Rosso di Montepulciano always takes a backseat to the more well known Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The same is true for Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino. I get it but these second wines can be supreme and are perfect with simple fare on any given Sunday, like tonight. I had a hotdog on the grill... 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 →
Buona Pasqua, Happy Easter
Today was Easter, a holiday I love actually. In the past on this day I have gone to hear gospel music in churches throughout Manhattan or a particular Pastor speak and often I have been visiting with friends in Italy sharing a particularly spectacular meal. Today I was in Pennsylvania with different generations of my... Continue Reading →
Monday Musings: Is there A Point To Writing About Wines That Aren’t Widely Available?
Today's topic is whether it makes sense to write about wines if people can't buy them. I understand there are many sides to this issue, principal among them is who is your audience. I don't make money from this blog and never write about wines that I am paid to promote in some way. I... Continue Reading →
Morellino di Scansano D.O.C.G. and Montecucco D.O.C.G. Consortium Come to US for Tasting Events in New York and Chicago
This is a shameless post promoting events I am hosting for the Morellino di Scansano D.O.C.G. and Montecucco D.O.C.G. consortium this week in New York and Chicago. If I haven't reached out to you, reach out to me if interested in attending one of our events. Here is a link to our walk around tasting... Continue Reading →
Chianti Lovers: Chianti Colli Fiorentini
The denomination Chianti Colli Fiorentini Denominazione d’Origine Controllata e Garantita (D.O.C.G.) is one of the seven sub-zones of Chianti D.O.C.G. This production zone is located in and around Florence and the Arno river valleys. Like its other six cousins, Chianti Rufina, Chianti Colli Aretini, Chianti Colli Senesi, Chianti Colline Pisane, Chianti Montalbano and Chianti Montespertoli,... Continue Reading →
Winery of the Week: Mannucci Droandi, An Organic Winery From Tuscany
Mannucci Droandi is a winery in the Valdarno area of Tuscany near the town of Montevarchi. The Valdarno is an ancient wine making region and is part of the province of Arezzo. Wine has been part of Arezzo’s history for centuries. The people living in this part of the peninsula were the mysterious Etruscans. An... Continue Reading →
Morellino Mon Amor – A Week Together
I have to tread a fine line as I work as a blogger, a journalist but also as a publicist and when writing about wines, I need to declare that some are my clients. So, here's the skinny: I just did a whirlwind week in the United States with 11 producers from Morellino di Scansano.... Continue Reading →
Wine of the Week: Villa Bucci Rosso Piceno
My wine of the week is Villa Bucci's Rosso Piceno. The wine is made from a blend of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Sangiovese. It spends a year in oak and six months after that in the bottle before being released into the market. I found it on wine-searcher for between $17 - $25 depending on the... Continue Reading →
Terra di Seta – An Italian Kosher Winery
Last night I had the pleasure of meeting the owners of Terra di Seta, the only 100% Kosher winery in Italy and perhaps in Europe. The choice means that much of the wine produced will be exported because Italy has such a small Jewish population, around 40,000 people. The winery participated in the 5th annual... Continue Reading →