Island Hopping

by Ariana Tsuchiya (Tribe 2)

Article From: Somm Journal June Issue

THERE’S NO BETTER TIME TO TURN YOUR CUSTOMERS ON TO THESE MEDITERRANEAN WINES

IMAGINE A POSTCARD: Cerulean waters stretching up to a sandy shoreline beneath bright, sunny skies and, of course, “Wish you were here” endearingly scripted in the corner. Never have most of us felt that sentiment more strongly than in 2020, as the pandemic brought the world to a halt and we found ourselves locked down with nowhere to go.

At least armchair travel has been just a bottle away: Wine allows us to adventure to all kinds of faraway places. Growing up in Hawaii, I have been fortunate enough to call its sunny beaches home, but I am forever imagining the myriad other islands out there with terroirs worth discovering.

First stop on my daydream trip: Corsica. Set in the Mediterranean Sea, this moun- tainous island draws both climatic and cul- tural influence from both mainland France and its closest neighbor, Italy. Much like its rugged countryside dotted with winding roads, the wines can be both alluring and rustic. Local producers love to work with indigenous red grapes such as Niellucciu and Sciaccarellu in bottlings that channel both the sunbaked earth and the wild herbs that grow there.The granitic soils of the coastal region of Ajaccio offer intriguing terroir for winemakers to showcase with a proud sense of Corsican tradition.

Traveling south through the Tyrrhenian Sea, we come to the Italian island of Sar- dinia. Here, Cannonau is king. Genetically proven to be the twin of French Grenache, Cannonau di Sardinia presents as a vibrant, energetic wine with buoyancy at its core. Its earthy minerality, dried lavender florals, and crunchy red pomegranate notes make it a gem of a pairing with classic Italian dishes featuring tomatoes and dried herbs.

Separated by the narrow Strait of Mes- sina, the hot island of Sicily boasts not just the tallest active volcano in Europe but also some of Italy’s most fascinating cuisine. The exciting terroir created by Mount Etna’s elevation and rocky soils is home to Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio (among other grapes), which combine to create the popular Etna Rosso—a wine built to accompany rustic dishes like roasted fowl.

Jetting off to the other edge of the Mediterranean, we arrive on the Greek island of Crete, which possesses both a rich history and a plethora of native grapes. Master Sommelier Chuck Furuya is especially captivated with the indigenous white Vidiano. At the heart of the island, Douloufakis Winery produces one of the finest expressions of the variety, which Furuya describes “a lighter, more zesty, vivacious ‘country’ wine [that] works well with fresh seafood dishes because of its lemon-like edge.”

Beyond their postcard perfection, these and still other Mediterranean islands, with their distinct, wild terrain and rich history, produce special wines that provide a different type of adventure—one for the senses. So pop some corks, pour these enchanting wines for your customers, and start their holiday in the sun today.

Fresh Voices is a collaborative effort between The SOMM Journal, The Tasting Panel, and 501(c)(3) organization Dream Big Darling. The concept centers around providing opportunities to and amplifying the voices of the next generation of women in the wine and spirits industry.

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