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 …
Kendal Farmers Market – Retailer of the Year Award 2025
Kendal Farmers Market – Retailer of the Year Award 2025 Since moving to Cumbria in 2021, I’ve been raving about Kendal Farmers Market, a vibrant part of Cumbria’s vibrant culinary community. In short, it’s the best Farmers Market I’ve ever attended in the UK, of which there are now 500-600 examples. And, as Farmers Markets and Farm Shops have long …
LVNAE Etichetta Nera – an authentic Ligurian Vermentino
LVNAE Etichetta Nera – an authentic Ligurian Vermentino Cantine Lvnae Bosoni is a winery in eastern Liguria. It’s near the port of La Spezia, close to the Tuscan border. Meanwhile, Vermentino is a semi-aromatic white grape variety that thrives in heat (and heat spikes), is resistant to drought and doesn’t drop its acidity. It’s found right around the western Mediterranean …
VentiVenti – The Razzaboni family’s 2020 Vision
VentiVenti – The Razzaboni family’s 2020 Vision VentiVenti is a young start-up venture producing exceptional organic Lambrusco and other wines, particularly through the use of the Metodo Classico method. VentiVenti (2020) is named after the year it was founded. However, the name applies just as aptly to the shared vision of the Razzaboni family, namely Vittorio and his sons Riccardo, …
Veneri – Sauvignon Blanc from Tenuta Liliana
Veneri – Sauvignon Blanc from Tenuta Liliana A recent article about Tenuta Liliana at Parabita in Puglia featured their flagship red wine, an organic Cabernet Sauvignon. This has risen, phoenix-like, from the remains of Olive Trees lost to the Xylella disease. So impressive was this wine that it’s only natural to follow this up with the Estate’s new Sauvignon Blanc, …
Garda DOC wines: Part 2 of Garda Wine Stories 2025
Garda DOC wines: Part 2 of Garda Wine Stories 2025 The well-named Garda Wine Stories 2025 event is part of an engaging communication programme devised by Consorzio Garda DOC. To keep things manageable, the article is in two parts. Part 1 dives into Lake Garda itself. It then explains what Garda DOC is, and offers some examples of how the …
It’s time to make Creme de Cassis
Crème de Cassis What to do with Black Currants? In Britain, they just tend to end up as Ribena. France created an altogether better solution – Crème de Cassis. France took its Black Currants from England and Holland centuries ago. Their best come from Burgundy, called “Noir de Bourgogne”. The woods and hills above the vines are full of them. A few …
Manzone Giovanni – Two Contrasting Barolo DOCG Cru
Manzone Giovanni – Two Contrasting Barolo DOCG Cru Azienda Agricola Manzone Giovanni is in the heart of the Langhe hills, offering views overlooking the Barolo MGA1 terroirs of Gramolere and Castelletto. It’s at the top of the Castelletto hill, at 400 metres, near Monforte d’Alba, and was established in 1925. The Giovanni Manzone estate Having been handed down through five …