I have been trying to write about my highlights from 2023 before the year draws to a close but I didn’t make it.

1. Today I wanted to write about my visit to Abbazia di Novacella but it will have to wait until 2024. It was one of the most exciting visits not just of 2023 but of all wineries. I can’t wait to write about it and the amazing wines I tasted with Werner who went so out of his way to host me and my son this past summer thanks to introductions from two wine professionals – Beth and Constance.
2. My second favorite tasting was another visit to a winery to Perla del Garda this summer with Giovanna Prandini which I wrote about yesterday.
3. Another favorite of the year was the recent tasting of Blaufränksch with Wein Burgenland thanks again to Constance for the invite.
4. A high note this fall was also the tasting I presented together with Federdoc of 10 Italian wines paired with delicious bites from another the peninsula at Alice, thanks to the Italian Trade Commission. I wrote about one of the amazing wines we served here.
5. Further highlights from this year include the week of tastings I held together with the Oltrepò Pavese Consortium in New York, Boston, and Chicago as well as tasting we did earlier in the year in New York at Sophia Wine Bar and Slow Wine.
6. A couple of luncheons really stand out as well, one that I hosted at Gramercy Tavern with the wines of Donnachiara this past October focused on Taurasi.
7. I attended an amazing tasting with the wines of Ventisquero from Chile this fall too and was floored by their Chardonnay from the Atacama Desert which I wrote about here.
8. I also loved my trip this fall to Oltrepò Pavese and all the amazing wineries we visited which need to be explored and written about this month.
9. Earlier in the year I hosted an amazing Masterclass on the wines from Irpinia in Campania with the Consortium led by two superstar ladies – Teresa from Petilia and Ilaria from Donnachiara. I got to meet so many of the fabulous producers from this exciting region in the Avellino Province.
10. The Anteprime Toscane event in February is always a highlight of my year when I am lucky enough to attend and taste the new vintages of Chianti, Chianti Classico, Morellino di Scansano, and so many other gems.
11. Number 10 on my list is the blind tasting group led by my friend Chin Young who puts together amazing people, wines, and evenings where we taste blind and judge our skills all in good fun. Humbling at times but also very educational.

Those are my most memorable events from this year if I have to limit it to 11 but I have so many other fun ones to write about including Lake County wines, a Vino Nobile di Montepuliciano masterclass in New York, an evening with wines from Burgundy hosted by Vinepair, and my trip to Vinitaly last April and all the great wines I tasted there.

I did few instagram chats this year and even fewer podcasts but a new year is here and I have stayed faithful to my blog, my passion for wine, and learning. More to come in 2024 and some new ideas and changes on the horizon.

Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy New Year with something great in your glass and someone you love nearby.