This photo is one of setting up at Vinitaly, the large Italian wine fair that starts in about eight days. I love Vinitaly. This will be my 10th in a row and I think my 12th show over all. I never get tired of it and it is a highlight in my spring calendar. That... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Zago Prosecco Doc
Today's wine of the week is the Zago Prosecco DOC. The winery from Taiedo di Chions in Friuli has 8.5 hectares and makes three types of Prosecco using the Glera grape, Extra Dry, Brut Millesimato and Sui Lieviti (on the Lees). It is this last one that is pictured above and which I enjoyed most... Continue Reading →
Pasquetta: Time for A Picnic, What to drink?
While today's weather hasn't been perfect, it does remind me of many Easter Monday picnics I used to have when I lived in Italy. Traditionally a holiday, most Italians go out for a picnic with friends and/or family. There is a saying in Italian, "Natale con i tuoi, pasqua dove vuoi" which translated actually means... Continue Reading →
Winery of the Week: Peter Zemmer from Alto Adige
I had the good fortune to meet Peter Zemmer through Tony DiDio a couple of years ago. I never wrote about the great lunch we had at the Gotham Bar and Grill but the wines have stuck in my head and I have tried the newer versions since that time. They are always consistent, clean... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Lacryma Christi from Campania – I Nobili (Enodelta)
I recently wrote a post in which I erroneously said that Lacryma Christi was a grape variety, a reader pointed out to me. Lacrima is a grape from Campania but Lacryma Christi is a wine made from another indigenous variety, usually made from Piedirosso and Aglianico or 100% Piedirosso. The wine above is from Enodelta... Continue Reading →
Mindful of Earth Day, Brussels, Refugee Crisis
Today I don't feel like writing about wine but I do feel like drinking it. Copious amounts in fact. I can't stand the news, more terrorist attacks, more refugees in search of a home, melting glaciers. I decided to post this picture that I took some years ago in Chile where I went hiking at... Continue Reading →
Women In Wine: Elisabetta Fagiuoli from Montenidoli
Elisabetta Fagiuoli from the winery Montenidoli is what Italians call "una forza della natura (a force of nature)." She is a strong, vibrant and amazing woman who I got to see at both Slow Wine and Tre Bicchieri in February. The Vernaccia di San Gimignano that they make and that is in the photo above... Continue Reading →
Italian Indigenous Varieties: Lagrein
Today's short post is about this week's varietal, Lagrein. Lagrein hails from Alto Adige/Trentino in Northern Italy. According to research, however, it is genetically linked to vines from Greece and Albania that arrived in Italy during the period known as Magna Grecia. Lagrein is also related, genetically speaking, to Syrah and Teroldego. I have always... Continue Reading →
Women In Wine Fridays: La Mesma
Earlier this year I attend the Slow Wine event and tried some fantastic wines. Among them were wines from La Mesma. The wines were all made from Cortese, the grape used to make Gavi. This metodo classico, or traditional method sparkling wine was amazing. It rested on its lees for 18 months. It was fruity... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Kenwood Vineyards
I have some pictures of Sonoma but I felt like posting this one of the Golden Gate as a well-known wine writer, Alder, is in town today. I'm going to go see him speak about his new book so this is a short post. I'm tasting my way through wines that were sent to me... Continue Reading →