This is a singular white wine. Tre Monte, about a 20 minute train ride east of Bologna, was started in the early ‘70s by Thea and Sergio Navacchia with their sons, Vittorio and David taking the reins in 1989. The Navacchia family are amazing people, and some of the most enjoyable and gracious hosts I’ve ever met. They farm and make wine with a very thoughtful purpose that comes through in this wine. And wow, the aromas explode from the glass with ripe apricot, orange peel and dried herb notes. The palate is rich and full-bodied, as is typical of Albana, with an exotic texture gained from 15 days of skin contact (but none of the funkiness sometimes associated with skin contact whites). Flavors of apricot, peach, and almonds mingle with fresh acidity in this scintillating dry white wine. Enjoy as a head-turning aperitif, or with all sorts of antipasti, dried fruits and cheeses, seafood, squash dishes, and roast chicken or duck.
