Introducing the Vitiarium Collection Part IV: Avane 2022 Chardonnay Toscana

^{This post has been sponsored by San Felice. All opinions expressed are my own. The following message is intended for those 21+.}

Today, we’re taking a look at the Vitiarium Collection’s In Avane 2022 Chardonnay Toscana.

San Felice is a historic winery located in Tuscany and a longtime friend of Living the Gourmet. Today, we’re taking a look at the fourth bottle of their Vitiarium Collection, which seeks to embody the soul of the Tuscan Estate.

The Vitiarium Collection includes four wines that represent the culmination of San Felice’s Vitiarium Project, a groundbreaking initiative in viticultural sustainability. Launched in the 1980s, the Vitiarium Project revived near-extinct local Tuscan grape varieties and broke ground on a 1.6-hectare vineyard preserving local viticultural biodiversity. This initiative reflects San Felice's commitment to both traditional practices and scientific research, in collaboration with the University of Florence.

Now, to sample the Vitiarium Collection’s In Avane Chardonnay Toscana. As always, we’ll cover some of the region’s basics, including what makes Tuscany so special, and then take a look at the wine itself, before closing with some pairing suggestions.

The Where – Tuscany, Italy

In viniculture, ‘The Three Great Terroirs’ consist of – in order of prestige, value, and production – France, Italy, and Spain. Today’s bottle comes to us from Tuscany, which is arguably one of the most iconic regions of Italian winemaking, which in turn makes it “One of the most iconic regions in ‘all’ of winemaking.”

To start, Tuscany is divided across a whopping forty-one DOCs and 11 DOCGs, which are regional classification systems regulating how and where wines are made. Aside from production methods and geography, this classification system also sets rigid quality standards, including but not limited to standardized taste testing.

However, despite this vast area of literally dozens of specified production areas and methods into which Tuscany is divided, the bedrock of Tuscan winemaking is a single varietal – Sangiovese. Sangiovese so dominates the region that it is almost impossible to talk about Tuscan winemaking without giving mention to the grape that produces the dry red wines for which Tuscany is famous. Prized for its high acid, ‘pleasantly firm’ tannins and balance, a quality wine based on Sangiovese will evoke images of ripe dark cherries and black stonefruit, perforated with stark herbal notes. Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Brunello di Montalcino (all of which we’ve reviewed here on Living the Gourmet) are just a few of the world-renowned wines produced from Sangiovese.

However, Sangiovese is assuredly ‘not’ the beginning and end of the story of Tuscan winemaking. For example, the 1970s saw the rise of ‘Super Tuscans,’ an unofficial term used to describe several high-quality Tuscan wines that were, for one reason or another, excluded from receiving DOC or DOCG status by breaking traditional Italian winemaking norms. Regardless of local labeling, a number of these wines achieved critical acclaim, as well as commercial success, and ended up becoming ‘cult wines’ that commanded high prices. Over the ensuing decades, some of these ‘Super Tuscans’ were granted DOC or DOCG status – although it can be argued that such status detracted from their ‘cult’ mystique as ‘rogue labels.’ Aside from the controversial ‘Super Tuscans,’ other wines have also seen success across Tuscany, such as Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tight regulations and quality standards aside, climate is perhaps the foremost factor in Tuscany’s success. The region’s warm and temperate coastline is flanked by inland hillsides and mountains, which help temper the region’s searing summers, which in turn contribute to increased temperature variation. This temperature variation between the hills, mountains, and warm coastline helps balance the sugars and acidity of the region’s grapes. Sangiovese performs best when it receives maximum direct sunlight, and as such, the hilly terrain of the region is almost tailor-made for this grape, with the majority of the area’s vineyards being planted at elevations of between some five-hundred and sixteen-hundred feet. This higher elevation further increases temperature variance, which further increases the balance of sugar and acidity.

The Bottle – A Showcase

We’re reviewing the 2022 San Felice In Avane Chardonnay Toscana. The name itself is an homage to Tuscany’s Etruscan roots, with In Avane coming from the Etruscan word “Avenal,” meaning ‘territory’ (terroir). What’s more, the label depicts golden saffron pistils, a plant symbolizing Tuscany’s geographical identity. The golden coloring of the label is meant, of course, not only to evoke saffron tones, but to represent the golden-hued chardonnay contained within the bottle, as well as its honeyed sweetness and vibrant exotic fruit notes.

Tasting and Aromatics – The Review

The In Avane Chardonnay: This wine opens with a golden hue, well represented by its label, and introduces itself with a bouquet of lush citrus fruits and white flowers. Deeper into the glass, there were notes of acacia, along with hints of tropic fruits, especially pineapple, with just a touch of peach lingering somewhere in the background. From the first sip, the wine is instantly well balanced and fresh tasting, with crisp acidity and pleasant softness to the mouthfeel. The fruit notes carry over from the bouquet quite nicely. A very enjoyable and approachable Chardonnay from start to finish.

Pairing the In Avane Chardonnay

In general, by-the-book chardonnay pairings apply to today’s wine. Here are a few suggestions to help you get the most out of this bottle.

Poultry & Light Meats: Every good chardonnay loves poultry and lighter meats, and today’s bottle is no exception.

1. Lemon and Herb Roasted Chicken
   • This pairing plays off of the citrus bouquet and provides some savory balance to the wine’s fruitier elements.
2. Turkey with Apricot Glaze
   • A fruit-forward and aromatic pairing, this would play beautifully with the peach and pineapple elements of the chardonnay.
3. Chicken Piccata
   • A classic chardonnay pairing. The lemon-caper butter sauce is an excellent match for the wine’s acidity and softer mouthfeel.

Pasta & Vegetarian Dishes: You had to see this one coming, as chardonnay is all but tailor-made for pasta and veggie dishes.

1. Linguine with Lemon and Asparagus
   • This pairing is meant to highlight the wine’s citrus and white floral notes with springtime freshness.
2. Pasta Primavera or Ricotta-Stuffed Ravioli
   • A light, creamy sauce with seasonal vegetables.
3. Butternut Squash Risotto
   • Provides great contrast between the wine’s brightness and the sweetness of the squash.

And that’s our review of San Felice’s 2022 In Avane Chardonnay Toscana, and don’t forget to check out their new Vitiarium Collection.

If you enjoyed today’s article, tried the wine, or have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you!

Cheers!

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