I don't have the desire to write on my blog today but rather paying homage to felines, those close by, like my darling Pudding and those far away. Like many others, albeit not everyone, I am repulsed by the story of the murder of Cecil, a stately lion and the fate of his 12 cubs.... Continue Reading →
Wine of the Week: Macchia Sacra IGT from Cantina Castello di Torre in Pietra
Today's wine of the week is Macchia Sacra IGT from Cantina Castello di Torre in Pietra from Lazio. I tried this wine while searching the halls of Vinitaly for a client that I couldn't locate and I stayed a while to chat with the owners. I'm a fan of wines from Lazio, albeit they aren't... Continue Reading →
Italian Indigenous Varieties: Groppello di Mocasina Nero e Groppello Gentile Nero from Veneto and Lombardia
This week's indigenous grape variety hails mostly from Lombardy and the Veneto but is also found in a few areas in Trentino. It's principal area however is around Lake Garda where it is a major component in Garda Classico DOC wines. It is often made into a rosato as well, locally called Chiaretto. As a... Continue Reading →
Lo Triolet’s Pinot Gris From Valle d’Aosta
Lo Triolet is a winery from the Valle d'Aosta that I discovered on my last trip to Vinitaly thanks to some friends from the Italian Sommelier Association. I like tasting with others from this group because their approach is very different from the one used in either the US or the UK. Often, they also... Continue Reading →
Sweet Sundays: Abafado from Quinta da Alorna – Tejo, Portugal
Would love to have a bottle of this on hand after a very busy day, week, month and year.
In October of last year I had the opportunity to visit the Quinta da Alorna in the Tejo region of Portugal. I had never visited this area or its wineries so it was all new and thrilling. The Quinta da Alorna winery where we were treated to an exquisite lunch was a step back into history. Everything in the beautiful villa spoke of another age. Additionally, it was surrounded by an English garden yet the foods and wines couldn’t have been more Portuguese. Owned for five generations by the Lopo de Carvalho family, Quinta da Alorna is quite an experience. I will write a longer piece with photos on the winery but today’s entry is about their Abafado, a sweet wine made from the white grape Fernao Pires (also known as Maria Gomes).
This aromatic white grape variety is planted extensively throughout Portugal. It can be made into various wines…
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Winery of the Week: Montori from Abruzzo
I was lucky enough to taste the wines from this winery during Vinitaly in March of this year. I have a dear friend from Montepulciano in Tuscany and she is always angered that people confuse Montepulciano d'Abruzzo with the town and the wine from that town in Tuscany so I always avoid going into that... Continue Reading →
Pignoletto DOC, Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto DOCG – Emilia Romagna
Every year when I go to Vinitaly in April, I see old clients, always look and meet new clients and often try to attend various conferences and spend time trying wines I know little about. This year in particular it was a very crowded trip, also because it was shorter than usual for me. One... Continue Reading →
Italian Indigenous Varieties: Two Varieties from Calabria – Guardavalle Bianco and Guarnaccia Bianco
The temperatures have been very high throughout the US over the past week but Europe and Italy in particular are experiencing even higher temperatures. One place where I am sure they are melting or what passes for melting is Calabria I have visited the region in the summer and can confirm that it can be... Continue Reading →
Exciting News To Share
A couple of exciting things have happened over the last few weeks: I was accepted into the Les Dames d’Escoffier. I along with esteemed colleagues are among the Bright and Shining New Members selected by Nominations Chair Joanne Hayes and the membership committee and heartily approved by the Board of Directors. I'm thrilled to be... Continue Reading →
Happy Birthday To Me
Last week's birthday celebrations included many different kinds of gatherings as well as a number of interesting wines and foods. Most of all, it included these people - my family. lunch at one of our family's go to restaurants, the Atlantic Grill and a lovely drink with oysters at my favorite bar in NYC, Bemelman's... Continue Reading →