Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/859549
86 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 Style Südtirol Alto Adige Wines Ambassador May Matta-Aliah, DWS, CWE. ALTO ADIGE WINES DELIGHT WITH ACIDITY AND PERSONALITY by Allyson Gorsuch / photos by Cal Bingham I taly has a reputation for possessing obscure grape varieties and unusual, unique-to-the-place aspects and soil types; the small region of Alto Adige in northeastern Italy takes that reputation to a grander level. The Alto Adige Wine Consortium and The Somm Journal decided to challenge the wines with a lofty menu including several flavor profiles—only to find that most of them went beautifully with everything! Twenty astute wine buyers convened in the back room of Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles to explore the array of dishes prepared by Sous Chef Herbert Yuen in the acclaimed restaurant owned by the famous Mario Batali, Joe Bastianich and Nancy Silverton partnership. Alto Adige Wines Ambassador May Matta-Aliah, DWS, CWE, guided us through the eruditely chosen lineup of wines as well as the essential history and intricacies of the region as a whole. Matta-Aliah explained that the region finds itself identifying more as South Tyrolean than innately Italian, as three different languages are spoken and the cuisine has a clear Austrian influ - ence. Moreover, every genuine bottle of Alto Adige wine is branded with the German language "Südtirol" (South Tyrol) logo, creating an identifiable worldwide brand for the Alto Adige DOC.