I was speaking about this grape variety today so I thought I would repost this article from some years ago. This week's indigenous grape variety entry will be a short one because I could find very little information on this variety on the internet or in other sources. The variety, Cornarea Nero, hails from Piedmont... Continue Reading →
Three Noble Red Grapes that Help to Navigate the Italian Peninsula – #ItalianFWT
Happy New Year. This will be my first post of 2020 and it is fitting that it should be part of the #ItalianFWT blogging circle which this month is dedicated to introducing Italian Wine to a curious friend. Nothing could be more up my alley since I've spent 23 years studying Italian wine formally, 12 working... Continue Reading →
Thoughts of A Friend and Carema DOC
Today, July 7th, was the birthday of someone I was close to. He passed away 10 years ago and would have been 91 today. His name was Sergio and he really started me out on my Italian wine journey. When he died he was 80 and ill but nonetheless, you always want the people you... Continue Reading →
Italian Indigenous Varieties: Nebbiera Nera
This week's variety is one I had never heard of called Nebbiera Nera. As you might expect from the name, its a cross between Nebbiolo and Barbera made by Professor Giovanni Dalmasso at the Istituto Sperimentale per la Viticoltura in Conegliano in 1938. The idea was to incorporate some of the rustic qualities of Barbera... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Wines from the Valtellina Area in Lombardy (#ItalianFWT Preview for February 3rd Chat)
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 →
Discover Off the Beaten Path Nebbiolos from the Carema and Canavese DOCs
While people often debate the merits of Brunello vs. Barolo or Barolo vs Barbaresco, the smaller appellations where Nebbiolo grows are often overlooked. This is certainly the case with Carema DOC and it is a real shame. I first heard of these wines about 20 years ago when I lived in Florence and someone who... Continue Reading →
Wines from the Valtellina: Nino Negri Sfursat 5 Stelle 2011
Last week's Italian extravaganza of wines included some wines from the Valtellina in Lombardy, particularly this one from Nino Negri. I got about 10 text messages from a friend who lives in the Valtellina last week asking me if I had seen that Eric Asimov had finally taken note of Valtellina. Yes I had read... Continue Reading →
Natural Wines At The Ten Bells, Northern Italian Wines At Bacaro
Yesterday I had the luck to taste a number of wines with my friend RB of Wine Messenger. He has quite the palate and is extremely knowledgeable. Additionally, I find him endlessly funny, a trait I truly appreciate. I have often tried to come up with a method to describe wines. One idea is always... Continue Reading →