July Wine Club Pairing Recipe

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JULY WINE CLUB:

Bold wine Style logoGiustini-Vecchio-Sogno-bottleGiustini Wines
Vecchio Sogno
Negroamaro Salento IGP
Puglia, Italy

BOLD WINE STYLE

Ruby red color with purple hues. Hints of red fruits, especially currant and blueberry, with notes of violet and cyclamen. Pleasant spicy notes in the end. 

WINE DETAILS:

  • Varietals: Negroamaro
  • Alcohol: 14% alcohol / volume
  • Appellation: Salento IGP, Italy
  • Production Area: San Giorgio Ionico (TA), Salento, Puglia
  • Vine Training: Guyot
  • Average age of vines: 25-30 years old
  • Soil: Medium textured with a good presence of clay
  • Harvest: Half September
  • Vinification: After manual harvesting, grapes are destemmed and pressed. Maceration and alcoholic fermentation for about 8-10 days at a controlled temperature.
  • Aging: In stainless steel tanks
  • Pairing: Red sauces, cheeses, and grilled red meats
  • Serving temperature: 60.8-64.4ºF
  • Longevity: 5 years

WINEMAKER NOTES:
After years managing vineyards for larger producers, Giuseppe Papadopoli purchased the family’s first estate in the district of Giustini in 1991.  In 2005, the winery released its first label, Vecchio Sogno (“old dream”), crafted from carefully selected Negroamaro grapes and named in honor of the grandfather’s dream of owning a winery.  Continued growth and recognition led to the opening of the winery’s permanent home in San Giorgio Jonico in 2015, a town immersed in the Primitivo di Manduria DOC area between the sea of Taranto and the heights of the Itria Valley.

Giuseppe Papadopoli

ABOUT THE WINERY:

Salvatore Papapodoli protrait

Salvatore Papapodoli

Giustini Wines is lead by Giuseppe Papadopoli together with his sons, Salvatore and Fedrico. Guiseppe is the heart of the company and applies the experience of four generations of growing the highest quality of grapes in his vineyards. Salvatore is a young and passionate enologist with the desire to experiment and extract the best juice from his father’s work. Federico, on the other hand, is the cellar master and running all the daily operations. Giustini is a family-owned winery that is committed to continuous improvement and its passion for wine. The winery is located in San Giorgio, a small village that is part of the Primitivo di Manduria DOC wine region and each family member plays an important role in the winery’s success. Learn more here.

grilled-tomatoes-burrata-dishGrilled Tomatoes and Burrata

INGREDIENTS:

  • neutral oil, for oiling the grill grates, optional
  • 4 firm tomatoes (slightly under-ripe) 
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
  • fleur de sel or coarse kosher salt 
  • freshly ground black pepper 
  • one 8- to 9-ounce ball burrata 
  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano 
  • zest of 1 lemon 
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze 
  • sliced baguette or other crusty bread, for serving 

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. It’s best to use a grill basket, but if you don’t have one, oil the grill grates.
  2. Cut the tomatoes in half crosswise and brush with 4 tablespoons of the olive oil. Place the tomatoes cut-side down on the grill (or grill basket) and cook until the tomatoes are softened and charred, about 4 minutes. Flip once and continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes more. The tomatoes should be tender.
  3. Place the tomatoes in a serving bowl cut-side up and season generously with salt and pepper. Place the burrata in the center of the tomatoes and cut in half. Garnish with the basil and oregano. Sprinkle with lemon zest and drizzle with the balsamic glaze and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Serve with crusty bread.

Information & Photos © Giustini – All Rights Reserved.
© Recipe courtesy of Brandi Milloy on the Food Network – All Rights Reserved.

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