Christmas 2025 Advent is here! So here’s my Christmas 2025 card to you all for the festive season. I really hope you like it. For me, the anticipation generated by the Christmas Table is one of the things I particularly enjoy. Happy Christmas! In other words, 圣诞节快乐 Buon Natale Joyeux Noël Feliz Navidad Frohe Weihnachten Nollaig Shona 楽しいクリスマスを Feliz Natal …
Bellone from Lazio – Anthium by Casale del Giglio
Bellone from Lazio – Anthium by Casale del Giglio Bellone is an extremely high-quality autochthonous white grape variety from the Lazio region of Italy. A stunning example is made by the Casale del Giglio winery in Lazio, 50 km south of Rome. Called Anthium, it’s 100% Bellone, designated as a Lazio Bianco IGP. All this deserves better recognition here in …
Changes on the Website – November 2025
Changes on the Website – November 2025 In this media-saturated digital world, there are constant changes in technologies and reader needs, so this website must keep up! The simplest way of letting you know about changes made to this website is right here. What hasn’t changed For over 25 years, Wine Alchemy has catered for wine lovers who enjoy reading. This …
International Drinks Days – a Calendar in progress
International Drinks Days – a Calendar in progress Have you noticed the increasing number of International Drinks Days? These are annual days dedicated to a grape variety, a cocktail, a spirit, or a beer. How did the idea of International Drinks Days arise? Do they have value besides clogging up your calendar or social media feeds? Are they of any …
Vicoregio 36 – Three Classic Italian Reds, Pt 2 – Sangiovese
Vicoregio 36 – Three Classic Italian Reds, Pt. 2 – Sangiovese Castello di Fonteruloli in Chianti Classico embraces the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione category, producing not just one but three examples. They are all 100% Sangiovese, but each comes from a distinct terroir. One of those wines features here: Vicoregio 36. Fonterutoli is a place where the ancient sits comfortably …
Lison DOCG – In the Shadow of the Lion
Lison DOCG – In the Shadow of the Lion You may never have heard of Lison DOCG, as despite its lofty status, there are only 44 hectares of vineyards and around 180,000 bottles made each year. Yet the excellent wine quality fully deserves such an appellation, which even contains a Classico subzone. There is a long history of winemaking here, …
Three Classic Italian Reds – Part 1 – Manzone Cento Anni
Three Classic Italian Reds, Part 1 – Manzone Giovanni Cento Anni Barolo Riserva 2009 Earlier this year, I reviewed two contrasting Barolo DOCGs and a Langhe Nebbiolo DOC from Manzone Giovanni, about which you can read here. Along with these wines, there was also a special edition Barolo Riserva DOCG from the 2009 vintage called Cento Anni. I deferred writing …
Mandrarossa – Two Contrasting Wines from Menfishire
Mandrarossa – Two Contrasting Wines from Menfishire Mandrarossa is the premium brand of Cantine Settesoli, an important Sicilian cooperative on the south-western coast of Sicily, at Menfi, in what has become known as Menfishire. Settesoli began in 1958, initially with 68 growers, and its first vintage was in 1965. By the seventies, they were one of the first wineries in …
Castello di Querceto – Chianti Classico Annata and Riserva
Castello di Querceto – Chianti Classico Annata and Riserva In January 2022, I wrote an article about two Chianti Classico wines from Castello di Querceto. These representatives of the top of the Chianti Classico quality pyramid were their 2018 vintage Gran Selezione wines, namely Il Picchio and La Corte. You can read about those here (including new updated prices and …
What’s your Champagne Style?
What’s your Champagne Style? While there is but one way of making Champagne, not all Champagnes are the same. Champagne is a blend of three essential ingredients: grape varieties, vineyards and vintages. In combination, they can create a particular Champagne style. Champagne is a protected word, meaning it can only come from the Champagne region, but the styles of Champagnes …