Saturday, May 20, 2017

Wine & Food of the Giro 2017 Stage 14

Castellania – Oropa, 131 km

Where are we? Going uphill!

 Castellania is the focal point of that area that is reknowned as “Coppi Hills”: a territory in the Appenines which can be discovered through cycling tours or tours of other kinds, from the mountains to the sea.
 From the Giro site:
FOOD: Montebore cheese (Slow Food heritage), salame Nobile del Giarolo (Slow Food heritage), nocciola Gentile del Piemonte (hazelnuts), white truffles, organic honey.
WINE: Barbera, Cortese, Croatina (red), Timorasso (white).

OROPA (BIELLA) The Oropa Sanctuary is placed at the height of 1,200 mt and is since many centuries ago the destination of believers who comes up to pray in front of the Black Virgin Mary. The sacred mount which surrounds the Sancturay is one of the Unesco World Heritage sites.

Food: Pulenta cunscia (polenta with cheese from local pastures), fondue, ris an cagnùn (risotto with toma cheese and browned butter); salam d’la duja (salami dipped in pork lard), salam d’ patata (salami with potatoes); honey or grape mostarda (served with bollito misto); paste di Meliga and canestrelli (biscuits). Wine: Lessona (red), Bramaterra (red), Gattinara (red, Nebbiolo grapes), Erbaluce di Caluso (white, spumante, passito); Menabrea beer. 

 The stage:


Off to the hills:


 Under thirty kilometers and the gap was under a minute. A question: is that a whale?


Battles ahead as the trains form at the bottom of the climb. Under ten kilometers to go and an attempt by Diego Rosa to launch himself off the front. Six kilometers to go and he was caught. Next to launch, Igor Anton.  But there came the gc guys, led by Zakarin. Four kilometers to go, it was Quintana, Zakarin and Pozzovivo. Just over three kilometers to go and Quintana was alone at the front. Dumoulin continues to work behind and his gap was not growing rapidly. Missing from the front group, Pinot. Two kilometers to go and Quintana had only seven seconds. Under the final kilometer and it was Dumoulin at the front. Stage win and bonus seconds for Dumoulin. That was VERY impressive.




Wine: Azienda Vitivinicola Massimo Clerico, Costa della Sesia Rosso Ca’ du Leria
From the importer: The Clerico family has worked the land in Lessona since the 1700s. In fact, the Clerico estate, under the direction of Sandrino Clerico (Massimo’s father), was one of the three original vineyards awarded the right to the Lessona appellation when it was first created in 1976. The Clerico family owns two hectares within the designated Lessona zone which, by the way, makes the Clerico azienda the third largest landholder in the appellation!





Food: Fondue! Our recipe has not changed from our Cooking from the Books days. 
8 oz. grated cheese
1 cup white wine
As much nutmeg as K felt like grating
1 teaspoon corn starch

Heat wine over a medium-high heat until it begins to foam but does not boil. Add cheese gradually, stirring all the while. Grate in nutmeg and continue to stir until the mixture begins to thicken slightly. Add cornstarch and stir until the mixture thickens enough to coat your dipping items. Pour into a fondue pot and place over sterno to keep warm.
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