Yesterday we went Italian at worldly Mondiall, enjoying nine very fine and fantastic Fantinel wines, with a broad spectrum of Prosecco, light white wines, and rich earthy red wines, introduced by Dr Marco Fantinel, President of Gruppo Vinicolo Fantinel. The company is adding South Africa to its list of elite distribution points.

We were served a glass of Fantinel Prosecco Extra Dry as the welcome drink, and served canapés of ceviche on sesame crisps, as well as pork belly.  The pork belly canapés appeared just as we were going upstairs for the tasting, and were finished before I could photograph them!

Dr Fantinel traced the development of the company back to his grandfather Mario Fantinel, a hotelier and retaurateur in Fruili, in north-east Italy, who bought the vineyards 45 year ago.  His sons Luciano, Gianfranco, and Loris took over the wine farming, and expanded the vineyards in Fruili Venezia Giulia, near Venice.  Fantinel is now managed by the third generation, the grandchildren of Mario Fantinel, and has become an internationally acclaimed winery and ambassador for Frulian winemaking, selling its wines in 90 countries.   Its head office is in Tauriano.  Africa is an important focus for Fantinel, and it already supplies Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zanzibar, with Morocco, Cameroon, Ghana, Egypt, Mozambique, Angola, and Botswana to follow.

The Fantinel vineyards lie between Italy and Slovenia and Austria, surrounded by the Alps and the southern slopes face the Adriatic Sea.  This creates climatic conditions which sees warm daytime temperatures and cool nights, giving the wines higher acidity and freshness.  Fantinel vinifies 100% of its grapes from 364 ha, making them completely independent, being the key to their success, Dr Fantinel said.  The soil is rocky limestone, giving low yields, and the wines minerality, with richness and salinity.  We were shown a beautifully shot and well-spoken video of the Fantinel vineyards.  The logo is classy and classic, and the pay-off line is ‘Feel the emotion’.  

Fruili makes 2% of Italy’s wines, predominantly Prosecco, and 80% of this wine is exported.  The Prosecco appellation is large, at 20000 ha.  Prosecco is ‘one of the most successful wines in the world’, said Dr Fantinel, its success being attributed to changing lifestyles, which sees people going out more; its fruity and aromatic taste; it is easy to drink; its name is easy to say, and it has a good sound.   A total of 3 million bottles of Prosecco is produced by Fantinel, the bulk of sales being the Extra Dry. Adriatic Shipping will bring the Fantinel wines to our country, being synonymous with fine Italian foods and wines.

We had tasted the Extra Dry Fantinel Prosecco as we arrived, made from Glera grapes, and will cost R150 locally.  In our tasting this was followed by Fantinel Prosecco Doc Brut ‘One & Only’ Single Vineyard 2012, of which a limited edition of 50000 bottles has been produced, and is also made using the Glera grape, which comes from its ‘heaven-vineyard‘.  The wine spends 100 days in small stainless steel tanks.  It is aromatic and intense.  A third sparkling wine is Fantinel Ribolla Gialla Brut, also made in a limited quantity of 50000 bottles, using the Ribolla Gialla grape.  It has a sweeter taste than the two Proseccos we tasted, coming from a hilly area on the Slovenian side. Grapes are hand-harvested.  The latter two sparkling wines cost R245 locally.

We tasted a collection of white wines:

*   Friulano, made from the Tokai grape, with simple vinification, and spending 5 months on the lees, and having  a fresh and pleasant nutty almond taste, costing R165

*   Pinot Grigio is the company’s second best seller, and is vinified in steel vats. Fresh zesty taste reflects the climate and terroir, costing R165.

*   Pinot Grigio made from hand-harvested fruit from Collio, skin contact allowed for 8 hours, making for a well-balanced and full-bodied wine. The microclimate and terroir give the wine personality. Costs R 310.

*   Frontiere Collio Bianco 2012 is made from hand-harvested grapes growing 2000 meters above sea level, giving intensity, minerality, and salinity.  It is a blend of 50% Friulano, 30% Pinot Bianco, and 20% Chardonnay.  Cost R350.

*   Eclisse 2012  pays tribute to an eclipse of the sun, and is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Picolit, the latter being an indigenous grape variety with small berries and a high concentration of sugar. It is difficult to grow, and gives the wine body, life, and style.   A total of 10000 bottles is produced.   Cost is R470.

The red wines were an absolute hit:

*   We tasted the Fantinel Cabernet Sauvign0n 2011, differing vastly from our local ones, with a lovely smoky character. Hand-harvested, aged in oak. Cost is R165, excellent value.

*   Fantinel Venko Collio Rosso 2011 is a blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Pinot Nero.  Hand-harvested grapes, and matured in French oak for 2 years.  Cost R390.

*   Fantinel Refosco 2010 is made exclusively from Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso grapes. The wine has received a number of accolades, including double gold in San Fransisco, and named Italy’s best Italian red indigenous wine. The grapes are hand-harvested, dried for 30 days, macerated for 45 days, and matured in French oak for 2 years.  A well-balanced  and well-integrated wine. Cost R550.

Fantinel Ramandolo 2010 is made exclusively from Verduzzo Friulano.  Grapes are grown at high altitude, and ‘raisined’ for 8 weeks. Cost is R 500.

It was a welcome surprise to see Chef Peter Tempelhoff, co-owner of Mondiall, in the kitchen, working alongside his new Mondiall Executive Chef Lauren Case, having previously worked with him at The Greenhouse.   Our starter was Yellowfin Tuna Tataki, which was served with red quinoa, seaweed, and a miso vinaigrette.  This course was paired with Fantinel Pinot Grigio Borgo Tesis.  Odd was a board of smoked red and yellow paprika, zucchini, and hummus, which did not seem to match the starter at all, but was a colourful addition to the table.  The bread was disappointingly ordinary, and the butter had melted so that its trademark Mondiall logo was barely visible.

The main course was a juicy grilled grain-fed sirloin steak served with asparagus and grilled vine tomatoes, a whisky-mushroom cream, and very crispy and moreish truffle and Parmesan chips, which were enjoyed by all at our table.  The steak was paired with Fantinel Venko Sant’Helena.

Our dessert was a colourful white chocolate and passion fruit gateaux, raspberry sorbet, and an almond tuille, which was paired with Fantinel Romandolo La Roncalo.

It was Dr Fantinel’s first visit to South Africa, and his second day in Cape Town.

My last exceptional glass of Italian wine was a Brunello, savouring every sip, for which I paid R75 by the glass when I holidayed in Tuscany a number of years ago.  The Fatinel wines are an affordable means of enjoying quality Italian wines at South African prices.

Disclosure:  We received a bottle of Fantinel Prosecco and Melegatti Baby Panettone with our media pack.

Gruppo Vinicolo Fantinel S.P.A., Taurinio di Spilimbergo, Italy.  Tel +39 0427 591511. www.fantinel.com  Twitter: @FantinelAfrica

Mondiall, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.   Tel (021) 418-3003. www. mondiall.co.za  Twitter: @Mondiall_SA   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Monday – Sunday.  Brunch Saturdays and Sundays.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com  Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage Facebook:  click here