A real crowd-pleaser from a family-run winery
Fatjon Muca, from The Whitehall Restaurant and Bar in Leeds, picks out a rich and complex wine from northern Italy
As the owner of The Whitehall Restaurant and Bar in Leeds, I get the opportunity to try, and also serve, some truly exceptional wines.
On our wine list I have a few favourites, one wine that I keep coming back to is Soraie from Cecilia Beretta. It’s no surprise that this wine is one of our biggest sellers, thanks to its accessibility, versatility, and excellent value for money.
Soraie is made by Cecilia Beretta, a family run winery and producer, based in Veneto, northern Italy, since 1925. They are known for producing high-quality wines, particularly Amarone della Valpolicella. Cecilia is the daughter of the family and the fourth generation to run the estate.
Soraie Cecilia Beretta 2021 is a blend of corvina (a grape local to the area) and merlot. To make it they use a traditional winemaking technique called appassimento.
This is where the grapes are dried before pressing, which concentrates their flavours and aromas. This is the same process they use to make Amarone, but for Soraie they dry the grapes for slightly less time… making a “baby Amarone”. The result is a wine that’s rich and complex, with a real depth of flavour.
On the nose, it has a fresh and fruity aroma with hints of cherries and blackberries. Upon tasting, you’ll notice a well-rounded flavour with a perfect balance of tannins and acidity. There’s a lovely juiciness to this wine that makes it a real crowd-pleaser. Smooth, velvety and rich.
What myself and the team love about this wine is the way it pairs so effortlessly with our grill section of the menu, which is cooked over fire in our grill. The wine’s structure and body work in perfect harmony with the char and smokiness of the meats, which is a truly memorable combination. It is a wine that I’m always happy to recommend to my customers and has been on the wine list since the day we opened.
Overall, the Soraie Cecilia Beretta 2021 is a fantastic wine that deserves all the praise it gets. It’s affordable, accessible, and very tasty.
Whether you’re a seasoned wine drinker or a newcomer to the world of wine, this is a wine that you won’t regret trying. Next time you are in the restaurant I recommend trying a bottle… I promise you won’t be disappointed. Cheers!
The Whitehall Restaurant & Bar
West Point Building, 29 Wellington St, Leeds LS1 4JY
0113 2448443
https://www.thewhitehallleeds.com
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