Today's wine Wednesday is dedicated to Il Chiaretto from the Azienda Agricola Pasini San Giovanni. The wine is made from a blend of indigenous varieties: Groppello, Marzemino, Barbera and Sangiovese. To be a Valtènesi some 50% of the blend must be from Groppello (either Gentile and/or Mocasina). As a grape, Groppello has a thin skin... Continue Reading →
Wine of the Week: Valcalepio Bianco DOC from Cantina Bergamasca
This week's wine of the week is the Valcalepio Bianco from Cantina Bergamasca from Bergamo. I visited the winery this summer as they were part of the wines I served during a presentation on Lombardy for the Society of Wine Educators. Bergamo is a wonderful jewel of a city, with a Citta Alta and a... Continue Reading →
Wine of the Week: Nino Franco Rustico Valdobbiadne Superiore D.O.C.G.
I had the occasion to meet Primo Franco of the Nino Franco winery at an intimate lunch organized by Tony Didio a couple of years ago. Primo was fascinating and an incredible "Signore del Vino." His family winery is one of the first to make a name for themselves in the Prosecco trade, quite unimaginable... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Domain Pushang Marselan, Ningxia (China)
Last summer I had the good fortune to attend a seminar on wines from Ningxia, China's premier wine region. The seminar was taught by Houghton Lee and Tommy Lam, wine educators. They were fascinating, informative and prepared with a 60-slide presentation. Houghton is the Hong Kong Liaison for the Society of Wine Educators and Tommy... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Si Mon Père Savait(Cotes du Roussillon)
This week's wine Wednesday is about a wine from Bernard Magrez, Si Mon Père Savait. Made from a blend of 69% Syrah, 17% Carignan, and 14% Grenache, it screams Southern France and particularly Roussillon. Infact, it is from the Côtes du Roussillon. The vines are grown on schist soils. The grapes are vinified separately in... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Petite Arvine from Ottin (Valle d’Aosta)
This week’s blizzard has really made me miss ife on the slopes, all of it. I always remember the panini with speck and asiago cheese that I would eat when skiing in Italy and the desire to drink Vin Brule but the knowledge that too much of it would make me a worse skier. Hopefully,... Continue Reading →
Wine of the Week: Caiarossa Pergolaia (Tuscany)
This week's wine of the week is from a wine called Caiarossa. I first discovered this winery last year at Vinitaly. I was attracted to their labels with the enigmatic bust on them and the esoteric names of their wines. The winery is owned by a Frenchman and the grapes grown are mostly international or... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Syrah from Baracchi Winery in Cortona
I first was introduced to Baracchi Winery at Vinitaly a couple of years ago. The owners are very involved with their falconeria and I had a hard time concentrating on the wines. I think I gave them only a cursory run through the first time I met them but this summer I was in their... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Tocai Friulano from Millbrook Vineyards & Winery
My wine of the week is from Millbrook Winery in the Hudson Valley. Their Tocai Friulano appealed to me when I tried it for the first time many years ago and still holds my interest. Fruity but dry with nice mineral notes and crisp acidity, I thoroughly enjoy this wine. I love the Hudson Valley... Continue Reading →