With just over a week to go until the Great Italian Fine Wine Encounter, Decanter's Nina Johal talks exclusively to Olympia Romba, who will be exhibiting Monteverro from Tuscany at the event. Find out what Olympia is looking forward to most at the encounter plus her picks of the best wines to seek-out this summer...
It’s only a week to go until this year’s Great Italian Fine Wine Encounter. What are you most looking forward to?
We’re looking forward to exhibiting our wines in such a prestigious environment, especially as Decanter is such a world-renowned magazine. My favourite wine that we’ll be bringing along has to be the Chardonnay 2009. The season and temperature made a fresh, citrusy, slightly grassy wine.
We’ll keep an eye out for it! What other wines would you recommend to Decanter readers for everyday drinking?
It has to be the Terra 2009. It has a fresh, accessible nose, full of fruit, full of life. It vibrates and explodes in your mouth making you feel excited about the thought of opening a second bottle. It’s definitely one of my favourites.
Aside from everyday drinking, are there any wines you think are worth spending a bit extra on?
Well I’d have to say the Monteverro 2009, it’s our flagship wine. It’s a Cuvée blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It’s our version of a Premier Grand Cru from Tuscany. Monteverro in Italian means absolute top – it has a silky structure, an unmistakable complexity and an impressive richness of aroma in its taste. You just can’t beat it!
Outside Italy, what would you predict to be the next big trends in wine?
The wine world is always in movement so I can’t really say to be honest. All I know is winemakers have new ideas, owners have new dreams, consumers have new demands. For us, respecting the tradition and the terroir means finding a solution to adapt a system within its natural element. Improving quality is something people have done for centuries and we should never stop trying. What is innovation today, will probably be tradition in the future.
And finally, Italy is renowned for having many different grape varieties. Which are the star performers?
Syrah and Cabernet Franc in Maremma will be the next stars I think with their innovation. We have seen those grapes support the climate of Maremma even in extreme vintages. The soil of Monteverro shows a real adaptation of these varieties and we always pick those grapes with great acidity at their peak of maturity. Some years Syrah can be a little peppery and Cabernet Franc slightly rustic, but overall and blended with small percentage of other varieties, they are majestic in this terroir.
To meet Olympia and to taste the Monteverro range, book your tickets to The Great Fine Wine Encounter here.
Written by Nina Johal
