Vermentino is one of Italy's great grape varieties. It is the perfect white wine to sip on a beach, have as an aperitivo or pair with wonderful seafood. To me it spells summer, sailing and relaxation. Vermentino can be found in a number of different regions in Italy including all over Liguria, pictured above. It... Continue Reading →
Poderi di Luigi Einaudi’s Dolcetto di Dogliani
Today's post is about Dolcetto, a grape most widely grown in Piedmont but also seen in Liguria under the name Ormeasco and in the Oltrepo’Pavese. It tends to make easy to drink, friendly red wines as well as wines that can age with a hint of almond and liquorice on the nose and palate. It... Continue Reading →
Monday musing: Wine Cooperatives
Today’s Monday musing is about the place of cooperatives in the wine space. The photo above is of the growers at La Clavesana a cooperative in Piedmont that makes an amazing Dolcetto. For many years I have pondered cooperatives and their reputation and like many others I have set them in a separate category and... Continue Reading →
Italy’s Catarratto Bianco In My Glass
On May 23, 1992 – 28 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... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Amontillado Los Arcos from Bodega Lustau
Today's Wine Wednesday is dedicated to this wonderful Amontillado from Bodega Lustau. The winery's history begins in 1896 with the planting of grapes on the family’s estate – Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza by Emilio Lustau. Fast forward a few decades and Emilio's daughter María Ruiz-Berdejo Alberti bought a small winery closer to the center... Continue Reading →
Berryessa Gap Petite Sirah – An Eye Opener
Today's post is the first in a series about Petite Sirah. Let me start by saying I had tried this variety for the first time about 10 years ago, swiftly decided I didn't like it and forgot about it for a decade. Fast forward at least 10 years to 2020 when I was offered the... Continue Reading →
Monday Musings: Wine Samples Policy
Today's musings are about receiving wine samples and how to declare that they are samples. These pictures are of bottles that I put together when I make my wines. Sometimes I out labels on them but often I do not. If I give them to someone, I declare it's home made. These are my Super-Teaneck... Continue Reading →
On the Passing of John Lewis
I've spent the weekend watching all the tributes to and about the passing late Friday night of the civil rights icon John Lewis, Congressman from Georgia for more than 30 years. He has been one of my heroes for many decades since I first read his story and heard him speak. We have so few... Continue Reading →
Muscat de Rivesaltes – A Marvel from Roussillon
Photo from CIVR website Today the #Winophiles head to Roussillon as we continue our exploration of French wine regions and wines. Our host for this month is Lynn Gowdy of Savor the Harvest who is based in Bordeaux and has visited the region. Here are a couple of her posts about the region filled with... Continue Reading →
Women In Wine Fridays – Ntsiki Biyela from Aslina Wines
Today's post is about Ntsiki Biyela from Aslina Wines. I met Ntsiki in 2010 when she was the winemaker for South African winery Stellekaya. We did a couple of events together in New York that year and I was impressed with her personally and professionally, her strength and courage and her fun loving manner in... Continue Reading →