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<h2><font size="5" color="#660033">April: Southern Italy</font><font size="5" color="#660033">!</font></h2>
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<td width="60%" valign="top" align="left">Italy is one of the world’s leading producers of wine, and what is unique about Italy is that vines are cultivated nearly everywhere in the country, not just in pocketed regions. Italian wines range widely due to a diversity of climates and grapes. This month we’re going to focus our attention to the southern portion of the country. Southern Italy has a sun-baked Mediterranean climate where local grapes thrive, producing potent reds and vibrant whites. Wines from Southern Italy are probably a group that you haven’t explored in depth, so this is a good opportunity to get acquainted with them. Get ready for lots of new regions and locals grapes that you’ve never heard of!<br />
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<h3><font size="4">Regions</font></h3>
<strong>Sardinia </strong>-- (Sardegna in Italian) northern Mediterranean island<strong><br />
Sicily</strong>—(Sicilia on an Italian wine label) Mediteranean island at the tip of Italy’s boot, produces mostly white wine and Marsala<br />
<strong>Calabria </strong>– the toe of the boot<br />
<strong>Basilicata </strong>—arch of boot<br />
<strong>Apulia </strong>--(Puglia in Italian) the heel of the boot, Salento is located in this region<br />
<strong>Campania </strong>– ankle region, Fiano di Avellio is the gem from this area<br />
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<h3><font size="4">Grapes grown in Southern Italy</font></h3>
Italy is home to very many different grapes, which can be quite confusing. <br />
Numerous indigenous varietals are grown in Southern Italy. These are well-suited for the climate, and many of them originated in Greece and Turkey. Growers and winemakers are also experimenting with international varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. <br />
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<h3><font size="4">White Grapes:</font></h3>
<strong>Falanghina</strong>—vibrant and flavor-packed<br />
<strong>Fiano di Avellino</strong>—floral scented, delicate, subtle white from Campania combining <br />
lightness and firmness<br />
Greco di <strong>Tufo</strong>—Substantial white from Campania with flavors of apple peel with mineral depths <br />
<strong>Grillo</strong>—Sicilian grape with an impressively rich character<br />
<strong>Vermentino</strong>—light, lemony white from Sardinia<br />
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<h3><font size="4">Red Grapes:</font></h3>
<strong>Aglianico</strong>—dark-skinned grape producing wines with a powerful brooding character<br />
<strong>Negroamaro</strong>—makes rich, roasted red wine, esp. important in Puglia<br />
<strong>Nero D’Avola</strong>-- Sicily’s most important red grape produces a smoky wine rich with character<br />
<strong>Primitivo (same as Zinfandel)</strong>—Big red grown throughout Puglia, much earthier and more structured than Californian Zins<br />
Monica, Malvasia Nero, Calabrese, Prugnolo, Cannonau (same as Grenache), and many more…<br />
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<h3><font size="4">Pairing Southern Italian wines with Food</font></h3>
Pair southern Italian wines with Mediterranean cuisine, and they’ll be terrific together. Southern Italian reds don’t require fancy preparations; they match best with rustic dishes with plenty of flavor. The acidity and mineral tones found in Southern Italian whites makes them a great accompaniment for seafood. <br />
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<td><span class="style9">This Month's Selections </span></td>
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<p><font size="-2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#f999ff"><strong>Wines of the Month<br />
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<p><font size="-2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#f999ff"><strong>Girls on Grapes member receive 15% of the purchase of these wines this month. Stop in, stock up, and sip away!</strong></font></p>
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<p><span class="style8"><strong><font size="-2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><input width="125" vspace="5" type="image" hspace="10" height="134" align="left" longdesc="undefined" src="http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1944/amanowd4.jpg" />Best Bargain</font></strong></span></p>
<p><strong>A-Mano Primitivo 2003, Puglia $ 11.99 </strong>($10.20 with G.O.G.O. discount)<font size="-2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#660033"><br />
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<p><font color="#9933ff"><em>Relax and feel comfortable with this wine, because Primitivo is actually the same grape that is grown as red Zinfandel in California. Think of A-Mano as a terrific bargain Zin with soul. It’s medium-bodied with plenty of ripe briery fruit. <br />
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<p><span class="style8"><strong><font size="-2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.girlsongrapes.com/images/OldImages/clairettededie.jpg"><input width="110" vspace="10" type="image" hspace="10" height="105" border="0" align="left" src="http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/2329/ajelloyz1.jpg" /></a></font></strong></span><strong><span class="style8"><strong><font size="-2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Most Interesting</font></strong></span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Ajello “Majus” Grillo 2005, Sicily $11.99 </strong>($10.20 with G.O.G.O. discount) <font size="-3" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#660033"><br />
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<p><em><font color="#9933ff">A blend of Grillo (70%) and Catarratto (30%). The Grillo grape produces a crisp medium-bodied white with notes of tropical fruit, grapefruit and sage. So you wouldn’t look at the label and know what it is, but give it a try--this little everyday white provides some serious flavor. <br />
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<p><span class="style8"><strong><font size="-2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.girlsongrapes.com/images/OldImages/clairettededie.jpg"><input width="110" vspace="10" type="image" hspace="10" height="162" border="0" align="left" src="http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/3638/perderana6.jpg" /></a>Friendliest</font></strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Argiolas Perdera 2003, Sardina $14.99 </strong>($12.74 with G.O.G.O. discount) </p>
<p><font color="#9933ff"><em>Made from Monica, a nearly extinct local grape varietal, this vibrant, rustic red exudes a personality of roasted red fruits accented by spices and earth. Loaded with character, Perdera gives you a plump mouthful to chew on.</em></font></p>
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<p><span class="style11"><strong class="style8"><font size="-2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><input width="110" vspace="10" type="image" hspace="10" height="117" align="left" src="http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/8205/falernomassicoqv9.jpg" />Best in Show</font></strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Villa Mathilde “Falerno del Massico” 2003 $19.99 </strong>($16.99 with G.O.G.O. discount)<font size="-2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br />
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<p><font color="#9933ff"><em>Bold, powerful red with black fruit and earth aromas. Aglianico (80%) and Piedrosso (20%) comprise this wine’s blend. Powerful and broadly structured with firm tannins and a long finish. Be sure to feed this bottle of wine lamb, stew, or firm cheeses.</em></font><br />
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<p class="style14"><span class="style10"><font size="-2">If you'd like to explore the wines of Southern Italy<br />
in depth, come to one of our Tasting Events </font></span><br />
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.girlsongrapes.com/pda.aspx">(click here) </a></p>
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