Public Service Message - Buying wine in Torino

[David M. Bueker]

So I just spent 5 days in Torino, Italy, and while I had a rgeat time there and drank very well (reports to come), there was one thing that really bothered me.

I spent some time in 4 separate wine shops & every single one was sweat inducing hot. It's been very warm in Torino the last few weeks, and few places have much air conditioning. I shudder to think of what has happened to some very fine Giacosa (I even saw red label Riservas in places that were very warm), Conterno, Mascarello, etc. wines. One thing that caught my eye was some 2000 Trimbach Gewurztraminer VT that was way up on a very high shelf in a warm room, so you know that stuff is long since cooked.

One night I had a bottle of 2000 Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo with dinner & it was definitely far advanced from heat.

When cooler weather comes nobody will be the wiser, but I will not be buying wine in Torino.

It's amazing how warm wine stores can be-even in California. Some shops have the cooled "reserve rooms," but even the regular wines should be kept relatively cool.

Timely warning and not just for Torino!

Next time I think of buying during or in the months following a heat wave from an enoteca in Italy, a caviste in France or similar in another country, I will remember to check their air conditioning arrangements.

Sorry to hear this, David. I am presently in Umbria and it is hot here during the day, but dry - nice and cool at night. These medieval towns, however, have cool buildings and enotecas. They have not seen any rain in over a month!

[James Roscoe]

Sorry to hear this, David. I am presently in Umbria and it is hot here during the day, but dry - nice and cool at night. These medieval towns, however, have cool buildings and enotecas. They have not seen any rain in over a month!

Sounds pretty much like the Mid-Atlantic except for the cool nights thing. Have a great time Paulo!

[David M. Bueker]

Sorry to hear this, David. I am presently in Umbria and it is hot here during the day, but dry - nice and cool at night.

It was somewhat humid in Torino the first couple of days & it never really cooled down at night.

Yes indeed true of a number of them (I recall Casa del Barolo being particularly hot for a basement room). As you say, some of the best and oldest are left to bake on the highest shelves. Which were the places you went to?

IIRC Vitel Etonne's downstairs cantina was cool enough. There's one cracking place in the North of Torino that has all the good old wines stored off-site.

Did you buy any to take home?

regards

Ian