Any day is a good day to drink wine. But a stunning spring afternoon, beneath a blue sky and bright sun, was an especially good one to cross the Chicago River, enter the Lyric Opera House and sample some very fine wine. Fifteen purveyors from Italy’s Tuscany region gathered in the opera house’s foyer to introduce Chicagoans to “Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.”
Deftly opening bottles and offering sips, the pros at each table provided information to demystify their product. For example, regulations require that Sangiovese grapes comprise 70% of any wine called Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The initials IGT, DOC and DOCG on labels indicate a good-better-best system for quality control.
If the architectural grandeur of the Lyric Opera House and plentiful mini-pours didn’t already make attendees’ spirits soar, a bit of history did the job: Many centuries ago, Michelangelo traded his art for wine. The Frescobaldi family vineyards date back 700 years and count the artist among their most famous enthusiasts. All of the vendors, regardless of their vineyards’ pedigrees, showed similar pride and passion for their wares. Indeed, bringing a taste of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano to Chicago was a noble endeavor.
Photos by author Susan Lieberman, unless otherwise indicated.
