and more:
• The Sweet Wines of Quintarelli
• Recioto: Begali and Novaia
• Italy's Dessert Wines

As Rare as It Gets

Record heat in Puglia, overripe Primitivo grapes, a cold night in the Piemonte mountains, and the dying wish of an old man carried out by his daughter. The result: a 1959 Puglian table wine from the land of Nebbiolo is crowned 97 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

Read on below to learn more on how this mythical wine came to be and be introduced to Italy's great dessert wines. With only 400 cases ever produced this is an extremely limited release and a one-time opportunity. IWM is proud to have the largest allocation of this wine in the U.S.. Should you like to purchase this wine or have any questions, please contact our Portfolio Managers at 212.473.2323.

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Antonio Ferrari's Precious Gem

 1959 is recorded as the hottest year of the century in Puglia, not the typical conditions that allow for greatness in winemaking. However, it was a Piemonte negociant who had the foresight to create Puglia’s crowning sweet wine. Antonio Ferrari developed a passion for Puglia’s land, its unique Primitivo varietal, and the local farmers while investing in a cellar before heading back to the hills of Piemonte. However, his heart remained in the South and looked to create a wine from this soil.

With the advanced state of the overripe grapes of 1959 dehydrating on the vines, Ferrari had the Primitivo grapes trucked up to his Piemonte vinification center. At the time he had calculated the potential alcohol content to be 21% and expected to create a historically big, high alcohol wine. He had the print shops develop the labels with the estimated alcohol content and began to prepare his distribution. However, during a rapid temperature change in the cool hills of Novara, fermentation stopped at about 14%, leaving residual sugar and a sweetness to the wines. Realizing what had happened and envisioning the wine’s destiny, he placed the juice for ten years in the best Slovenian casks he could find before leaving it for another 35 years in a Cemant cask at the Ferrari winery. During this period, Antonio gave only one bottle of this mystical wine away, as he felt the market was not ready for this masterpiece. Over two years ago Antonio passed away and his daughter now looks to complete her father’s journey.

Solaria Jonica lands somewhere between a Recioto and a Port, displaying the lavish opulence of the finest dessert wines. With 45 years of age on it, the wine miraculously still displays a vibrant ruby color and boasts aromas of blackberries and espresso. On the palate, the tell-tale flavors of raisins, chocolate, and licorice are followed by massive concentration and warmth which are matched only by its depth and lush richness. The wine never becomes overly sweet or syrupy and is held in check by its awesome flavors and focus. Prepare your palate for a marathon finish.

Antonio Ferrari 1959 Solaria Jonica $139.95 (500ml)

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La Sala Vin Santo

A few weeks back we featured this estate's Chianti Classico, today we introduce their take on Vin Santo (meaning “holy wine”). The famous dessert wine of Tuscany is produced by drying the grapes either by laying them on trays in cool, airy rooms or by hanging them. After several months the grapes become raisin-like and are full of concentrated sugars and flavors. Once pressed the wine is kept in barrels for 2 – 6 years. The barrels are not full and are allowed to undergo additional fermentation as well as oxidation, which imparts nutty-caramel flavors and an amber color. The primary grapes used here are Trebbiano, Malvasia, and Canaiolo.

La Sala 1998 Vin Santo $39.60 (500ml)

Deep amber with aromas of hazelnut and apricot. On the palate the flavors blossom with more apricot, fig, honey, and caramel. Dense, luscious, and richly sweet, it is the perfect finish to any Italian meal!

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The Sweet Wines of Quintarelli

Known as “The Master of the Veneto,” Giuseppe Quintarelli makes some of the world’s most sought-after wines. Their greatness stems from the inherent quality of the terroir and natural talent of this master, whose concept of vintage approval and strict grape selection rival the great Chateau of Sauternes.

1990 Bandito $195.50 (375ml)
1990 Bandito $378.12 (750ml)
First made as an accident, the white sweet wine made in the passito method from botrytis-affected grapes (Garganega, Trebbiano, Saorin), has only been released a few times during his lifetime. The rare gem is only created in great vintages and then "banished" for a decade or so before making an appearance on our shelves!

1993 Recioto della Valpolicella $138.33 (375ml)
1990 Recioto della Valpolicella Riserva $328.00 (750ml)
Amarone finishes fermenting and Recioto does not, so Recioto is a bit sweeter (refer to Recioto below). The perfect drying season of 1993 shows through in this wine’s focused fruit and pure power. For the 1990 Riserva, compare this to the best Vintage Ports and you may reconsider your after-dinner wines!

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Recioto: Begali and Novaia

Recioto della Valpolicella
Recioto (meaning "ears" refers to higher quality grapes exposed to more sun) is generally made from the same grape varieties as wines labeled "Valpolicella" and "Amarone" and, as a result, can come from the same vineyard sites. The three priniciple grapes are Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara.

Recioto, like Amarone, is a wine obtained from the vinification of grapes that have been withered or semi-dried through the passito method. Here, grapes are dried in a cool, airy room for 3-4 months until semi-dry, which produces concentrated sugars and flavors. Recioto is a sweeter version of Amarone in which fermentation is stopped early to retain the natural sweetness of the grape sugar. Amarone is dry, with almost no grape sugar remaining in the final wine.

Lorenzo Begali
The Begali Estate was born at the end of WWII when patriarch and wine artisan Giordano began pursuing his passion for grapes. His vineyard sits among the cherry orchards on the colorful hillsides of Valpolicella, near Verona and Lake Garda. Here Giordano's son Lorenzo now produces the top-shelf Amarones and Reciotos highly praised by IWM, Italy's Gambero Rosso, and many other distinguished critics.

Begali 2000 Recioto $45.33

Novaia
In one of the most luxurious areas of Alta Valpolicella, on a sunny hilltop west of the Marano Valley, a large manor overlooks the valley. Beyond the vast plain lies the ancient Roman city of Verona. In this most envied location, the small artisan estate Novaia crafts their top quality wines.

Novaia 2000 Recioto $31.35

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Italy's Dessert Wines

IWM is offering these six Italian sweet wines in both a six pack (1 of each) and case sampler (2 of each). This an excellent way to experience the pleasure these dessert wines can bring to a meal and conversation. Included are three collectible wines in Ferrari's Solaria Jonica and Quintarelli's white Bandito and red Recioto, which are a staples in any cellar. While these wines continue to age, uncork the ready-to-drink Vin Santo from La Sala and these two additional takes on the great Recioto.

Antonio Ferrari 1959 Solaria Jonica $139.95 (500ml)
La Sala 1998 Vin Santo $39.60 (500ml)
Quintarelli 1993 Recioto $138.33 (375ml)
Quintarelli 1990 Bandito $195.50 (375ml)
Begali 2000 Recioto $45.33 (375ml)
Novaia 2000 Recioto $31.35 (375ml)

IWM Dessert Six-Pack (6) $590.56*
IWM Dessert Case Sampler (12) $1,162.51*
*Free delivery to NYC residents

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