Simple Pleasure:
Stra Dolcetto DOC 2016

Everything – whether it’s cuisine, wine, or travel – can become high-maintenance, a matter of competition, rather than enjoyment.  Restaurants vie for Michelin stars.  Wineries court acclaim from wine critics. But there are some places where taking pleasure in simple, honest things is as natural as taking a breath of fresh air.  These places are inhabited by people with a respect for tradition, an appreciation for the modern, and a passion for lovingly handmade wines that reflect the spirit of an unpretentious labor of love.

Azienda Agricola Stra is one of those places, and the exquisite Dolcetto 2016 is one of those wines.

A luminous ruby in color, Stra’s youthful Dolcetto serves up a ripe basket of black raspberries, cherries, and violets, with approachable tannins and remarkable balance.  Suitable for pairing with everything from antipasto to wood-grilled steak, Dolcetto is a delicious reminder that wine doesn’t need be expensive to be a source of great pleasure!

For two hundred years, the Stra family has farmed their estate in Piemonte, nurturing both land and tradition over five generations.  They are the embodiment of the farm-to-table movement, and the wines the Stras produce are as authentic as the people themselves.

Though Dolcetto doesn’t command the star billing and sky-high prices of Barolo, it presents an opportunity to broaden wine enthusiasts’ horizons with the daily drink of the region.  In fact the 2016 Dolcetto reflects the Stra philosophy:  “The earth nourishes, the hand nurtures.”