Lush communions and alcohol fueled Roman dinners may be why the Vatican drinks more wine per capita than any other country in the world. According to statistics released by the Wine institute last year, Vatican residents drink roughly 105 bottles of wine a year. During the Pope’s visit to the US, it is important that we recognize this achievement in addition to his humanitarian message. Jonathan Alsop, the founder of the Boston Wine School, joined Boston Public Radio on Thursday, to tell us what wines to bring to a dinner at the Pope's house.
The first wine he suggested was a Heitz Grignolino Rosé wine from California.
“Supposedly one of the Pope’s favorite grapes is a grape called Grignolino,” said Alsop.
“The Pope’s grandfather was a wine maker in the Piedmont region of North Western Italy,” said Alsop, the same region where the Grignolino is grown.
The other wine that Alsop brought in honor of the Pope was a Callie with a Malbec and Syrah blend from Argentina. The wine is reminiscent of something the Pope could find in his former home of Buenos Aires.
Listen above to hear more from Jonathan Alsop on wine and what the Pope would drink.
