Today's variety is another one that people will have trouble seeing as indigenous to Italy and I agree but I'm trying to be complete in my series on grape varieties. Apparently while hailing from France, Napoleon brought it to Italy to the area near Piacenza. At the time , it was called Champagne mostly because... Continue Reading →
Delmonico’s, Argentina & Family
Some 10 years ago I visited Argentina and met with the winery Dona Paula. I have followed their path on and off throughout the years because I remembered the incredible setting and the wines. I have tried their Malbec and Torrontes, both friendly, easy to drink wines. Today, by chance, I also tried their Cabernet... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Saten from Ricci Curbastro
I love Champagne but the wines from Franciacorta D.O.C.G. have always held sway with me as well. Franciacorta is an area in the Lombardy region of Italy which is sandwiched between the city of Brescia and Lake Garda. The area makes great sparkling wines using the traditional method where the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in... Continue Reading →
San Colombano, Milano’s Only DOC wine
I just got back from a 10 stay in and around Milan. Most people probably thinks it's a weird place to visit in July when Italy offers so many amazing alternatives but it was just perfect for me. I lived in Milan for 10 years and have a host of friends there and basically a... Continue Reading →
Monday Musings: Society of Wine Educators Conference
Every August, for most of the last ten years I have gone to the Society of Wine Educators conference. Often it has been in California, hence the above picture. This year it is in Portland, Oregon I city I am excited to explore. Every year before and after the conference, trips are scheduled to wine... Continue Reading →
Women in Wine Fridays: Producers from Oltrepo Pavese Form Pino Nero Club – Presentation Sept 29 in Milan
I wrote this post in 2009 which is hard to believe but true. I have been writing this blog for a long time. Some months more consistently than others. This has been one of my worst months ever. I guess the secret to having a successful blog is actually writing on it. Anyway, in a few weeks I am giving a presentation on wines from Lombardy for the Society of Wine Educators in Portland. I happened on this post and thought it time to reblog it. Oltrepo’ wines have made a lot of progress in the eight years since I wrote this post. I’m hoping to get a Cruase for my tasting but having a lot of difficulty getting one. If anyone has suggestions or contacts. I am open to them. Please contact me through blog or twitter, email.
The original idea for this blog was to write about Italian women in wine. I have gone far afield but in my heart of hearts that is the focus of this blog. Every Friday, I will showcase a different Italian woman in the wine business. Today, there are three ladies who are part of a new association which is being presented in Milan next week on September 29. These women are part of the Pinò Club, the first association ever created by producers of pinot nero in the Oltrepò pavese, on the border between Lombardy and Piedmont.
Pinot Nero has been grown in this area since Roman times. The wine industry has been active for the last 150 years. While Pinot Nero grows in some other regions of Italy, this is widely considered to be its natural home. Amazingly, 2500 hectares here are dedicated to Pinot Nero, second only to…
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Wine Wednesday: Moscato di Canelli from Agriturimo Rupestr – Giorgio Cirio
This Wine Wednesday is dedicated to Moscato di Canelli from Giorgio Cirio who owns the Agriturismo Rupestr. I met Giorgio at his agriturismo where a friend was having a birthday weekend for 50 of his closest friends. Lucky for me, we were including in the 50. The agriturismo was located in Canelli, Giorgio has two... Continue Reading →
Birthday Celebrations: Dale Chihuly Exhibit
After an intense 18 day trip to Switzerland and Italy, I celebrated my birthday with the family at the Bronx Botanical Gardens. While the wine list is what you might expect, the scenary can't be beat and there is a fantastic exhibit by Dale Chihuly. Highly recommend for all.
Happy Bastille Day!
I have been fortunate enough to celebrate La Fête Nationale Francaise – Le Quatorze Juillet, a holiday marking the anniversary of the fall on July 14, 1789 of the Bastille, in Paris on a number of occasions. As readers of this blog know, I was a Francophile in my early life and majored in French... Continue Reading →
Swiss Wine Regions: Vaud
Vaud is an amazingly beautiful part of Switzerland with beautiful terraced vineyards that come right down to the Lac Leman as it is known in French. Although I have spent time here in the past, I feel as though I am really seeing it for the first time, The lake itself is incredible and huge.... Continue Reading →