Day 178: June 27, 2015

Diary entry:

We are currently in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy for this year’s Blogville project. We’ll be staying in Bologna, Rimini, and Reggio Emilia over the next two weeks, sampling the local foods, beers, and wines of Emilia Romagna. Follow along with the hashtags #Blogville, #inEmiliaRomagna, and #ViaEmilia.

Today was a another day of exploring the culinary delights of Reggio Emilia.

We were met first thing this morning by Paola, the owner of Azienda Agricola Moro di Rinaldini Paola, one of the award winners from last night’s Terre di Lambrusco Matilde di Canossa Wine Competition. She drove me, Erin, and Anna of Tasty Living Helsinki the 30 minutes or so out to her winery and vineyards in Calerno di Sant’Ilario d’Enza where we met her family (her son runs the vineyard, and her husband makes the wine), explored her vineyards, winemaking facilities, and tasted a full range of her wines and food products. Their Rose Secco 2014 was the award winner from the competition, yet all of her wines were outstanding! We left with quite a few bottles.

View this post on Instagram

Bottles of Lambrusco wine made in the traditional method, like methode champenoise, a term which is restricted for use only on sparkling wines from the Champagne region itself. Several of us spent the morning with an award-winning Lambrusco producer in Reggio Emilia – what a misunderstood wine it is in many parts of the world. It has a reputation for being sweet and cheap, which couldn't be further from the truth once you learn more about the quality of wines being produced here. #Blogville #terrelambrusco

A post shared by Our Tasty Travels – Food Blog (@ourtastytravels) on Jun 27, 2015 at 5:52am PDT

https://instagram.com/p/4cDKdkkbUX/?taken-by=metsbwd

On our way back to Reggio Emilia, we took a slight detour by the La Barchessa Parmigiano Reggiano museum in Montecchio Emilia. This small museum comprises of two different historical periods in the production of Parmigiano Reggiano, one showing the production methods of the 1700’s, and the other showcasing the first steam-powered facilities from the 1920’s. Quite interesting, and worth a visit!

Meeting up with the rest of the group, we then headed off to Fattoria Rossi in Montecavolo, where we got to watch our second opening of a wheel of fresh Parmigiano Reggiano, this time using a different opening method splitting the wheel while flat into two half-moon sections vs. halving it into two half-wheels like we saw yesterday.

View this post on Instagram

In the last two days, I've been incredibly fortunate to witness how a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano is cracked open. It's quite a process – from the strength required to cut the wheel, to the explosion of flavors that happens once the wheel is finally open. The flavor is different as well, especially as you move closer to the center of the heart. I find it to be more creamy and smooth in flavor. #terrelambrusco #Blogville

A post shared by Our Tasty Travels – Food Blog (@ourtastytravels) on Jun 27, 2015 at 3:44pm PDT

This was followed by a pasta making and cooking class where we made and consumed our own pasta, and sampled more award-winning wines from the competition, these from Azienda Agricola Cantina Fantesini s.a.di Bigi Cesare e Fantesini Chiara from Bibbiano. Excellent wines to pair with the delicious pasta.

The Beer:

Name: Pink IPA

Style: American IPA

Producer: Almond 22

Alcohol content: 6.0%

Bottle size: 0.33l

Purchased from: Le Mille e Una Birra in Reggio Emilia

After returning to the hotel after the cooking class, I was a little curious where ‘d find my beer of the night, but luckily Nick had just the place in mind for me. Le Mille e Una Birra is a new beer bar located just steps away from the Albergo Notarie and Piazza Prampolini in Reggio Emilia. A nice Italian IPA with decent bitter flavor, and a little spice.

Commercial Description:

India Pale Ale brewed with pink pepper, hops Simcoe, Nelson Sauvin and Hallertau Saphyr. Appearance is gold colored load, with shades of orange.
The foam is white, generous, creamy and very persistent.
The aroma is delicate and elegant, dominated by hints of sweet and fruity (especially tropical and pink grapefruit) and light floral notes.
The mouth is light and never be elusive; find the cake with fruit and malt (biscuit) that let you quickly space bitter hops with herbaceous and bitter notes of grapefruit zest. Nice dry finish to cleanse the palate, followed by a taste characterized by herbaceous and vegetal notes and pleasantly moved by a hot peppery note which continues making more lively the next sip.

