Abbadia

The Italian term for abbey, sometimes shortened to just badia. Buildings that were once abbeys have often been converted into renowned Italian wine estates, such as Tuscany’s Badia a Coltibuono

Red wines from the Cornas appellation within the Rhône Valley must be made from what?

A. A blend of grenache, syrah, and mourvèdre

B. 100% grenache

C. Predominately syrah with a small amount of viognier

D. 100% syrah

Wines from Cornas must be made 100% from syrah grapes. Located at the southern end of the northern Rhône, Cornas’ reds are dense, edgy, and darkly earthy. To feel a truly untamed Cornas on your palate is to feel like your tongue is being lashed by strips of leather. While not everyone loves Cornas, those who do, love it madly. Cornas’ are generally aged for seven to ten years before consumption.

Cathy Corison is always one of the first winemakers to harvest in the Napa Valley. When we asked her about perfect ripeness, here’s what she said:

“Waiting to pick so long that the bright red and blue flavors are gone, along with most of the natural acidity, is not my idea of ripeness. Once those have departed, you can’t get them back. I often hear it said that ‘the flavors aren’t there yet’ when, for my style of wine, they’ve come and gone.”

—Cathy Corison, Winemaker/Owner Corison Vineyards, Napa Valley

Abbadia

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