SITT, London, 21.9.22

 

As for all good tastings, ambulances were on hand.

The London edition of SITT (Specialist Importers Trade Tasting). Autumn 2022 took place on September 21st at St. Mary's, York St. Marylebone.

 

SITT tastings are not the biggest but there are always interesting bottles to be found reflecting the eclecticism of UK importers. the tastings are educational too.

What did we learn at SITT London 21.9.22?

 

1. Grapes of the Setubal Peninsula are Castelao for the reds, Arinto, Fernao Pires, Esgana Cao,, Moscatel Roxo (pink skined Muscat - see photo above)) and of course Moscatel de Setubal aka Moscatel Graudo - Muscat of Alexandria, the main white grape.

 

2. Palmela is an area in the Peninsula de Setubal, not a grape. The region is also known as Terras do Sado. There are many sub-regions in the Peninsula de Setubal including

Almada

Seixal

Sesimbra

Barreiro

Moita

Alcochete

Azaitao

MontuoAlcacer do Sal

Grandola

Santiago do Cacem

Sines

 

Central Wines is the importer of Polish wines in the UK

Roter Riesling is a real rarity

 

3. Grapes grown in Poland now include Cabernet Blanc, Siegerrebe, Solaris, Roter Riesling, Regent and Rondo as well as Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and other usual suspects. Wasps decimated this year’s Siegerrebe crop.

NIKO guys, Nikola Salipur and Gareth Morris

4. Niko Wines of Preston specialise in Serbian wine. There were some stupendous discoveries to be made here;

a). Severna Morava or Morava Severna. This is a cross between Fruehroter Veltliner and Mueller-Thurgau at the viticulture research centre, Novi Sad and was authorised in 2003. “It is one of the more successful recent Serbian crosses and plantings are increasing.” (‘Wine Grapes’). Severna means ‘Northern.’ 13.5%

b). Zilavka – the white grape of Bosnia Herzegovin. 13.3%

c). Prokupac. ‘Wine Grapes’ tells us that this is a very old Balkan variety, possibly originating in Serbia,’ Prokupac Boje 'Lila' is 13.5%

There was also a delicious wine made from Tamjanika or Tamyanka. These turn out to be synonyms for Muscat Blanc a petits grains.Again 13.5%

When the many different wines of Oszkar Maurer ar taken into consideration, you can see that Serbia has a plethora of interesting and little known grape varieties.

5. Albillo Real is really just Albillo. There are other Albillos but most are no longer cultivated. This was from Good Brothers Wine Company specialising in Natural, organic, and biodynamic wines of Spain. Good indeed.

6. Merseguera is also known as Messeguera. Not earth shattering news but we thought you would like to know that.

7. Susumaniello (Puglia) is worth a second try. There are only 72 ha. And most of it is used in blends – mainly with Negroamaro. 

 

This was a good 100% Susumaniello from 'For the Love of Wine.'

There was also our new friend Alzbeta Novotna od Wines of Bohemia whom we had met at the Oxford Wine Festival. As well as the other mainly Moravian varieties she was offering a Dornfelder this time at 12%.

Also a Chilean Sauvignin Gris by Vina Casa Silva from our friends at Jackson Nugent.

Sauvignon Gris is also know as Fie in the Loire and is a colour mutation of Sauvignon Blanc. Other colour mutations of Sauvignon Blanc include Sauvignon Rose and Sauvignon Rouge. 'Wine Grapes' tells us that Sauvignon Gris is on the up and becoming fashionable...'there are more and more examples further afield, especially in Chile...'

'Wine Grapes' uncharacteristically skirts aound Sauvignon Rose and Sauvignon Rouge other than to say the latter is grown in small quantity in the Loire. Do not confuse with Sauvignon Rosso, a synonym for Centesimino. In fact Sauvignon Rouge may be identical with something called Roter Gruenling. Gruenling itself is of unknown origin although it has been suggested that it may be the same as Adelfränkisch. This takes us into the realms of the 'Historische Rebsorten' for which see this Blog. Googling 'Sauvignon Rouge' mostly takes you to Cabernet Sauvignon which is altogether different. Cabernet Sauvignon is an offspring from Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. This was only discovered in 1996 by Carole Meredith and John Bowers at the University of California at Davis by the way.

All this is rather fascinating; do colour mutations taste different even though their DNA is the same? If so how different? Sauvignon Gris is said to taste different from Sauvignon Blanc.

The Winecellar insider says in comparison with Sauvignon Blanc,

Sauvignon Gris has slightly thicker skins and higher sugar levels. Both grapes produce acidic beverages, but Sauvignon Gris wines are richer, drier, and more voluptuous in texture than Sauvignon Blancs.

It's amazing what diversions a tasting such as SITT can take you on.