Vino Nomad

Vino Nomad Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Vino Nomad, Wine/Spirits, Pittsburgh, PA.

Providing fun and educational in-home and virtual wine classes covering interesting topics that will ground your wine knowledge, include tasting some fantastic wine, and be just a bit geeky.

This past week Gary and I held a wine class at Hope Lutheran Church. Together with Chase (our music director) we explor...
10/01/2022

This past week Gary and I held a wine class at Hope Lutheran Church. Together with Chase (our music director) we explored 5 delicious wines from Piedmont. A few more wine facts on that region.

1The most commonly planted grape in Piedmont is Barbara. This light, drinkable wine is considered an every day wine. The other grapes we tasted were Nebbiolo (used to make Barolo), Cortese (used to make Gavi) and Ruchè. Ruchè is a rare, aromatic grape. Often served sweet, this dry very presents as a a sweet wine with floral aromas. The tasting is surprising…dry and crisp. It was certainly appreciated by the class!

The class featured the wines of Bava Cantina. We were fortunate enough to have a private tour of the winery when visiting Piedmont. Alessandro, our guide, showed us the fermenting and aging vessels used for the various wines. Concrete and stainless steel are used when no additional flavors are desired (common for whites and aromatic reds). Barrels are used when tannins need to be tamed (such as for Nebbiolo). Wood also increases the aging potential of Barbera.

Roberto Bava hung out with us when he heard we knew Joe and Ruth Barsotti (our wine supplier in Pittsburgh) and encouraged us to taste all their wines. Tough day!

Italy (as well as the rest of Europe) has a culture of food and drink. It is rare to see someone drinking without food ...
09/22/2022

Italy (as well as the rest of Europe) has a culture of food and drink. It is rare to see someone drinking without food of some sort. The Spritz is a typical early evening / late afternoon cocktail made of Aperol, Prosecco or wine, and club soda.

All of the food in theses pictures was provided at no cost when we ordered drinks. The amount of food astounded us. The wines are generally lower in alcohol (12-13%). That combined with a bite of food means you can enjoy yourself without overindulging!

Another reason to ❤️ Italy!

I wanted share some of the information gained during my recent trip to Piedmont, Italy. I’ll try to post something regu...
09/21/2022

I wanted share some of the information gained during my recent trip to Piedmont, Italy. I’ll try to post something regularly. Hope you enjoy!

Piedmont vs. Piemonte. In the US we refer to Ths region of Italy as “Piedmont”. In Italy the name is “Piemonte”. Literally, this name means “The foot of the Mountain”. Looking at these pics it’s easy to see where that name comes from.

The hills in front of the Alps (those are the huge mountains to the north and west of Piemonte) are known as the pre alps. Hills are the absolute best place to grow grapes for wines. Depending on the direction the hill is facing, the elevation, and the soil, the area will be well suited for a particular grape.

What a great weekend for a wine class in West Newton! Lots of good wine, charcuterie plates, fantastic group. Contact...
07/26/2021

What a great weekend for a wine class in West Newton! Lots of good wine, charcuterie plates, fantastic group. Contact me if you are interesting in hosting a class in your home.

Thanks to Jan Jan Bronowski Pezze and Joanne And Jeff Hall for co-hosting.

In my newsfeed today I saw a story about Taco Bell releasing their own wine in Canada. What? Seriously? Yes, appar...
09/17/2020

In my newsfeed today I saw a story about Taco Bell releasing their own wine in Canada. What? Seriously? Yes, apparently Taco Bell is releasing their wine, Jalapeño Noir, to pair with its Toasted Cheesy Chalupa. According to Taco Bell Canada, “the rich taste and crunchy texture of the beloved Toasted Cheesy Chalupa complements notes of wild strawberry, cherry and beetroot in this silky limited-edition red wine."

Does this make sense? Maybe.

Let’s think about wine and food pairings. When I teach food and wine pairings I discuss 3 successful strategies for pairing.....complementary, contrasting, and “what grows together goes together.”

Simply stated, complementary pairs a heavy wine with a heavy food, acidic with acidic, salty with salty, sweet with sweet, etc.

Contrasting pairings are the exact opposite. Pair a rich sauce with a crisp light wine, a salty snack with a full bodied red. This is my personal favorite type of pairing as it add interest to the meal. Just like a sweet and sour dish it excites your taste buds and wakes up your mouth.

So, back to our Taco Bell Chalupa and wine pairing. Does it work?

The chalupa is made with a 6 month aged cheddar and beef. Think sharp and fat. The wine is a Pinot Noir from Ontario and is known to be a dry light Pinot Noir with a fruity nose.

Sounds like an excellent contrasting pairing to me!

Of course I cannot confirm until I try for myself. I’ve ask Gary to take me there when Canada again allows us to visit.

I can’t wait!

Happy drinking...

I attended a Thursday wine tasting at Barsotti wines last night with my gal pal Angela (somm at the PA Market). We tas...
08/28/2020

I attended a Thursday wine tasting at Barsotti wines last night with my gal pal Angela (somm at the PA Market). We tasted 3 wines from Alto Adige—Italy’s northernmost region. My favorite was the Müller Thurgau. The nose was intense and reminded me of gooseberries with minerality and wonderfully balance acidity. Yes, I took some home!

Need a Wine Vacation?If you are a wine lover and are avoiding planes and long trips, know that there is great quality wi...
08/27/2020

Need a Wine Vacation?

If you are a wine lover and are avoiding planes and long trips, know that there is great quality wine within your grasp...in the Finger Lakes. When I retired a few years ago we opted for a trip to Watkins Glen (at the southern rip of Lake Seneca) and visited numerous wineries along that lake.

We were not disappointed! Rieslings are well suited for the climate around the Finger Lakes. These grapes love a cool climate which drive nice acidity and lower alcohol levels. Perfect for a summer sipper!

Our favorite was Barnstormer (https://barnstormerwinery.com). A modern facility housed in a 170 year old barn. So cool!

If you are interested, it is a short 5 hour drive from Pittsburgh. Reservations are suggested to visit the tasting room. Let me know if you have other places you have visited!

Vino Nomad held it first in-home wine education class featuring the wines of South Africa. The host (and friends) celeb...
08/17/2020

Vino Nomad held it first in-home wine education class featuring the wines of South Africa. The host (and friends) celebrated with food of South Africa which we paired with 5 fantastic wines. It was quite an event!

Vino Nomad held its first virtual wine tasting for a corporate client, highlighting several excellent wines from Piemont...
08/17/2020

Vino Nomad held its first virtual wine tasting for a corporate client, highlighting several excellent wines from Piemonte, Italy. Topics included the history of Piemonte's wine industry, native varietals, and food and wine pairings.

We tasted a Roero Arneis (amazing white!), Barbera ( #1 most planted in Piemonte) and a Barolo (world famous). Wonderful way to kick off the business!

Address

Pittsburgh, PA

Telephone

+14123109025

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Vino Nomad posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category