I’m very happy to report that Abruzzo winemaker Talamonti’s Moda 2009 DOC red wine has won the Altroconsumo Best Wine of 2012 award. Well done to Talamonti!
I have to say that I’m not that surprised a Talamonti wine has won an award. I was lucky enough to have received a selection of Talamonti wines this year and I liked them a lot. Others, it seems, share my high opinion of Talamonti’s wines.
Independent Wine Award
You should also know that the Altroconsumo wine award is not simply a case of Italian wine makers getting together and deciding who should receive this year’s pat on the back.
No, the Altroconsumo people choose wines for a blind tasting directly from wine shop or supermarket shelves in Italy meaning that what they taste is what customers buy. Indeed, for the Altroconsumo awards, direct samples from Italy’s wine makers are not accepted.
324 Italian Wines
This year, 324 wines were selected for the Altroconsumo test. Only those wines which are distributed widely in Italy, cost less than €15 and which come from reputable wineries are chosen by Altroconsumo which is an independent Italian consumers’ association.
The Altroconsumo Italian consumers’ association produces an annual guide called Guida Vini – simply – Wine Guide. The guide is now in its 7th year and I’m going to ask Santa to bring me a copy of Guida Vini 2012 for Christmas.
Stop reading, start speaking
Stop translating in your head and start speaking Italian for real with the only audio course that prompt you to speak.
Just to remind you, right at the top of all those 324 wines came Talamonti’s Moda 2009. The Talamonti winery has only been around for 10 years, but this Abruzzo, Italy based Italian wine producer has been busy and its wines can now be located and drunk in 30 countries around the world.
Make a note of that name:
Talamonti Moda 2009 and look out for it on restaurant wine lists and keep an eye out for the label in wine shops. If you cannot find Talamonti wines near year, let me know and I’ll have a word with them and see what can be done.
If you are a restaurant owner and are looking for a new wine to spice up your wine list, give Talamonti a call and ask for Rodrigo Redmont.
The Talamonti website is here: Talamonti
Talamonti’s Moda 2009 qualifies as a Good Italian Thing.
Other Italian Wines Worth Trying
The runners-up in the Altroconsumo wine tasting were: Donnfugata Sedara, Ornellaia Le Volte, Frescobaldi Rosso di Montalcino, Masi Campofiorin, Conti Zecca Donna Marzia, Caprai Montefalco Rosso, Prunotto Dolcetto d’Alba, Feudi San Gregorio Rubrato, Banfi Rosso di Montalcino, Hofstatter Merlot, Frescobaldi Nipozzano, Antinori Santa Cristina, Antinori Peppoli, Braida Barbera La Monella.
