Tasting - Sangue di Giuda

 

Name: Terra Sangue di Giuda

Variety: Barbera 25-65%, Croatina 25-65%, Uva Rara, Vespolina and/or Pinot Noir 45% max

Region: Oltreò Pavese, Piedmont

Country: Italy

Year: 2022

Price: $10

Description: Also known as "Blood of Judas" or more quickly "Blood Wine." A sweet wine, bright ruby red with purplish reflections. Smooth, full bodied, vinous and fruit forward with notes of raspberry and blueberry. Local legend has it that the name "Sangue di Giuda" was given by friars who disapproved of its stimulating and "aphrodisiac" effects.

Recommendation: This wine was recommended to me by a worker at Kroger. I was browsing and he offered to help me find something. I told him I like wine that is light, fruity, and most importantly, sweet. This was the first wine he thought of. I was a bit hesitant to try a red, but it was a sweet red so I took a chance. He also told me about the legend surrounding the wine which was very intruiging.

The Legend: It seems that Judas, after his death, very much regretted having betrayed Jesus. In order for Judas to be allowed to redeem himself, the Lord resurrected him and called on him to do a good deed as penance. Judas reappeared in Broni, a small village in the Oltrepò, where an epidemic was ravaging the local vineyards. The wise man of the village had prophesied that only a blood sacrifice could save the vines. So Judas decided to offer himself as a scapegoat. Just as the head of the village was about to plunge the knife into Judas, he was held back by a dark force and was unable to complete the sacrifice. Nevertheless the vineyards became luxuriant and full of fruit again. To thank Judas, the inhabitants of Broni named the sweet red wine they produced after him. (lacucinaitaliana.com) 

Wine Folly: On page 79, barbera is the everyday drinking red wine of Piedmont, Italy. It's first tasting note is tart cherry. While cherry was definitely present in this wine, it was much sweeter than the barbera variety. The other varieties of this wine were not listed in the Wine Folly. 

On page 85, brachetto is a rare, sweet wine from Piedmont that is also frothy. This wine is not a brachetto, but is very similar to it. It pairs well with chocolate. It's tasting notes are strawberry, black currant, and orange zest. 

My Review: This may be one of my favorite wines yet. I was hesitant when he recommended a red wine, but since it was sweet, I held out hope that I would like it. The smell was like any other red wine and not super sweet. It had an oak and raisin scent. However, the taste was completely different. In a weird way, it almost tasted like a cherry coke. It was definitely sweet, a little fizzy, and only slightly dry. I mostly tasted notes of black cherry, oak, and vanilla. I would recommend this wine to anyone and will absolutely have it again!

Here's me with the bottle!