Tocai is an aromatic dry white wine that is made from the grapes of the same name. It is grown in the Fuilia area of Italy and is named after the eccentric little glasses served in Italian taverns. The glasses are small and look like glasses of juice. The grape is also sometimes known as Sauvignon Vert, which translates to “green wine.” It is also grown in Chile and France. The name is pronounced Toe-Koi.
Tocai should not be confused with a Hungarian wine called Tokay. These two wines are very different and in fact the Hungarian winemaker sued the Italian winemaker to exclusively own this name and lost. There is also a Japanese saki-type wine known as Tokei. Tocai is quite different and is grown strictly in Italy.
This fussy and eclectic vine only grows in certain types of cold climates. It becomes rarefied because it is vulnerable to disease, like Pinot Noir, and often rots if not grown near Fruilia. This is one of those wines that suffer if the harvest is too large, which is why most producers only keep a couple of vines in their vineyards. The Tocai grape harvest is small each year. That is why the wine he creates is expensive and also highly appreciated by tasters.
The wine it creates is pale yellow in color and often has a strong aroma of pears, citrus, and wildflowers. The drink also has a clean, slightly crisp finish that is very fresh and dry on the palate. It is a sharp but perfumed wine that is quite strong. It goes great with sushi, Japanese food, grilled clams, and shrimp. This wine usually has a very high alcohol content: 14%. It also has a slightly thicker consistency than most wines. This also means that it stands up well to spicy cuisines like New Orleans, Chinese or Thai.
touch [http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Tocai] It is drunk as a fancy wine in North America, but in its native Spain it is a very common beverage that is drunk regularly in the same way that we drink orange juice in the morning. Locals who drink it tend to eat it with humble meals that include tortillas, cheese, pork, and beans. It also pairs exceptionally well with chicken, fish, and pork. It is also a useful cooking wine and excellent for frying onions with garlic.
The grape is usually harvested young, which means midsummer. It is drunk young, which means that it is generally not aged for long or at all. It grows best in sunny locations with well-drained soil and in climates with cool nights. That is why it grows so well in the mountains of Chile.
Other names for this thick, oily dry wine include Tocai Bianco Tokay Italian, Blanc Doux, Sauvignon à Gros Grains, Sauvignon de la Corrèze, Trebbianello, Sauvignon Vert, Sauvignonasse, Malaga. Their wine is often blended with Tokay, Tokay d’Alsace, or Tokaji, which is a native Hungarian wine.