Il Borro Wine Tasting 2022

Join us for a special tasting of Italian Wines from Il Boro Winery

Established more than one thousand years ago, Il Borro has ancient and mysterious origins, now lost in the mists of time. Perhaps the Etruscans founded the settlement, but there is no concrete evidence to support this thesis. What is certain is that Il Borro was a lookout point on the Roman road Cassia, and that they built a fort there, presumably due to its strategic location.

Records show that the Mascagni family owned the castle until 1254, when Marchese Borro Borri, a Milanese nobleman, bought the property. He later became the Mayor of Arezzo. By1512, the property had passed through his family to Girolamo del Borro, philosopher and scientist, and lover of oriental culture. But it was under the patronage of his son Alessandro, that the Il Borro we know today was established. Alessandro dal Borro, visionary and an important figure in Tuscan politics, is the true “father” of Il Borro.

The Il Borro family eventually sold the domain and were succeeded by some of the most famous and revered families in Europe: the Medici of Florence, Tornaquinci, the Torriani of Milan, the house of Waldemburg Hohenlohe, and since 1904, the Savoy dynasty. Finally in 1993, and having visited the property many times, Ferruccio Ferragamo bought Il Borro, determined to restore the estate to its former glory.

At this tasting event we will be tasting 4 wines which include the Il Borro "Rosé del Borro" Sangiovese Rosé 2021, Il Borro "Lamelle" Unoaked Chardonnay 2021, Il Borro "Borrigiano" Toscana Rosso, Valdarno di Sopra D.O.C. 2019, and the Il Borro "Pian di Nova" Toscana Rosso, IGT. 2018.

Rosé del Borro is vinified by cold pressing hand-harvested and certified organic Sangiovese grapes. After the grapes are pressed, the resulting juice or “must” is then left for a short period of time in contact with the skins of the grapes. This short “maceration” allows for a small amount of red pigment to transfer from the skins of the grapes into the must, creating its delightful pink hue. After the maceration, the resulting pink-colored must is then transferred into stainless steel tanks where it is clarified in order to remove any remaining sediment. This process is known as "Limited Skin Maceration" and is by far the most popular method for making the highest quality rosé from around the world. Rosé del Borro is inspired by the classic rosé of Provence and offers a bright pink-colored wine with elegant and lively aromas of cherry blossoms, lingonberry and raspberries. The flavor profile is reminiscent of tart cherries, pomegranate and wild strawberries framed by a mouth-watering and refreshing acidity.  Made with Certified Organic Grapes. Only 3,400 6-pack cases were produced.

Lamelle is the only white wine produced on the Il Borro estate and was inspired by the classic unoaked Chardonnay of burgundy. Lamelle presents a very unique compare and contrast opportunity with Chablis. In comparison, Lamelle showcases an energizing, invigorating and mouth-watering backbone of acidity. The main flavor profile is reminiscent of lemon zest, lemon curd and blanched almonds with flashes of minerality and salinity. The minerality and salinity manifested in this wine can be attributed to the ancient seabed that once existed in this area. In fact, the word ‘lamelle‘ is actually an Italian word that refers to the scalloped pattern of the fossilized seashells that can still be found throughout the vineyards of Il Borro to this day. In contrast, this wine has richer fruit tones that awakens the palate with even more expressive notes of fresh white peach, orange blossoms, ripe nectarine and apricot with savory undertones of marzipan and sweet basil. Lamelle is produced by cold pressing hand-harvested Chardonnay grapes. The resulting juice is then poured into stainless steel tanks for clarification and fermentation. After the fermentation process, the wine is kept on the lees for 60 days. "Lees" are the deposits of residual yeasts from the fermentation process and tend to impart toasty or nutty flavors into the wine, as well as, incorporate additional layers of complexity and body. At the end of the aging process, the wine is then filtered and left for another two months in the bottle before being sold. Only 5,000, 6-pack cases produced. Made with 100% organically grown grapes.

The Medici family is attributed to being the first to plant French varietals in Italy. They planted these new varietals in their "Garden Area" in Northern and Eastern Tuscany. Today we know these areas as Carmignano DOCG and Valdarno di Sopra DOC. In Carmignano they planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which they are still known for to this day. In Valdarno di Sopra they planted Syrah and Merlot, which they are also still known for to this day. In fact, there are only two ways for a red wine produced in Valdarno di Sopra to receive the DOC designation. The wine needs to be either 100% Sangiovese or a very specific blend of 40% Merlot, 35% Syrah and 25% Sangiovese. This is the only DOC designation in Italy that requires a blended red wine to be made from at least 75% French varietals. This unique requirement is due to the centuries-long tradition of growing these grape varietals in this historic appellation.

If you owned a winery in Tuscany, Italy and produced a red wine from a blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Sangiovese, could it be identified as a Super-Tuscan, Toscana Rosso, Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT), or just simply as a red blend from Italy? The correct answer to this question is actually all four! Additionally, Il Borro produces a wine like this and it is called “Pian di Nova.” The literal translation of Pian di Nova means “New Plateau.” The idea behind this name is to give the impression of a “New Frontier” for the winery due to the wine’s distinctively unique blend.

Save your seat for the tasting online at Il Borro Tasting 2022.

Tasting fees will be applied the night of the tasting. $20 for the general public or $10 for Steve's Wine Bar Club Members. Tastings will be complimentary when purchasing 3 or more bottles the evening of the tasting.