Saturday, October 24, 2020

Wine and Food of the Giro 2020 Stage 20: Alba to Sestriere

Where are we?
Alba: Alba, Creative Cities of UNESCO, is nestled in the hills of Southern Piedmont, not far from Turin and Milan. Alba is as the “capital” of the area, the heart of the gastronomic Langhe Roero district, renowned for its excellent products, increasingly sought after as a tourist destination.

The specialities: The city and the surroundings provide us with a rich gastronomic offer: wine cellars, wine bars, farmhouses, inns and restaurants; you just have to choose where to start your journey through the tastes and flavors of our cuisine. The Alba White Truffle is the King of the culinary world.
People coming to the Langhe Monferrato Roero region know what to expect: beautiful landscapes, excellent food&wine and high-level hospitality. Food and wine are the traditional attractions of the area; important wines, like Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera d’Asti and Moscato d’Asti, are served with local dishes: countless starters, homemade pasta like tajarin, ravioli al “plin” and agnolotti, fassone tartare, PDO cheeses (i.e. Robiola di Roccaverano), that can be enhanced by an Alba White Truffle shave.
Last but not least, the desserts made with Nocciola Piemonte PGI, such as the hazelnut cake and the bunet (a traditional chocolate pudding to be eaten by the spoon).


Sestriere: Summit of the Piedmont Olympic mountains and the Vialattea ski area, from the height of 2,035 meters, the Municipality of Sestriere is located on the homonymous hill straddling the Val Chisone and the Valle di Susa. It is dominated to the northwest by Mount Fraiteve (2,701 m), to the southeast by Mount Sises (2,658 m), Punta Rognosa di Sestriere (3,280 m) and Mount Motta (2,850 m). Sestriere is a renowned and safe point of reference for national and international tourism also thanks to the image it has been able to conquer over the years by successfully hosting major sporting events. From the Ski World Cup, to the 1997 World Ski Championships, to the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics and Paralympics: Sestriere is the ski resort that has hosted the largest number of internationally titled races.

Specialities: Simple or refined, strong or delicate, the flavors of our mountains are an integral part of a stay. In fact, the local gastronomic tradition is perfectly combined with selected cards of the best wines of Italy. From the most popular to the most renowned labels to accompany delicious dishes.

The stage: Our final road stage of the Giro has arrived and our break was large.  The 21 were: Bouchard, Vendrame, Tratnik, Fiorelli, Malecki, Viviani, Ballerini, Honore, Serry, Kangert, Demare, Guglielmi, Cimolai, Holmes, Rubio, Villella, Gebreigzabhier, Sobrero, Bernard, Conci, and McNulty.
Eventually launching from that group: Ballerini. Behind, the gc group was falling apart. Otherwise known as: small groups on the road. With Dennis pushing, Kelderman would lose contact. His teammate Hindely would go with the Dennis led group.
At the front of the race, Rubio was solo.
Twenty kilometers to go and the group of Dennis, Hindley and Geoghegan Hart had around 40 seconds over the pink jersey group. Still over a minute ahead, Rubio.
All of the groups would pick up riders from the early break. Sometimes they could hang on for a little while. Ahead, Rubio had been caught by Ballerini and Serry. They would soon be caught by the Dennis led group. Nine kilometers to go and they had 1:29 over the pink jersey group.
At the sprint point, Hindley would gain one second over Geoghegan Hart. Under five kilometers to go and the gap was under 1:30. Four kilometers and 1:07 as Nibali dropped form that second group. Jumping from that group Almeida.
First attack by Hindley and they would bring him back. He would keep attacking. Dropping from the duo, Dennis. But he would make it back. Trying again, Hindley.
Sprint finish between the two and Geoghegan Hart with the win. They would go into tomorrow's time trial with the same time.
The GC going into the final stage time trial tomorrow:

The wine: Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Barolo Vigna Vecchie Vigna dei Dardi
From the importer:  If you are not yet familiar with brothers Alessandro and Gian Natale Fantino of Monforte d’Alba, here is a great opportunity to meet these Barolo veterans. Natives of Piemonte, they boast extensive experience crafting old-school, terroir-driven Nebbiolo. Alessandro managed winemaking for twenty years at the esteemed Bartolo Mascarello estate, before ultimately teaming up with his brother in the family cellars as the fratelli focused exclusively on their own production.
    The Fantino holdings in the steep Bussia vineyard of Monforte are crucial to this endeavor. They sustainably work old vines in the small Dardi sub-section, a perfectly exposed plot that gives rich, structured Barolo as good young as it is old. The traditionalist ways in the cellar, with spontaneous fermentations and an eschewal of new oak, only serve to highlight the impeccably farmed fruit from this time-tested site.


The food: Why not try making homemade agnolotti? But to be honest, I had a crazy work week and ordered some froze from Cotogna to eat at home. I have no regrets. 


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