10.30-11.45am
A fresh look at the wines of Custoza, presented by Sarah Abbott MW. 4 flights of white wines will be presented and paired with canapés.
TUESDAY 1st OCTOBER 2024
Café Murano
34 Tavistock St, London WC2E 7PB
It’s time to look again at the new generation of wines from the denominations of Bardolino and Custoza. Across the Veneto, Italy’s commercial engine, rediscovered heritage and qualitative intent are reshaping wines and lifting quality.
Bardolino and Custoza, neighbours on the hills between Verona and Lake Garda, are historic centres of wine and culture. The vineyards and hill towns of these beautiful regions inhabit the swelling morainic hills formed by the great Garda glacier two million years ago. Their native varieties and historic old towns testify to their ancient wine heritage. In recent years, the producers of both denominations have worked to raise quality. In Bardolino, the permitted varietal blend has shifted in favour of Corvina, and a zoning project recognised 3 distinct areas in the PDO regulations. These sub-zones stipulate stricter production standards. In Custoza (renamed in 2022), a concerted project to implement sustainable viticulture was begun in the 1980s. More recently, there has been a focus on selecting high quality and less-productive clones.
12.00 - 16.00: Walk-around tasting
Masters of Wine, Sarah Abbott & Ray O'Connor have personally selected 20 wines from both Custoza & Bardolino that highlight the appeal and untapped potential of these denominations. White, rosé and red wines will be on show in a walk-around style tasting for members of the wine trade & media to drop in and taste at their convenience.
Small plates of food will also be served during the walk-around tasting.