Grapevine Wine Tasting - Sangiovese

Enjoy your favorite Sangiovese based wine at the next Grapevine on January 8 at 7pm at the Berkeley City Club. Sangiovese is the grape used in the famous Italian Tuscan wines of Chianti and Brunello. You will also find Sangiovese as the grape varietal used in most Rosso Tuscan wines. Rosso from the area of Italy are often the bargains of any given vintage. They are usually wines made from the youngest wines in the area or don’t quite make the cut of the top-of-the-line wines.

Chianti can vary in price from very modest to very expensive, but you can get a good one for $25. Brunello of Montelcino is the more exclusive traditional wine of Tuscany. Brunello can’t be officially released until five years after the vintage, so 2019 is what you will see available now. Brunello can be very expensive, but good ones can be had in the $35 range. Sangiovese based Rosso is usually from Montalcino and often called “baby Brunello” These wines can often be excellent at a modest price.

There are a few wineries in California that make wine from Sangiovese grapes. There aren’t many, so we expect to see most of the wines at this tasting to come from Tuscany.

As a reminder, the tastings follow a familiar format. Each person (not each couple) will bring a bottle of the wine featured to the tastings. Wine glasses, tableware, bread, cheese, and wine tasting sheets will be provided by the Club in exchange for a fee of $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Attendees will be seated at tables of five to six people. You are welcome to specify if you wish to sit with friends. Often those requests can be accommodated.

Host or Publisher Berkeley City Club