Meza Wine Club / August 2026
Discovery White / White
Wine 1: La Staffa Verdicchio
Ian d'Agata, in his wonderful book about Italian grapes*, says that Verdicchio is 'arguably Italy's greatest native white grape variety…’ I love Verdicchio, and I drink a lot of it. The bright, distinctive, intense Verdicchio di Matelica from Colle Stefano has been a staple of our selection for ages. Until recently I hadn’t found a Verdicchio in the neighboring Castelli di Jesi appellation that was quite as interesting. But just to see if there were exceptions, I tasted through a slew of Jesi bottlings at Vinitaly, and the wine from an estate called La Staffa stuck out: it was vibrant, direct, very flavorful, complex and delicious. La Staffa's young owner and enologist Riccardo Baldi was sharing a booth not far away, and I tasted through his whole line of wines, impressed by them and by his youthful enthusiasm (Riccardo was 24 at the time, and had already made 5 vintages). A week later, a visit to the vineyards and winery in the beautiful rolling hills outside the little town of Staffolo was equally impressive. The estate is at relatively high elevation, which explains the freshness of the wines.
La Staffa’s ‘Rincrocca’ is a selection of old Verdicchio vines. The site is planted with 5 different clones of Verdicchio, 2 of these clones are not available in the market anymore. Notes of almond, citrus, green apple, and herbs, with fresh acidity and a long finish. Delicious as a dry aperitif, or drink with most any seafood dish or roast chicken.
Wine 2: Pasael House White
Blend of Sıdalan (pronunciation: Sea-da-lahn), Sultaniye (pronunciation: sool-tan-ee-yeh), and Chardonnay - Vineyards are located in Cappadocia, within the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. Ungrafted vines planted at 3,000 ft in elevation in Sandy, volcanic soils. Each variety is sourced from a unique terroir and fermented in stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 18C. Paşaeli House White is a blend of Sıdalan, Sultaniye, and Chardonnay varieties. This elegant blend unites the diverse terroirs of the Aegean region, expressing all its diversity. This is a fresh, fruit-forward ode to the bistros of Istanbul and beyond.
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