Filare Italia Wine Tasting Dinner (May 2022)

On May 9th, I had the pleasure (and finally felt somewhat comfortable) attending my first wine tasting dinner since the start of the pandemic. The dinner was hosted by Caliber Fine Wines & Spirits with wines from Filare Italia and held at Posticino Ristorante in Etobicoke. Joining us from the company that produced these wines were Marco Tam and Vincenzo Castana who talked about some of their initiatives, processes, and goals.

Filare Italia was founded recently by two families, Tam and Gardisan, who since 1947 have each had love and respect for the land and the cultivation of the vine. After more than 70 years, the two families united to form Gruppo Greenway, a new agricultural project that not only includes the production of green energy from biogas, but also the launch of the Filare Italia brand of wines.

They are located in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in northeastern Italy, with the vineyards located in a basin between the Adriatic Sea and the Dolomites. The 100 hectares of vineyards are located in Grave del Friuli, with 40% by the group, and the rest owned by the two families. 10% of the vineyards are farmed organically, while the other 90% are farmed sustainably. The favourable microclimate in Grave del Friuli helps the ripening of bunches, making their wines unique with gentle characteristics and pronounced aromas. The families have partnered with a winery that was founded in 1960 in Bertiolo, a small village located in the center of Friuli, and the winery is involved in every phase of the winemaking process from vineyard management to the final tasting.

Filare Italia aims to be contemporary and innovative, while also promoting the "art of living well" with low alcohol wines perfect for aperitifs and moments of conviviality. The wines are packaged to evoke the value of made in Italy with terrazzo floors adorning the labels, as well as adding liveliness, elegance, and minimalism.

Chef Antonio prepared the dinner and did a very fine job of pairing each course with the wines from Friuli-Venezia Giulia. I particularly enjoyed the the jumbo shrimp paired with the Ribolla Gialla still table wine. It was also fascinating to try the Brut sparkling wine with the Tiramisu to cap off the meal.

The Ribolla Gialla was the star varietal of the night, with the 2020 Ribolla Gialla the unanimous wine of the night. The 2020 Ribolla Gialla will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on June 18, while the rest of portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Caliber Fine Wines & Spirits. Thank you Sandy of Caliber, as well as Marco and Vincenzo for a lovely evening!

Tasting Notes:

FILARE ITALIA PINOT GRIGIO 2019 - DOC Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy (XD) - $16
Fresh, white floral, orange citrus, and hints of lemon and stone fruit aromas rise out of the glass. It's quite concentrated on the dry, medium+ bodied, slightly creamy palate with gentle, balanced acidity and pleasing aroma replays. A touch spicy and minerally on the mid-palate and lingering through to the juicy finish, with very good length. Evolved quite nicely in the glass throughout dinner. Score: 88+ pts

FILARE ITALIA RIBOLLA GIALLA 2020 - IGT Venezia Giulia, Italy (#23098) (XD) - $14.95
Elegant, medium-high intensity nose is musky with herbs and floral aromas, along with hints of orange citrus and honeysuckle. On the concentrated, structured, medium-full bodied palate it has lovely citrus and peach flavours lifted by fresh acidity. Dry with stony mineral notes coming through on the long, juicy, and crisp finish. Coming to LCBO VINTAGES June 18. Score: 90+ pts

FILARE ITALIA RIVE MERLOT 2020 - DOC Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy (D) - $16.75
The fresh, fruity nose offers plummy, dark-black cherry, and blackberry aromas with hints of chocolate and earth. The ripe, medium-bodied palate has spiced, plummy, and fruit forward aroma replays, if a touch grapey and sweet. It has good acidity and soft, supple tannins. Good length on the slightly sweet finish. Crowd pleaser. Score: 87 pts

FILARE ITALIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - DOC Friuli, Italy (XD) - $16.75
Aromas of black pepper, cassis, currant, and wood spice rise out of the glass with medium-high intensity. On the medium-full bodied palate it has supple, structured tannins with peppery, dark fruited replays on the flavour profile. Fresh acids carry through to the crisp finish, with very good length. Score: 88+ pts

FILARE ITALIA RIBOLLA GIALLA BRUT - DOC Friuli, Italy (XD) - $19
Craft using the Méthode Champenoise technique (i.e. traditional method), the medium-high intensity nose is toasty and complex with citrus, peach, apple, biscuit, yeasty, and leesy aromas. It has fine bubbles and crisp acids on the dry, structured palate with peach, citrus, biscuit, orange, and Flintstone vitamins with just a pinch of appealing sweetness. Very good length on the long, persistent, crisp finish. Score: 90 pts