Italian Food, Wine and Travel Travels to the Valtellina region in Lombardy this weekend. This Saturday February 3nd you’ll get a sampling of what our Italian bloggers group has to offer and here is a preview below. Make sure to also join our live Twitter chat at 11am ET on #ItalianFWT. Valtellina is a physically... Continue Reading →
New World Gems: Trisaetum Wines from Portland, Oregon
The wines from Portland were a real revelation to me this summer when I visited Portland for the Society of Wine Educators conference. I thought many that I tried were really worthy of note. I also took a number of seminars on the wines during the conference. I learned a lot about how things were... Continue Reading →
Italian Indigenous Varieties: Moscatello Selvatico Bianco – Tuscany
Today's Italian indigenous variety is Moscatello Selvatico Bianco. A member of the vast Muscat family. This particular Muscat is the one grown in Montalcino and used in Moscadello di Montalcino, the first wine produced in that area, starting in the 16th century. It can be produced in three different iterations, tranquillo or still, Frizzante or... Continue Reading →
Spirited Sundays: Stravecchio Branca
Today's post is about Stravecchio Branca, an Italian brandy that is as ubiquitous as any other brand in the country. Literally every single bar in Italy has a bottle of Stravecchio on the shelf. It comes from the same company that owns so many other brands such as Fernet Branca, the Fratelli Branca Distilleries yet... Continue Reading →
Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day
Today marks the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. World leaders commemorated this day in various places, including at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Six million Jews, including many members of my family were among those murdered. Slavs, Roma, people who were Gay, those with disabilities, religious leaders and many others who tried... Continue Reading →
Looking forward to Benvenuto Brunello Tastings in NYC and Italy
While Monday's event won't be as thrilling as the one in Italy, I am looking forward to tasting some great Brunello in New York and to seeing good friends. I am also really looking forward to my trip to Tuscany to attend the Anteprime 2018 in February. I went for the first time in 2009... Continue Reading →
A Tuscan Surprise: Gattaia 2013 -Toscana Bianco IGT from Terre di Giotto
Sometimes I decide not to try a wine because I assume that it won't be to my liking. This particular wine, Gattaia 2013 - an IGP from Tuscany, probably would have fallen into that category. However, I saw it at the portfolio tasting of Tradizione Imports - run by my friends Salvino Nasello and Marco... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Maison Saleya Rosé from Cotes de Provence
For this Wine Wednesday, I am writing about a Cotes de Provence I had yesterday from Maison Saleya. I had it at a local French bistro called Le Monde. I couldn't find the website for the Chateau and I suspect it is a proprietary label of importer Kobrand. According to the Kobrand website, the grapes... Continue Reading →
South Africa on My Mind with Hugh Masekela’s Passing
I read about Hugh Masekela's passing today. I read this obituary early this morning. I have been a fan of his music for a long time and remember getting to see the Graceland concert in Paris in 1987 when he played with Paul Simon. I remember singing "Bring Back Nelson Mandela" his song to free... Continue Reading →