This is a big holiday weekend in the United States, the unofficial beginning of Summer. It's also a big weekend in Italy for a number of reasons. First, Sunday is Cantine Aperte. It's always held the last Sunday in May. This is the 19th year of the festival. I remember the first year of the... Continue Reading →
Italian Indigenous Varieties: Bombino Bianco From Apulia, Bombino Nero From Basilicata
Thursday is indigenous grape variety day here at Avvinare. This week's grape is Bombino Bianco, a white grape variety which grows in Apulia and some other regions surrounding that part of the Italian boot. Bombino Bianco is cultivated both in the area around the city of Bari as well as the Salento, lower down in... Continue Reading →
Wines From LiberaTerra – Remembering Giovanni Falcone
On May 23, 1992 - 19 years ago - Anti-Mafia Judge Giovanni Falcone was murdered together with his wife Francesca Morvillo and three of his bodyguards. It was a day I will never forget. My boyfriend and I lived in a cute apartment in Florence near the Boboli gardens. I had moved to Florence the... Continue Reading →
Wine of the Week: Taittinger Champagne
As some of you know, I was a francophile before losing my heart to Italy lo those many years ago. I was a French major in college and lived in France during my junior year. My father is obsessed with France and when I was a child, France was considered the bastion of civility for... Continue Reading →
Italian Sommelier Society (AIS) Hosts First National Wine Day
Yesterday, May 21, was the first "National Wine Day" in Italy held by the Italian Sommelier Society (AIS) . The new President of AIS, Antonello Maietta, spoke about this day at Vinitaly earlier this year. I went to his press conference during the fair and was very excited to see the new work that the... Continue Reading →
Sommelier Series: Ryan Mills-Knapp From Tribeca Grill At Maslow ^
I had the pleasure of attending a seminar on Thursday at Maslow 6 in Tribeca. The wine shop where I have worked a bit over the past year is one of my favorites in the City and not because it is owned by a friend but because it is warm and inviting, has a friendly... Continue Reading →
LinkedIn IPO – Someone’s Popping Corks Today
Today is indigenous grape Thursday I know but I thought I would deviate and mention today's IPO of LinkedIn, the popular networking site for professionals. It was up 109% from its listing price. No mean feat. I am sure they are enjoying some sparkling wine toasts with French Champagne, Italian Franciacorta, Prosecco or Spumante or... Continue Reading →
Italian Indigenous Varieties: Blanc de Morgex – Valle d’Aosta
The origins of this Italian grape variety are not 100% agreed upon or clear, even to the "authorities." Some put forth the idea that it is related to grapes in neighboring Piedmont while others suggest it is a field mutation that developed on its own in the Valle d'Aosta. What is known is that the... Continue Reading →
Largest BYOB Party Ever, James Beard Awards, Kevin Zraly
Last night the James Beard Awards were held in New York City. Many of the wine and food luminaries were of course in attendance, those getting awards and those merely watching the festivities. I really like this article in The Atlantic about the Awards. For those of us who were not invited or prize winners,... Continue Reading →
