Saturday’s race took the peloton through the verdant hills of Piemonte, in northwestern Italy. We passed steeply sloped vineyards, ancient castles, and rice fields that stretched as far as the eye could see. In short, it was a lovely day for sightseeing but a rather unexciting one in terms of action. A breakaway group finally emerged but was closely monitored by the sprinters’ teams in the peloton who kept the time gap to about a minute and a half.

A mad dash for the finish took Jasper Philipsen to victory, a nice comeback after his injuries in the Tour de France. Perennial favorite Mads Pedersen faded out of the top ten, which was the biggest surprise of the day. Did he lose his leadout men? Choose an unfortunate path in the final, twisting kilometers? Maybe we’ll have more info before tomorrow’s start.

Stage 2: Alba to Limone Piemonte (157 kms; flat with a steep uphill finish)

We should subtitle this stage A Tale of Two Races. The sprint points will be awarded quite early in the stage, after just 68 kilometers. Expect a rumble amongst the fast men to arrive there first. In contrast, the final kilometer of the stage rises steeply up to Limone Piemonte and is a Category 2 climb. This will eliminate the pure sprinters, favoring the punchers and GC hopefuls. I anticipate a heated battle between Jonas Vingegaard, João Almeida, and any other riders with aspirations to the podium in Madrid. Should be exciting!

Vuelta Vaso de Vino Recommendation: 2023 Azienda Oreste Buzio Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese ($19; 13% abv)

New to Grignolino? I love, love, love it! It makes the perfect chillable red for summer sipping. Grown in the Piemonte region of Italy (home to Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera) it’s lighter in body than the first two, slightly more tannic than the third.) Here’s my non-wine geek description: bright cherry fruit, floral aromas, tangy acid, and grippy tannins that linger on the finish. It’s like a sweet kiss, so innocent and nice, with a nippy, naughty bite at the end. Pair it with grilled meat, pasta, or a sexy conversation (followed by a devilish little kiss!)

About Azienda Oreste Buzio

Azienda Oreste Buzio is a small family estate established in Vignale Monferrato in 1860. Production centers on grape varieties indigenous to the area, particularly Barbera, Grignolino and Freisa, all farmed organically (and harvested by hand). The estate’s winery and cellar lie under the main house, carved from the chalky limestone soil that makes their wines unique.

Tasting Notes

Pale ruby red with aromas of red cherry, ground pink peppercorns, and peony. The palate is an intoxicating mix of tart red fruit (cherry, berry, currant) and grippy yet agreeable tannins. It’s fresh and lively yet structured, with high acidity to balance the tannins. I’m a sucker for Grignolino; I just can’t help myself!

Pairing

I’ve tried this grape with so many dishes, from grilled steak to spring vegetable salad, and it always works. Gabe and I enjoyed a bottle recently with falafel and chicken souvlaki from Hummus Kitchen, one of our favorite places. Perfect weeknight treat!

Enjoy Sunday’s race, especially the dramatic climb to the finish. See you tomorrow with a preview of Stage 3 and another wine to sip as you watch!