Primae Classis

Literally, first class. A Latin designation used by the Hungarians since around 1700 to indicate a Tokay vineyard of first-class stature. The Tokay Aszú wines produced from grapes grown in such a vineyard would by extension be considered top flight.

What are fisckariedd, strozzapreti, and corzetti?

A. Italian cordials (often homemade) produced from fermented fruits, barks, and spices

B. Ancient Sicilian vegetables once thought to have gone extinct

C. Types of specialty dried pasta

D. Rare cheeses that are specialties of the wine regions that ring the Italian Alps

There are well over 100 different shapes of pasta, which come dried or fresh. All of the pastas in the question are dried. Fisckariedd are the leftover cuts after other forms of pasta are made. These leftover pieces are dried and then tossed into soups. Strozzapreti are tightly rolled short ropes. The name translates as “strangle the priest.” And corzetti are large flat disks which can be stamped with a logo or other mark. They are usually served with a sauce or in a soup.

Astringent

Astringent describes the dry, raspy mouthfeel of a wine with a considerable amount of unripe tannin. Astringency can also be provoked by certain foods, such as unripe walnuts or unripe persimmons. Excess astringency is unpleasant… Continue reading

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