthy market place for high quality, limited production winesfrom unknown producers.”
In the mid 1990s, Carla Zenato and her daughter Nadia acquired a large 18th-cen-
tury farm in the Sirmione area called Sansonina. With this purchase they accepted
a challenge to disprove a number of preconceptions. Their goal was to produce
great red wine in a zone traditionally known for its whites, as well as to show that
making a well-structured red wine wasn’t necessarily men’s work. The name Sansonina
is derived from Samson, a nickname earned by the property’s former owner, owing to
his dynamic character. Biblical history recalls that Samson was the judge called by God
to defeat Israel’s enemies. He performed incredible feats because of his superhuman
strength. He was a virile, masculine hero, but his strength came from his long hair, a
typically feminine trait. Sansonina maintains this masculine-feminine dualism. The property
is located in the zone that produces Lugana, one of the most famous white wines of
the Lombard-Veneto region and by definition a feminine wine. Additionally, Sansonina
is the only vineyard in the area to have old Merlot vines, a highly-valued grape used to
make some of the world’s most important red wines. With determination and
sensitivity, Carla and Nadia have succeeded in producing a hearty,
powerful and elegant red wine. Their wine may have a
feminine name, but don’t let it fool you.
“Sansonina is a maverick producer of
high-quality reds in Veneto, the land
of Lugana. Powerful, yet elegant,
these wines are simply unparalleled.”
BEHIND THE
ScenesOwner
Nadia Zenato is actively involved in
the management of her family win-
ery, which was founded in 1960 by
her parents, Sergio and Carla. Nadia
earned a degree in law, with a con-
centration in wine business law.
Upon graduating, Nadia began her career at the winery, manag-
ing the legal aspects of the business, as well as overseeing Sales and
Public Relations in the Italian and American markets. Nadia’s bound-
less energy, enthusiasm, and strong communication skills have made
her a very effective advocate for the Zenato winery. One of her key
roles has been to ensure that the winery lives up to the values elabo-
rated in its Mission Statement: Quality, Passion and Tradition.
Nadia also works hard to ensure that the Zenato winery stays on
top of market trends and continually innovates to guarantee quality
improvements and customer satisfaction. She is vigilant about keep-
ing an eye out for new ideas that can improve the business.
In addition to her work at the winery, Nadia also represents the
Veneto region in the Association of Women in the Wine Business. She
is a Member of the Association of Young Agricultural Entrepreneurs.
Nadia Zenato
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LUGANA DI SAN BENDETTO DOC90 pts Wine Advocate – February 2012 (Vintage 2009)
"The 2009 Lugana is all white flowers, citrus, pears and peaches. The Lugana is made entirely in steel and does
not undergo malolactic fermentation, both of which serve to maintain considerable freshness and cut. This is an
unusually refined wine from the shores of Lake Garda."
MERLOT VERONESE IGT93 pts Wine Advocate – February 2012 (Vintage 2007)
"The 2007 Merlot Veronese is a singular wine loaded with considerable charm and no shortage of personality. Layers
of mocha, white flowers, French oak and sweet spices add complexity and nuance to the racy, super-ripe dark fruit.
Despite its overt, lush personality, the 2007 also has plenty of focus and length. Sansonina’s Merlot has come a long
way over the last few vintages as the estate seems to be finding its stride. This is a great showing."
91 pts Wine Enthusiast – May 2011 (Vintage 2006)
“Sansonina is a beautiful wine with a distinct personality and elegant tones of cherry, blackberry, spice and leather
integrated over a rich, plus mouth feel. It also shows a clean, linear approach with a tight but long-lasting finish.”
91 pts Wine Enthusiast – May 2011 (Vintage 2005)
“Sansonina offers this unique Merlot with warm and complex characteristics of the territory that shaped it. The
Verona winegrowing area is influenced by Lake Garda and the Dolomites; consequently this wine shows pristine
aromas of cherry, spice and leather backed by a soft, silky texture.”
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VenetoThe Veneto region is located in the
north-east part of Italy, bordering
Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-
Venezia-Giulia. Veneto’s most
intensely cultivated vineyards are on
the Alpine foothills: from Lake
Garda to Conegliano Veneto includ-
ing Colli Berici and Colli Euganei -
where the soil is rich, volcanic and
calcareous. These hills in turn sur-
round the fertile plain, with its rich
alluvial soil, the wetlands of the Po
delta and the Venetian lagoon. The
climate on the coast is much influ-
enced by the Adriatic, while the
central plain is hot in summer and
harsh and foggy in winter. Few
Italian regions can boast such rich-
ness in food sources—fertile plains,
lush hillsides, woods, lakes, streams,
the Adriatic—which locals combine
with easy artistry. Dishes can be lav-
ish, ornate or exotic (the Venetians
introduced spices to Italy), but the
elements of the cooking are simple:
rice, beans, polenta, sausages, sala-
mi, poultry, game, mushrooms and
mountain cheese. Venice is the
showcase, but the food is every bit
as delicious in the interior provinces
and perhaps most of all in Treviso, a
sanctuary of Venetian gastronomy.
The Veneto produces around
78 million cases of wine per year, with
DOC wines accounting for over 30
per cent of this vast production. The
most renowned red wines are
Valpolicella, Amarone and Recioto
della Valpolicella; they are all pro-
duced a few kilometres north of the
Verona, on the foothills of the Lessini
hills. Produced mainly from
Garganega grapes southeast of
Verona, Soave is probably the most
famous Italian white wine in the world.
LUGANA DI SAN BENDETTO DOCThis 100% Trebbiano offering is intense yellow in color with golden high-
lights. A glorious floral bouquet with notes of tropical fruit. Full on the
palate, with good minerality and crisp tropical flavors. An ideal pairing
for appetizers, vegetable soups, poultry, seafood and a variety of cheeses.
MERLOT VERONESE IGT This wine is pure, 100% Merlot from 25-year-old vines and is the
special project of Nadia Zenato and her mother Carla. The grapes
are hand-harvested, and fermented in temperature-controlled wood
uprights. Sansonina is aged in eighteen month old Allier barriques for
two years, further adding elegance and finesse. After an additional
year in bottle, the Merlot is released from the winery.
Sansonina Merlot is a deep ruby red and gives off a full, rich, and
complex aroma. On the palate, it is broad with elegant and sweet
notes. There is a perfect balance between tannins and acidity that
is expressed when the Merlot is paired with blue cheese or game.
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