6 EMBLA
WINE Wine is an old-age tradition that has been around for centuries. It is a sophisticated drink that takes years to produce to achieve the perfect taste. Every bottle is fermented with science and history. For those of us who are perpetually hunting for the unusual, the wine world is a mecca of delight. There are thousands of wine varieties, most of which exist in only in specific microclimates. Despite how rare these varietal wines are, they are within reach. Sound like an opportunity for some delicious discoveries? Absolutely! “If you tasted a new wine variety each week, it would take you 40 years to try them all.” Here are six rare red wine grapes that you deserve to know about.
Refosco Imagine picking blackberries in the forest while drinking coffee from a thermos. Typical Tasting Notes: Cherry, Dried Blackberry, Resinous-and-Floral Herbs, Espresso, Incense. Why Refosco is Awesome: For one, Refosco (aka Refošk) is actually a family of grapes, so for the sake of this exploration, let’s stick to one Italian variant called “Refosco dal Penduncolo Rosso.” This grape turns out to be the parent of Corvina, which makes one of the top wines of Italy (that’s Amarone della Valpolicella). Refosco manages to be heady and rich and high acid at the same time. Your tongue will tie knots! Frappato Drinking Frappato is like jumping into a giant pool of brightly-colored plastic balls.
