Ubriaco al Vino

The story of Lucente was inspired by the romantic Tuscan countryside and the grapes which flourish there. Lucente in Italian means shining. To me this wine captures the shining sun in a liquid form. The blending of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon sing together to make a beautiful red wine from the very high elevations in Montalcino. Lucente is the younger sibling to Luce, both wines are made by the Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi family.

For this month’s cheese I chose Ubriaco al Vino, a fragrant cow’s milk cheese that’s soaked in Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, two of the grapes that make up Lucente. The cheese is then aged about three months in the wine must of these grapes. The aging of Ubriaco al Vino allows the flavors of the grapes to permeate the cheese. The cheese doesn’t overpower the Lucente as both work together in a flavorful partnership.

The translation of Ubriaco is “drunken” and the grape must was used to preserve the cheese before modern methods were invented. This tradition is thankfully still carried on. The purple colored rind is stunning on a plate surrounded with olive oil crackers, olives and perhaps some thin slices of lamb prosciutto. The Ubriaco al Vino and the Lucente have a significantly long finish for you to savor as you celebrate the changing of the seasons. Enjoy!