Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Wines of the Giro Stage10 : Cordani Terzolo & Bouhanni is Having a Great Giro

Where are we: Still in Emilia Romagna, heading 173 kilometers from Modena to Salsomaggiore Terme. Modena is the home of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani, appropriate enough for what should be a sprint stage. It is also known for its balsamic vinegar. Google tells me that Salsomaggiore Terme is famous for its magnificent thermal baths.Also, on the route today: Parma.
The route: A flat route after our second rest day. This should be a day for the sprinters.Per Inrng: "98.5% flat and tactically unremarkable."

The race: Off they went. A two man break consisting of Marco Bandiera (Androni) and Andrea Fedi (Neri Sottoli - Yellow Fluo) had an early big gap, over eight minutes very early in the stage. Neither rider represents any threat to the jersey wearers, so they are likely to keep their gap throughout the day. With 114 kilometers to go, their break was at 5:38. 
At the intermediate sprint point, with 105 kilometers to go, Viviani took the  maximum points from the peloton. The points jersey competition will be an interesting one to watch throughout the rest of the Giro. 
Under 80 kilometers to go and the gap was hovering around six minutes. The stage had, thus far, been just about as dull as predicted. It had been one of those stages for the poor announcers to desperately beg for questions from Twitter to help fill the air time. Also, viewers got to hear a lot more about things like feed zones. 
64 kilometers to go and the gap was down to 4'48. At least the scenery was pretty. And then the peloton woke up a bit, and the gap started coming down rapidly. With 53 kilometers to go, it was already down to 3:20, as the teams of the sprinters led the chase. 50 kilometers to go and the gap was just about three minutes. Not wanting to catch the break too early and allow for an attack, the sprint teams seemed happy to back off slightly. 
Parma!









It was clearly time for the chasers to get serious. Sure enough, with twenty kilometers to go, the gap was under three minutes. A crash in the peloton with
Yannick Eijssen down and would not finish the stage. Sixteen kilometers to go and the gap was down to 1:39. Ten kilometers to go and it was down to a 30 second gap. Hey, Sky at the front. Lots of gaps were opening in the peloton. Nice riding by Cadel Evans to stay with this front group. Sure enough, a crash, with lots of riders on the road. Tyler Farrar looked to be one of the first down. 

Ahead, another great sprint by Nacer Bouhanni. Three now for him. There had been splits in the peloton, but the 3-kilometer rule will give all of the main group the same time. Great ride today by Cadel Evans to stay out of trouble.


Stage:Nacer Bouhanni
GC: Cadel Evans



 The wine: Cordani Terzolo 2011
from Biondivino

 From the producer:
Here at Montine (the name of our home) there were mostly woods, a few fields and just a couple vineyards. My grandparents lived 30 kilometers away at that time, so they’d come to this area on Monday and return to their house on Friday. They slept in a stable just two kilometers away during the week while they worked the vines. They were commuters ahead of their time!!!! 

Philosophies, Ideas & Practices: I started working in the vineyards when I was born and I still do it today. I was born here, and after awhile you begin to live in symbiosis with the plants; and your own timeframe becomes the same as your plant’s. I plant new vines and I see them growing and eventually they become part of you. 

Winemaking: In the cellar I work as my grandfather used to: without yeasts or strange alchemies. 
See the winery website at http://www.aziendacordani.it

 I say: Obscure grape alert. Some info on Ortrugo from the Enoteca Regionale Emilia Romagna:
Ortrugo is probably one among the many grapes already grown in the Piacenza area in the pre-Christian era, and one among the few we still know. First the hard frost in the four Piacenza valleys and then the American diseases decimated many vine varieties: Ortrugo is one of the survivors. It is an early white grape, with long and compact greenish-yellow bunches. Particularly suited for semi-sparkling and sparkling wines, Ortugo today is also made in the still version, particularly appreciated abroad.
Frizzante! Looks like cider and there are indeed some apple notes. Refreshing but not simple.
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