Winemaker Notes
The Amore Rosso inspires conviviality and is Broc Cellars' nod to delicious old school classic red table wine. This vintage is a slightly different blend. A Barbera and Dolcetto co-ferment still make up the majority of the wine, but this year they included more Northern Italian varieties such as Montepulciano and Sangiovese. This blend accentuates the varieties' dark fruits, which works together with a pleasant tannin to cut through saucy, acid-driven dishes. The Barbera/Dolcetto coferment, Montepulciano and Sangiovese were all destemmed, separately fermented in stainless steel tank, and aged in neutral French oak barrique. All of the wine aged for 10 months then blended before bottling.
Best served with meals, including anything with hearty tomatoes. As the label suggests, it’s a perfect pairing for pizza. It is also enjoyable on its own.
Blend: 40% Barbera, 40% Dolcetto, 14% Montepulciano, 6% Sangiovese
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.