Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico DOCG 2018

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Italy, Organic, Sustainability, Toscana

Ricasoli CC Brolio DOCG

Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico DOCG 2018 Ricasoli and the Castello di Brolio probably need little introduction to many lovers of Chianti Classico. It’s one of the most iconic properties in Tuscany. Indeed, opening a bottle from Ricasoli always brings back fond memories of visits there. Firstly, there’s that imposing castle, the Florentine Castello di Brolio, acquired by the family …

Le Pupille – Delicious Summer Drinking

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Italy, Organic, Sustainability, Toscana

Le Pupille Terroir Morrellino di Scansano

Le Pupille – Delicious Summer Drinking For many lovers of Italian wine, the Fattoria Le Pupille winery and founder/owner Elisabetta Geppetti will need no introduction. Le Pupille’s name derives from the two farmhouses (the Pupils), located on the top of the hills near the village of Pereta, in the deep south of coastal Tuscany. We are in the Maremma, in a DOCG …

MonteRosola, Emerging Tuscan Star

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Italy, Organic, Sustainability, Toscana

MonteRosola Estate, Autunno

MonteRosola, Emerging Tuscan Star MonteRosola is a contemporary winery in the hills close to the hilltop town of Volterra in Tuscany. Volterra may be less familiar to some, so let’s start there to understand how MonteRosola and its wines fit into this delightful Tuscan landscape. Volterra claims the title, “the oldest town in Tuscany.” Indeed, various peoples had continuously occupied …

Rare Champagne grape varieties – this is their story

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Champagne, France, Organic, Sustainability, Wine Business

Rare Champagne grape varieties

Rare Champagne grape varieties – this is their story. Under the Champagne laws, three principal grapes are allowed in Champagne, namely Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Together, they account for 99.74% of vineyard plantings. However, there are also four rare Champagne grape varieties that are tolerated. They are all white varieties: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Petit Meslier and Arbane. …

Tedeschi and climate change – the future is at stake

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Climate Emergency, Organic, Sustainability, Veneto, Wine Business

Tedeschi and climate change – the future is at stake. For any Amarone lover, the name Tedeschi needs no introduction. One of the famous great Valpolicella families, with vineyards owned there since 1630.  Today, Antonietta, Sabrina and Riccardo now run the Tedeschi business. They are the children of Renzo and Bruna Tedeschi. That’s some job, as there are currently 46 …

Chiesa del Carmine – an authentic taste of Umbria

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Italy, Organic, Sustainability, Travel, Umbria

Chiesa del Carmine – an authentic taste of Umbria Chiesa del Carmine is a restored estate in Umbria, some thirty minutes north of the twin delights of Perugia and Assissi. It’s near the Tuscan border, in a small limestone valley accessed from the river valley of the Upper Tiber (Fiume Tevere). This short article is about why their wines are worth …

IWCA – International Wineries for Climate Action

Paul HowardArticles, Biodynamic, Blog, Climate Emergency, Organic, Sustainability, Wine Business

IWCA. Scorched vineyards in Lenswood, Adelaide Hills

IWCA – International Wineries for Climate Action Wine is one of the most valuable agricultural products in the world. Now we’re witnessing the catastrophic effects of the global climate emergency. The world’s vineyards are vulnerable to an increasing amount of extreme weather events; from storms, floods, heat, fire and drought. Some marginal winegrowing regions in the world have arguably benefited thus …

Pla de Bages and its unique heritage

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Organic, Spain, Sustainability, Travel, Wine Business

Abadal winery workers, Pla de Bages

Pla de Bages and its unique heritage These days, Pla de Bages is a relatively obscure Spanish wine region in the heart of Catalonia, Spain. Yet winegrowing has been here since Roman times, and the word Bages comes from Bacchus, the Roman God of wine. North-west of Barçelona, this fascinating region occupies the valleys of two rivers, the Llobregat and …

Zorzettig – fighting back against Covid-19

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy, Sustainability

Andrà Tutto Bene Zorzettig

Zorzettig – fighting back against Covid-19 Zorzettig is a well-known winery in Friuli. In these dark days of Coronavirus lockdown, it’s taking positive and practical steps to fight Covid-19. They are supporting the Hospital of Udine with the release of a limited-edition wine called Andrà Tutto Bene, which means Everything will be Alright. That phrase is on the label in eight different languages. …