Collio – introducing Italy’s best-kept wine secret The Collio (aka Collio Goriziano) is a small Italian DOC. It’s in the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) region in the far north-eastern corner of Italy, bordering Slovenia. Following a recent visit, this article is designed as a brief introduction to Collio and its wines. Future companion pieces will cover some of the most …
Monte del Frà – a preview of five new wine releases
Monte del Frà – a preview of five new wine releases Monte del Frà is a family winery in Sommacampagna, between Lake Garda and Verona. They are highly regarded, and rightly so, for a wide range of wines of excellent quality and value. While some of these wines have been featured on Wine Alchemy previously, this article previews five new …
25 years of Wine Alchemy – the first article redux
25 years of Wine Alchemy – the first article redux Executive Summary 25 years! Early in 1998, the Wine Alchemy brand was inflicted on an unsuspecting world. In short, I’ve taken this extravagant journey So it seems to me I just came from nowhere And I’m going straight back there* . A (slightly) Longer Version This was in the early …
Casisano 2016 – a mighty fine Brunello di Montalcino
Casisano 2016 – a mighty fine Brunello di Montalcino Brunello is one of Italy’s most prestigious wines and aspires to be the ultimate expression of Sangiovese. This DOCG, centred on the hill town of Montalcino, hosts considerable natural variation; in elevation, soil and aspects. Brunello’s stylistic hallmark is based upon long-maturation and subsequent longevity. In recent times, some producers have made …
Bentu Luna is where the old ways are new again
Bentu Luna is where the old ways are new again. Bentu Luna is a new wine project located in the centre of Sardinia, based at Neoneli, in the Province of Oristano. It’s led by the Moratti family from Castello Cigognola in Lombardy and managed by CEO Gian Matteo Baldi, who grew up and worked in Sardinia. They have been featured …
Le Fornaci – an exciting Lugana white wine from Tommasi
Le Fornaci – an exciting Lugana white wine from Tommasi Le Fornaci is an ongoing wine project by the Tommasi family. It’s in the Lugana DOC on the southern tip of Lake Garda. Gradually, this project has come to fruition, and the latest 2020 release is a beauty. (Update – so is 2021). Here’s why. Tommasi Tommasi is arguably so …
Slow Wine Coalition – Good, Clean and Fair Wine
Slow Wine Coalition – Good, Clean and Fair Wine The Slow Wine Coalition is a new collaborative wine network established by the Slow Food movement*. For some years now, vanguard wineries from around the globe have understood that we must establish a wine industry upon solid environmental, ethical and social values. As a result, many sustainable initiatives are now happening …
Wine Faults and Flaws: A Practical Guide. Book Review
Wine Faults and Flaws: A Practical Guide. Book Review Wine Faults and Flaws is a brand new book by Keith Grainger*. It took ten years to write and was published on 10 June 2021. This book does what it says on the tin and bridges the gap between heavy science and popular readability whilst retaining scholarship. You’ll find plenty of …
Cantina Tramin and their path to Alpine wines
Cantina Tramin and their path to Alpine wines Cantina Tramin is one of the leading wine producers in the Alto Adige (Südtirol) region of northeast Italy. This co-operative is in the village of Tramin (Termeno), comprising some 300 members and 270 hectares of vines, some of which are now organic. In this mountainous region, individual family holdings are frequently tiny, …
Glass facts – a pick ‘n’ mix collection
Glass facts – a pick ‘n’ mix collection Here’s a collection of fascinating glass facts from background research into the use of glass wine bottles. Although there wasn’t enough space to include them in recent articles about glass wine bottles, they are a fascinating glimpse into our glass heritage and so well worth sharing. Origins Volcanic activity produces obsidian, a natural …