IPA A very pleasant, clean and very drinkable.
Serving suggestions: pork, beef rib grilled and fried mixed vegetables.

Day 177: June 26, 2015

Diary entry:

We are currently in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy for this year’s Blogville project. We’ll be staying in Bologna, Rimini, and Reggio Emilia over the next two weeks, sampling the local foods, beers, and wines of Emilia Romagna. Follow along with the hashtags #Blogville, #inEmiliaRomagna, and #ViaEmilia.

Today was a day of exploration, taking in a great mix of the culinary delights of Reggio Emilia.

Our first stop in the morning was to Consorzio “Bibbiano la Culla”, to the Antica Fattoria Scalabrini, a local producer of Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese. We had the opportunity to watch the entire process of making a daily batch of this incredible cheese, from the initial blending, through the shaping and aging process. This culminated in the opportunity to watch the opening of a wheel, a very elaborate process. Trying shards of Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh from the core of the wheel, moments after opening…that’s an experience!

View this post on Instagram

Wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano everywhere you look in the aging room of a Parmesan factory, like the one we visited earlier today. #Blogville #terrelambrusco

A post shared by Our Tasty Travels – Food Blog (@ourtastytravels) on Jun 26, 2015 at 3:38pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Parmigiano-Reggiano at #Blogville, during #terrelambrusco. A 2012 vintage cheese, well aged. Perfection waiting to be consumed.

A post shared by Brett Domue (@metsbwd) on Jun 26, 2015 at 12:50am PDT

After we had our fill of fresh Parmigiano Reggiano, it was off to the next traditional product, balsamic vinegar. We visited Acetaia Picci, a family-run producer, who gave us a tour of his vineyard and production facility, taking us through the process of maturing this liquid gold. We were also provided lunch at Acetaia Picci, which was quite a treat, especially considering the family ran a Michelin-starred restaurant while waiting for their balsamic line to mature!

https://instagram.com/p/4xJjkEqCy-/?taken-by=ourtastytravels

And in the evening, the main event! The awards ceremony for the 2015 Terre di Lambrusco Matilde di Canossa Wine Competition, held at the gorgeous Romolo Valli Municipal Theatre in the center of Reggio Emilia. We were invited to help present the Diplomas of Merit to the 90 award winning Lambrusco wines, from 45 different producers across the 12 DOP/IDP Lambrusco-producing regions in the classic production zone of Emilia Romagna.

View this post on Instagram

The 6th edition of the Matilde di Canossa Terre di Lambrusco Wine Awards is about to begin! Each journalist and blogger will go on stage when called, and we will answer a question and present the award to one of the winning wineries. #Blogville #terrelambrusco

A post shared by Our Tasty Travels – Food Blog (@ourtastytravels) on Jun 26, 2015 at 9:27am PDT

This was followed by a chance to sample the award-winning wines, as well as a selection of local foods. I was quite impressed with the variety of Lambrusco wine styles. There was a wide range across the different growing regions, with wines ranging from very sweet to very sour to very dry. I didn’t sample anywhere near all 90, but I enjoyed almost everyone one I did sample.

https://instagram.com/p/4wdnnMKC_k/?taken-by=ourtastytravels

What a great day!

The Beer:

Name: Rrose Selavy

Style: Saison

Producer: Dada

Alcohol content: 7.0%

Bottle size: 0.75l

Purchased from: Bottiglieria San Giovanni in Reggio Emilia

A perfect summer terrace beer from Birrificio Dada out of Correggio in Reggio Emilia province. A fine, bitter funk. Very enjoyable.

Commercial Description: Beer orange reflections, the nose yellow fruit, pepper and bread crust, with a strong flavor but fresh, even on the yeast that gives a pleasant sour note. The finish is dry and pleasantly bitter with aftertaste dominated by herbaceous and peppery hops. Excellent with pasta dishes based on fish. Also try with traditional dishes from Emilia.