Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/611718
december 2015 / the tasting panel / 109 Fitzgerald's Overall Experience "Not having yet traveled to Italy myself, I felt as if Italy was brought to me. This opportunity to be educated by this incredible group was one of a kind. The Cru Artisan College was made for somms. The quality of lectures, tasting and interaction was a priceless learning experience. One fond memory was discovering a Bardolino made in a Chiaretto style that was available only on the East Coast. I was lucky enough to ask if it could be made available on the West Coast. It's now one of my favorite wines to sell. It shows the direct contact and conversations we all had with the different professors." Fitzgerald's Takeaways "I learned more about the origination of biodynamics from Nicolas Quille. He talked of farmers relying too much on substances and not paying enough attention to life forces. Pieces of soil, nettle, horsetail, silica as well as cow horn [used to hold compost and placed underground] were passed around and explained for their contribution to the biodynamic practices. I've since downloaded the biody- namic calendar on my phone—[which seems a little wrong] but it is a big help when I'm doing my daily tastings with suppliers, distributors and winemakers." Fitzgerald's Must Mentions "The timing was perfect with the 2010 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino just arriving in markets. The opportunity to taste a variety of Brunello clones and then trying to distinguish the different characteristics that the individual clone brought to the wine was a great exercise. Learning that it takes six bottles of water for one bottle of wine and the importance of economic stability in order to create any other kind of sustainability. "2011 Banfi La Lus, which is 100% Albarossa—a unique and not widely known varietal from south of Piedmont. It was originally thought to be a cross of Barbera and Nebbiolo. [It later turned out to be Chatus, also locally known as Nebbiolo di Dronero, a French cousin to the Nebbiolo of Barolo.] The first vintage was in 2006, so its age ability is still a work in process. It's a beautiful hue of ruby red with floral notes, fresh red fruits and subtle tannins." Galiano's Overall Experience "I found about this course through THE TASTING PANEL and decided to enroll. It was nice seeing how the Italian winemakers/producers ["professors"] interacted, between them and also the students, in such a natural and warm way. As a Spaniard, it made me feel very close to my home country. Each course very wisely approached each region with different perspectives. Also, the teachers/wine makers were very entertaining and very knowledgeable. I recall a handful of moments that made the whole class laugh really hard." Galiano's Takeaways "I bought the book Vino Italiano (by Bastianich & Lynch) right after and decided to keep learning and enroll in an Italian Wine Specialist course. This seminar was the kick- starter of a full immersion in the not-so-well-known Italian wine, cuisine and culture. It has definitely helped me to be able to talk, inform and suggest about wines and regions from Italy, giving to the consumer a more complete experi- ence that satisfies their preferences." Galiano's Must Mentions "The Amore for Amarone course—the wines from Veneto are among my favorite in the world, especially from the Valpolicella region. We learned about the accidental birth of Amarone, first being labeled and exported in the 1950s, and about its pioneers, including Pietro Sartori and Abele Bolla. "The 2008 Corte Bra Sartori Amarone, 2011 Luna Mater Frascati Superiore—a very interesting wine from the volcanic soils of Lazio—and the 2002 Florio Targa, a semi- dry Marsala was nutty and very beautiful." Sartori di Verona Corte Bra Amarone della Valpolicella Classico featured at Wine World & Spirits, Seattle. PHOTOS: RICHARD DUVAL CAMPUS LOCATION: SEATLLE, HOTEL ALEXIS STUDENTS: Shelly Fitzgerald, CS, CSW, (left) Wine Buyer for Downtown Spirits; and Wine Buyer Isabela Parra Galiano (right) of Seattle's Wine World & Spirits