Le Terrazze Rosso Conero Chaos 2011
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The story of Fattoria Le Terrazze goes back to 1882 when the winery was established on the hills surrounding Numana. Since the late nineteenth century, the Terni family has been growing Montepulciano grapes and transforming them into wine.
Under the guidance of winemaker Federico Curtaz, Antonio and Georgina Terni today produce around 90,000 bottles per year from their 16 hectares of vineyards.
The Conero is a particularly interesting area for red wines. Its most typical product is in fact Rosso Conero, available both as a DOC wine and as the Sassi Neri DOCG Reserve.
In addition to Rosso Conero, Fattoria Le Terrazze also produces IGT Chaos, a wine resulting from a blend of Montepulciano, Syrah and Merlot, Chardonnay Le Cave, Pinkfluid Rosé and Donna Giulia, a sparkler made entirely from Montepulciano grapes.
Furthermore, the estate produces extra-virgin olive oil of excellent quality from their olive groves of the Frantoio, Leccino and Pendolino varieties which surround the estate.
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.
Stretching along Italy’s eastern coast with neighbors, Umbria to its west and Abruzzo to its south, Marche is a region with a varying climate from north to south. Its coastal plains roll into hills that become the Apennine Mountains, which run the length of the country. The Marche's best red wines come from the grapes, Montepulciano and Sangiovese; the local Verdicchio makes refreshing, crisp and light whites.