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Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG (or Sfursat di Valtellina) is a appellation for powerful red wine, based on the Nebbiolo grape variety, in Valtellina, ia district in the Lombardy region of northern Italy.
It is one of the country’s many passito wines, made from partially dried grapes. but while most other passito styles are sweet, Sforzato is dry. This brings it very much in line with Veneto’s famed Amarone della Valpolicella.
The term Sforzato (or Sfursat) is derived from the traditional method of (s)forzatura delle uve. This translates as the “forcing of the grapes” – obtaining higher alcohol and greater sugar concentration by drying the grapes.
Only the best grapes are selected for Sforzato production. Any rotten or damaged berries must be removed as the drying process will only serve to concentrate their imperfections.
The climate around Lake Como creates the perfect environment for this red wine’s grapes, which are cultivated in the Ardenno commune, on the eastern bank of the Adda River, along with vineyards in the Villa di Tirano and Albosaggia communes on the western bank.
Como’s stable, mild and temperate climate causes the grapes to mature a little less than a week before the ones in the east, but the eastern vineyards’ location gives their grapes a thicker skin, and thus a higher tannic acid content.
Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG is made from Nebbiolo (minimum 90%), and additional local non-aromatic red grapes (0-10%).
These Nebbiolo grapes are locally known as Chiavennasca.
The ruby-red wines produced here are dry, full-bodied, high in alcohol content and have sweet spice and prune aromas, achieved from the drying process.
After it’s been kept for at least three years, Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG is excellent with game, roast, aged cheese or for quiet moments in front of the fireplace.
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When was the last time you had dinner in an Italian restaurant in Canada and you thought you were dining in Italy? That’s exactly how “Ospitalità Italiana Certified”restaurants want you to feel when you visit their fine dining establishments.
Ospitalità Italiana is an official certification from Unioncamere, Italy’s federation of local Chambers of Commerce and Industry, that tells you that the food you are enjoying is unquestionably Italian: products are authentic, ingredients genuine and recipes true to the thousand year history of Italian cuisine.
Canada is home to some leading Italian Chefs. Passionate and innovative, many have refined their skills and advanced their knowledge directly in Italy. In addition, Montréal boasts a fabulous cooking school ITHQ where young aspiring chefs learn Italian technic and Italian traditional recipes from the masters.
So the next time you make reservations for an Italian dinner in a Montreal restaurant, ask if they’ve received the Ospitalità Italiana seal of approval. You will enjoy the true Italian taste.
