famous sharing the fruits of their cultural legacy . They paved the way for many wine drinkers to enjoy wine .
Other Italian families came to the Pacific Northwest . Ponzi . Facelli . Leonetti , Antinori . Folonari . DiStefano . Locati . Today , the list of Italian wine families interweaves the most famous names in Washington wine . Our climates and microclimates hold a key to delicious wine no matter which continent grows the grapes . Whether Italian or not , the impact of Italy ’ s grapes and viticoltori ( winegrowers ) continues to invite new and experienced wine drinkers to Washington .
The ability of Italian grape varieties to evoke more flavors from food is not new information . Over time , the Pacific Northwest has adopted plenty of red , Italian grapes : Sangiovese , Primitivo , Barbera , Nebbiolo and Dolcetto among others . These grapes make wine for food , wine to evoke flavor from the plate .
More than thirty years ago , Peter Dow created Cavatappi to bring that fresh , zingy character to Seattle ’ s restaurant tables , and it continues to this day . Cavatappi sources Sangiovese grapes for its flagship wine from all over the Columbia Valley . Bright , fresh and appealing , the vibrant acidity is in evidence and rewards that red-sauced pizza , especially with the anchovies .
Yet farming these varieties has its own challenges . “ Many of the Italian varieties are late-ripeners ; you have to have them planted in the right spot to get ripe .” Kent Waliser of Sagemoor Vineyards tends to hundreds of acres of grapevines , some Italian , selling this fruit to various vintners across Washington State . “ And , more and more vintners are asking for Barbera and Sangiovese . So far , we don ’ t have enough sites warm enough to graft over to meet those demands .”
Despite the pressure on growers , Chad Johnson of Dusted Valley
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