Well, Saturday’s race certainly lived up to expectations: Visma-Lease a Bike and Jonas Vingegaard dominated the peloton, the maglia rosa changed hands, and the Alps provided an appropriately dramatic backdrop for the action.

Here’s how it went down:

Sunday will be another story altogether: the course is as flat as a pancake as we head into central Milan for a sprint finish. Finally, the fast men will be rewarded for suffering through the mountains! I’ll be rooting for Lidl-Trek’s Jonathan Milan: he’s one of the fastest guys in the peloton and a stage victory would bolster his position in the points competition.

As for the GC competition, it’s anyone’s guess. After Saturday’s exertion, most of the teams will appreciate an easier ride, looking forward to the rest day on Monday.

Wine Recommendation: 2020 Bruno Verdi Buttafuoco (Sample; 14% abv)

Voghera, our departure point for Stage 15, is an important center of wine production in the Oltrepò Pavese region of Lombardia. It is known for its metodo classico sparkling wines as well as still wines made from local grape varieties.

The Buttafuoco DOC was originally part of the larger Oltrepò Pavese DOC but was awarded its own denomination in 2010. It is for red wine only (still or frizzante), and must be made from 25-65% Barbera, 25-65% Croatina, and no more than 45% Uva Rara and/or Vespolina.

The Bruno Verdi Buttafuoco is a structured, fruity red made from a blend of 65% Croatina, 25% Barbera and 10% Uva Rara. Fruit was sourced from several parcels located in the neighboring villages of Canneto Pavese and Castana. After manual harvesting, the grapes were destemmed and underwent a two-day cold maceration; then, there was a brief fermentation period with remontage resulting in a wine of substantial concentration but with very gentle tannins.

About Bruno Verdi

The Verdi family started making wine in the 18th century, when Antonio Verdi left Parma to settle in the Oltrepò Pavese. The original farm was founded on wheat, corn, mulberry and, ultimately, vineyards. It was Luigi, of the third generation of Verdis, who initiated wine production on the property. However, it was Bruno who, after World War II, was the first to bottle his wine at the estate.

His son Paolo now leads the charge, managing a thoroughly modern enterprise. He has embarked on an extensive program to modernize the winery based on the strong belief that the Oltrepò Pavese can produce world class wines. His winemaking philosophy combines the best of the classic methods with modern oenology to create wines with the distinctive features that bring out the best in the local grape varieties.

Tasting Notes and Pairing

Deep purple color, all the way to the rim. Aromas of predominantly black fruit (plum, cherry, blackberry) with attractive herbal notes of dried oregano and thyme. It smells more savory than sweet, with a hint of balsamic vinegar (not unpleasant!) On the palate there is tart acidity, smooth, soft tannins, and ripe fruit as on the nose. It’s medium-bodied and nicely balanced, making it an easy match with a wide range of foods.

Open this bottle when friends stop by for some charcuterie and cheese, tart green olives, and maybe even some good sardines. It’s easy like that!

Monday is a rest day for the peloton, but I’ll be back with a preview of the final week of the Giro, as well as some wines you should try while you watch!