Niamh Boylanon Barbera d'Alba Torriglione
BARBERA D'ALBA 'TORRIGLIONE', 2006 RENATO RATTI
"Italians have such style and poise, food, fashion culture and, of course, wine all get special attention. I'm big into Italian wines at present, both red and white. This particular favourite, Barbera d'Alba Torriglione, evokes memories of a super trip to Northern Italy.
"The Barbera grape is native to Piedmont and Renato Ratti's 'Torriglione' is the business. Fragrant and enticingly perfumed, just one sniff is enough to bring me right back to Alba. It's rich and smoky with tangy bramble fruit to tart cherry flavours, intriguing licks of liquorice and hints of dark chocolate. Very yummy indeed.
"The great thing about Barbera is its versatility. You can keep it simple with lots of pasta dishes, but I love it with a vegetable lasagne smothered in fresh tomato sauce, or game pie. I have great memories of wonderful risottos eaten al fresco in vine-covered courtyards - the full-bodied character goes really well with wild mushrooms - or for a decadent treat, the regional speciality of white truffle risotto."
Where does she buy wine? "I tend to buy a good bit from Wines Direct and Joe Karwig in Cork, because they both have personally chosen lists. That really appeals to me as a wine-buyer. But I am always on the lookout for interesting bottles, and buy from a wide variety of shops."
Does she eat out? "We eat out quite a lot. I love 'treaty eating' in the very best restaurants, but we generally eat locally in Howth, where there are some very good restaurants. When choosing wines, I try to steer away from the well-known names. Two pieces of advice: Be adventurous and do ask for advice."
Barbera d'Alba 'Torriglione' is available from: Karwig Wines, Carrigaline, Co Cork; Redmonds, Ranelagh; Eugene's, Kenmare, Co Kerry, €22