AQUA Forte imports a range of some of the best wines produced in Italy to our restaurant in Galle Fort, Sri Lanka. Indulge in our exquisite collection of the best Italian white and red wines, all of which complement a delicious item from our menu.
Alto Adige is the northernmost region in Italy, part of the Alpine area and have an entirely mountainous territory. Due to its topography and latitude, it has one of the coldest climates in Italy and vines can grow only in the valleys between various mountain ranges and especially in the main Adige Valley in its centre. The region is home of some of the best white and sparkling wines in Italy.
Map of Alto Adige (Sudtirol) from Muller-Thurgau.com.
The “Bassa Atesina”, the territory south of the region’s capital Bolzano, is home of Alois Lageder prestigious winery, with a long history and a rich tradition in wine making. The winery with time specialized in biodynamic vine growing techniques and focused on quality rather than quantity. They dedicated their territory to the native grape varieties, and to those grapes that found an ideal climate and soil in Alto Adige especially like Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Traminer, Lagrein, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Löwengang estate is one of the winery’s most prestigious and old estates and produces the best Chardonnay grapes that are used to make this exceptional wine.
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The Löwengang Chardonnay, one of the most famous wines in Italy has played a major role in the success of the wine estate and in establishing Alto Adige’s status as a quality wine region. In the 1980s it became the first white wine from the region to be successfully positioned at an international level. The vineyard comprises several smaller plots, which every year react differently to the influences of the local climate. The winemakers respond accordingly and combine them in such a way that the best balance is reached with every vintage.
The grapes come from the best, selected parcels in the Löwengang Estate, situated in Magrè (Bolzano) at an altitude of 230 – 330 metres (750 – 1,080 feet), featuring sandy and gravely soils with a high content of dolomitic limestone. The age of the vinyards is 11 to 46 years.
After spontaneous fermentation in barriques, the wine is matured on the lees in oak barriques (approximately 11 months) and subsequently in the bottle for at least 1 year. It has a great aging potential; it can be aged easily up to 15 years.
The colour is clear, gold-yellow. The bouquet has a pronounced and intense nose of yellow fruits (pear, apricot, peach), fresh butter, almond and woody notes. The palate is full bodied, multi-layered, mineral, rich, with ripe tropical fruits and woody oak spices. The finish is fresh, with a perfect harmony between acidity and body, with a clean lingering taste of pear and cream, with a final slightly salty acidity.
It pairs well with white meat, beef tartare, poultry and seafood in general. The complexity, body and acidity of the wine make it suitable for a great full meal accompaniment.
Photo from aloislageder.eu
At AQUA Forte we suggest this special Italian white wine as a pairing with our “Tartara di manzo” or with our “Spaghettoni di Gragnano all’aragosta” for the ultimate experience.
Tartara di manzo (Beef tenderloin tartare, beef jus, savory zabaione cream, caper flowers, Carasau bread)
This Löwengang is a natural match with the beef tartare, especially when served as an appetizer. Our beef tartare is a wonderfully delicate dish that presents rich, unctuous, and complex flavours, with which we propose to match a wine of equal distinction. This 11-month oaked Chardonnay pairs perfectly with the creamy tartare. The full-bodied palate and the final slightly salty acidity of this wine will stand up to the beef. With its clean lingering taste of pear and its creamier texture, this chilled wine will not overshadow the delicate, tender, raw meat and it will act like an egg would, coating the meat as its flavours burst in the mouth.
Spaghettoni di Gragnano all’aragosta (bronze-died thick spaghetti, lobster meat, lobster bisque).
Lobster has a delicate flavour, yet its rich texture goes admirably with an oaky white wine like Chardonnay. Our Löwengang is the ideal match. The acidity and intense yellow fruits, fresh butter, and almond flavours is key in this classic proposal with this premium wine. The nice minerality will blend well with the sea salt and iodine character of lobster. However, the Löwengang carries a distinct fresh butter flavour that will marvellously pair with the lobster as it almost seems to melt in your mouth.
Do you want to know more about authentic Italian cuisine, best wine pairings and secret offers at AQUA Forte? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and stay up to-date!
