Ecco Domani

The name Ecco Domani has become almost synonymous for quality Italian wines, and so it is. It seems almost ludicrous to talk about Ecco Domani’s commitment to quality and to producing the finest wine for the money, when everything that is advertised today is touting the same thing; but in this case it is a statement that can be believed and trusted.
The secret is in the picking and choosing of the grapes. Ecco Domani winemakers know the districts in Italy where the grapes for specific varieties
grow best and concentrate on those areas. They then contract for grapes and husband them throughout the growing period right up to the harvest so as to be certain that they are getting the best of the best.

Ecco Domani 2011 IGT Delle Venezie Moscato ($14). There is a civil war going on in full force in Italy. There are no battles in this civil war and definitely no casualties; it is a war of grape growing locations and which grapes make the best Moscato, those of the east coast or the west? Everybody and their brother knows of the famed Moscato d’Asti from the western hills but there are also superb Moscato grapes grown in Friuli and Veneto districts where the grapes are blessed with the cool Adriatic breezes and the winds coming off of the Alps to the north. It is from these East coast grapes that the Ecco Domani winemakers select the grapes for their Moscato wine. The Ecco Domani 2011 IGT Delle Venezie Moscato is, like all Moscato wines, sweet, but it is not sugary sweet. The sweetness comes naturally from the grapes as does the almost overwhelming aroma of orange blossoms and honey which carry on to the flavor and then continue on to an incredibly long finish. This is the perfect wine for outdoor dining as it can beautifully accompany almost anything from the mildest of salads to the strong flavors of barbeque. This is definitely not a wine to miss.

Ecco Domani 2010 Merlot ($12). The Ecco Domani 2011 Merlot is high mountain grown grape variety that beats the normal odds for quality grape from a hot climate, in this case Sicily. While Sicily may be considered having a climate much too hot to grow quality grapes, there are vineyards high in the mountains of that island that are cool enough to beat the odds and do produce exceptional merlot grapes. The Ecco Domani 2010 Merlot is made without any oak aging allowing the natural flavors of the grapes to control the direction the wine will take. This wine displays a bold ripe cherry and blackberry aroma and flavor with a background of a fascinating earthy under flavor. This earthy component adds another layer of character and complexity to the wine. The wine finishes in a burst of fruit flavors that linger in the mouth for an incredibly long time. This wine is a real winner and an interesting departure from the “others.”

Domani 2011 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie ($12)The La Venezie district is about as far north as one can go and still remain in Italy. The Ecco Domani 201 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie is composed of 88.5% Pinot Grigio grapes with an additional 11.5% of Chardonnay grapes to soften the acid that naturally occurs in the Pinot Grigio grapes and also to expand the fresh fruit flavor. This almost colorless wine is very smooth and silky with a big and expansive aroma of peaches, apples, summer flowers and honey. The flavors too are equally expansive, stressing citrus and pineapple with hints of peach and spice. The finish of this wine is very long and fruity and stays in the mouth long after it has been swallowed. Try this exceptional wine with chicken dishes as well as with the traditional seafood and pastas. With wines made from the Pinot Grigio grape becoming more and more popular in the United States, this wine should be an immediate success, so shop early.