Wines of the Giro Stage 5

After Monday's tragedy and the symbolic and very emotional ride of Tuesday, on Wednesday the cyclists raced again. Today's race was 191km in Umbria from Piombino to Orvieto. It was an up and down day with three short climbs at Saragiolo, Croce di Fighine, and Valico di Monte Nibbio. On this final climb, the riders raced over gravel roads. Another 10 kilometer sector of gravel finished just outside 10 kilometers to race. The dirt rides provided the expected drama with crashes, near misses and a lot of dust. In fact, the Universal Sports coverage delighted in contrasting the dust of today to the mud of last year. Honestly, the mud looked like more fun and riders reported that the dry conditions made the road more slippery that they expected. In the end, Peter Weening soloed to both a stage victory and a day in pink.

Stage Winner and maglia rosa: Peter Weening

Wine: 09 Milziade Antano Grechetto dei Colli Martani $13.99 12% abv 67wine

They say: Despite its Greek origin, Greccheto has been cultivated in Italy since antiquity. Milziade Antano, a true traditionalist in Umbria, produces his 100% Greccheto in the Colli Martani DOC. Stylistically Antano would be in the old school in wine making terms – the lack of intervention in the winery, no barrique and no high-tech equipment.  All of Antano’s wines speak to the strength and passion of the land and the people who till and harvest its fruits. The wine is varietally true, full-bodied and showing subtle lemon and mineral character.

I say: Refreshing. Dry with citrus and floral notes. Makes me wish for a warm day on a lounge chair in my yard or a summer party. Well, in places that are warmer in July than San Francisco. Probably also very nice after a 191km dusty bike ride.