This Friday, January 11, we will be having an educational wine and cheese tasting from 3-6pm in the center of our store. This week, we continue the Italian wine journey in the region of Tuscany.

Tuscany may be one of the most instantly recognizable and universally beloved regions of Italy. Its wines, which have been produced there for a millennium, are no doubt part of the love affair people have with this land covered with vineyards producing many millions of cases of wine each year. The vast majority of those wines are red and made with the region’s predominant grape: Sangiovese, the primary or only grape in many Tuscan wines, a grape some might argue is the most important grape variety in Italy, as it’s found in some of the most well-known Italian wines. There are also wines known as “Super Tuscan,” which refers to wines in Tuscany that use grapes that are not indigenous to Italy, primarily Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. These wines are highlighted with the “Toscana IGT” designation.  Our selection on Friday will include Fontaleoni Vernaccia Di San Gimignano, Carpineto Toscana Dogajolo Bianco, Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico, and Ampeleia Costa Toscana.

Along with this selection of Italian wines, we will be sampling another fantastic and familiar Italian cheese: Asiago. This cheese comes to us from the provinces of Vicenza and Trento, where it has been made for more than a thousand years. While it was once made with sheep’s milk, it is now a cow’s milk cheese, one whose texture can vary widely depending on its aging. At a young age, it’s smooth and creamy. As it grows older, it develops a much drier, firmer quality, along with a sharper personality. The cheese we’ll be tasting, aged for 5 years, is at the higher end of that spectrum, so it will have a more intense flavor profile. While the milder young version of Asiago is perfect for melting, this older version is also excellent for grating over a pizza, pasta or salad, or as an addition to a cheese plate.

We hope to see you on Friday between 3-6pm for another exciting Italian wine and cheese adventure. And while you’re here, check out our other vendor demos from Roger’s Farmstead and Philamena’s. If you are a member, you’ll be able to get 5% off storewide during the weekend-long event, with an additional 5% off in bulk. There’s also a $5 off of $25 member-only coupon in the produce department. Read all about Member Appreciation Weekend here. Not a member yet? Join here and start taking advantage of all the great deals immediately.