I don't beleve I tasted Osé when I met Cincia Canzian of Le Vigne di Alice at Vino 2010 in February.
The name Osé has a feel of adventure to it, of unexpected thrills.
Cinzia announced 'Un maiale un po’ osé-Parfum de porceau' event this week-end at Trattoria alla Cerva in Veneto.
With my very poor Italian language skills I don't quite get the link between Osé and pork-pigs. A local tradition I guess.
Getting back to the wine, here's how Cinzia introduces it:
"Glera, Marzemino, we dared to put together two local grapes: Glera, white grape, and Marzemino, red grape. Alice Osé is a hippy of a sparklingwine, that goes against trends; sweet to the nose but dry in the mouth.Raspberry red, bright and sparkling fine continuous bubbles. Distinct fruit and flower scent, typical of Marzemino grape: geranium, raspberry, wild rose. Fresh clean taste, fruity but dry."
The 'parfum de porceau' seems to find its roots in old Italian expressions according to Il Ghilino who dares to link it to the music of Verdi…
Vintage illustration 'In Praise of the Pig' (above) chosen by Il Ghilino has a quaint charm to it.
Poetic imagery from Italy.