Tomorrow is Ferragosto, a massive holiday in Italy. It is a holiday which commemorates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary for those who believe and for others it simply signifies the middle of August, a day when everything is closed and everyone is on vacation. During quarantine in mid-August, I am reminded me of those days... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Azienda Agricola Quaquarini’s Sangue di Giuda
This week's Wine Wednesday is dedicated to a winery from the Oltrepo'Pavese. Few people think immediately of Oltrepo' when thinking about Italian wine but that is a mistake. The area has 179 wineries plus 1300 growers that are members of the consortium Oltrepo'. The area has 13,269 hectares and constitutes some 55% of Lombard viticultural... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Quaquarini Cruase
My wine this week hails from Lombardy and is called Quaquarini Cruase. It is a sparkling wine made in the traditional method in Lombardy. I tried it during Vinitaly at the Vivit section as it is made wtih organic grapes. The Quaquarini family is currently in its third generation running the winery located in Canneto... Continue Reading →
Lombardia: A Wealth of Wine
When one thinks of Lombardy or Lombardia as the Italians call it, they don't often think of wine. Milan, the principal city in the region, is known for finance, fashion, industry and much else. Wine is never what one first thinks of although even Milan has it's own DOC. San Colombano d.o.c. wine. This is... Continue Reading →
Italian Regions: Lombardy – Thinking About Milano Before the Expo
As I read all the articles about the big push to visit Milan for the Expo, I am reflecting on all the years I spent there and how often people overlooked not just Lombardy (Milan is the capital) but the wines from the region, the food and well, almost everything. I had the pleasure of... Continue Reading →
Wine of the Week: Conte Vistarino Sangue di Giuda from Oltrepo’ Pavese (Lombardy)
Friday is the quintessential Italian holiday, Ferragosto. What is Ferragosto you might ask, well according to Wikipedia: “The Catholic Church celebrates this date as a Holy Day of Obligation to commemorate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—the actual physical elevation of her sinless soul and incorruptible body into Heaven. Before the Roman Catholic Church... Continue Reading →
Italian Sparkling Wines For New Year’s Eve
I'm on my way to Austria today if all goes well. I still have to write about the most famous of Austrian Grape varieties: Gruner Veltliner and of course, the king of whites - Riesling. I hope to do that while I am away. If I don't get the chance to write again before the... Continue Reading →
What To Drink On Thanksgiving? Montepulciano, Barbera d’Alba or Pinot Nero from Oltrepo’ Pavese
I love Thanksgiving. It's actually my favorite holiday of the year. Not just for the food but mostly for the chance to see relatives I rarely visit with and to see how big my extended family has become. Like everyone else who loves wine, I spend a fair amount of time thinking about what I... Continue Reading →
Women in Wine Fridays: Producers from Oltrepo Pavese Form Pino Nero Club – Presentation Sept 29 in Milan
The original idea for this blog was to write about Italian women in wine. I have gone far afield but in my heart of hearts that is the focus of this blog. Every Friday, I will showcase a different Italian woman in the wine business. Today, there are three ladies who are part of a... Continue Reading →