TEMPTING VERMENTINO WITH SPICY TUNA SALAD

Ready for a different wine than that eternal Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc? Then Vermentino is an Italian beauty that will subtly seduce you.

With the allure of a young flower, some sparkling, juicy citrus fruit and the warmth of a Mediterranean sunbeam. And because this wine likes a bit of bite, serve it with a spicy tuna salad. Doesn’t it make you feel as if your feet are in the warm, tropical sand?

Mediterranean grape
Italian Vermentino grows in many places. In Italy and beyond. The variety does especially well on the islands of Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily. But wine regions such as Liguria, Piedmont and Tuscany also produce wines of exceptional quality. And even in the South of France’s Languedoc and Provence – where the grape is called rolle, by the way – it feels like a fish in water.

But whatever they call it or wherever it comes from, the wine is always refreshing and seduces you with plenty of flowers and fruit. Green apple and a sultry, tropical note of apricot, pineapple and melon. Vermentino is surprisingly delicious and different, with its almond notes, Mediterranean herbs and hint of anise. The finish is often slightly spicy and mineral, yet at the same time soft. Always with that characteristic little bitter note at the end.

And if you don’t feel like all that briny food? It’s also an excellent choice with vegetarian cuisine.

The variety feels most at home under the influence of the Mediterranean Sea. That’s why fishy accompaniments work so well too. Enjoyed solo on a sunny terrace, it’s already a delicious aperitif, but with some sushi, sashimi or an oyster, it feels completely at its best. Even grilled fish is often a good chaperone. And if you don’t feel like all that briny food? It’s also an excellent choice with vegetarian cuisine.

My all-time favourite
But my all-time favourite is a refreshing Vermentino with a summery tuna salad with a little heat. With a chilli pepper, a Mediterranean olive and some chervil, wine and food seem to go hand in hand. Fresh, grilled tuna is of course the finest option, but (sustainable) canned tuna is a tasty alternative. Click here for the recipe.

6 TEMPTING VERMENTINOS TO GO:

Jankara Vermentino di Gallura Superiore 2014, Sardegna
€14,95 Vinoblesse
flamboyant, fresh & full-bodied
De Grote Hamersma 9

Cantine Lupo Terra Marique Vermentino 2014, Lazio
€11,95 De Gouden Ton
spicy, fresh & aromatic
De Grote Hamersma 9

Tenute del Cerro Vermentino 2014, Toscana
€7,99 Gall & Gall
fruity & slightly ripe pear
Omfietswijn
De Grote Hamersma 8

Lunae Vermentino Colle Di Luni, Liguria
€ 12,95 Villa Fattoria
fresh, silky & refined
Two red glasses from Gambero Rosso – outstanding

Piero Mancini Vermentino di Gallura 2014, Sardegna
€9,99 Grapedistrict
floral, mineral, almond note
Onno Kleyn 8+, Volkskrant Magazine

Solosole Vermentino – Poggio al Tesoro 2015, Bolgheri, Toscana
€9,95 Sligro
juicy, creamy and intense
Miss Winelane’s Favorite