Giro Stage 10

From: http://www.podiumcafe.com/2011/5/16/2173764/giro-stage-10-preview-termoli-teramo-159km

First rest day done, today the peloton  returns to the mainland and turns north up Italy's Adriatic coast riding 159 km from Termoli to Teramo.  The Giro  calls it a pianeggiante (flat). The ride along the Adriatic coast will include only small hills, past the fishing town of Pescara to Giulanova, where the stage turns inland. All signs point to a breakaway brought back followed by a field sprint. To my amusement, here was a tweet from Mark Cavendish:

MarkCavendish 12:54am via HTC Peep

http://twitgoo.com/2a2hj7 Look! Look! Oh! Oh! Oh! Look! Look! A sprint! A real sprint! For sprinters!

And sure enough, to my delight, he came through with the victory! 

Stage: Mark Cavendish

Maglia Rossa: Caontador

Region: Abruzzo

Wine: Nicodemi Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 08 $17.00   

They say: Fattoria Nicodemi is located in the Teramo district in Abruzzo, a hilly province bordering the Adriatic sea in central Italy. It was founded by Bruno Nicodemi, and today is run by brother and sister team Alessandro and Elena Nicodemi. High up in these chalky, clay-rich hills, the Nicodemi estate couldn't be better located—and any more different than bulk producers in the Abruzzo lowlands. The family's vineyards, at more than 900 feet above sea level, enjoy a slow cook, with warm afternoons and cool evenings. “We try to work in a simple way,” says Elena, to let the estate's terroir speak clearly; all field work, including the harvest, is done by hand. Their Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo wines represent fruit-forward, single-varietal bottlings that are both rich in flavor and represent great value.

I say: Sturdy, deep color, dark fruit. Would be nice with my favorite meatballs and pasta.