Greatest Hits – A Case for Christmas 2024

Paul Howard Alto Adige/Südtirol, Articles, Biodynamic, Blog, Calabria, England and Wales, Italy, Lebanon, Lombardia, Molise, Organic, Piemonte, Sardegna, Spain, Sparkling Wine, Sustainability, Toscana, Veneto

Greatest Hits - Happy Christmas 2024

Greatest Hits – A Case for Christmas 2024 This year, I’m ringing the changes for the Case for Christmas 2024 article. This time, it’s a Greatest Hits package. This features a dozen wines selected from all my previous annual Christmas wine recommendations. They are twelve wines that stand the test of time and fully deserve highlighting again. Such a listicle …

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Kellerai Kaltern – Schiava Specialists

Paul Howard Alto Adige/Südtirol, Articles, Blog, Italy, Sustainability

Lago di Caldaro - Kalterersee

Kellerai Kaltern – Schiava Specialists Kellerai Kaltern (Cantina Caldaro) is the largest cooperative winery in northern Italy’s Alto Adige (Südtirol) region. It’s in Kaltern an der Weinstraβe (Caldaro sulla strada di vino). Its long name shows its proximity to Kalterersee (Lago di Caldaro), the region’s largest lake. The name also appends the regional wine route, which winds 150 km through …

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Epokale: In the Hall of the Mountain Grill

Paul Howard Alto Adige/Südtirol, Articles, Blog, Italy, Sustainability

Epokale - Silver Mine

Epokale: In the Hall of the Mountain Grill Epokale has become an iconic wine with a glowing reputation. Its creator is Cantina Tramin, in the Alto Adige region of Italy, also the Italian spiritual homeland for the Gewürztraminer white grape. Some years ago, the Cantina commenced a long-term project to make a special cuvée representing Gewürztraminer, Alpine terroir, and wine-growing …

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Christmas 2021 – a dozen delights

Paul Howard Abruzzo, Alto Adige/Südtirol, Articles, Biodynamic, Blog, Champagne, England and Wales, Food, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Organic, Sardegna, Spain, Sparkling Wine, Sustainability

Happy Christmas 2021

Christmas 2021 – a dozen delights Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to you all! Thanks for reading, supporting and encouraging me during this incredibly challenging year. Here’s my present to you all – the pick of the wines for Christmas 2021, together with a Christmas Card. This year there are a dozen delights. All come highly recommended for …

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Ushas – Rosenmuskateller and visions of the Divine

Paul Howard Alto Adige/Südtirol, Articles, Blog, Italy, Sustainability

Ushas Rosenmuskateller/Moscato Rosa

Ushas – Rosenmuskateller and visions of the divine The Kellerai Kurtasch (Cantina Cortaccia) is one of those magnificent Alto Adige wine co-operatives, focusing on sustainability in the vineyard and the winery. Founded in 1900, its 190 hectares of vineyards rise to 900 metres in this alpine terroir on steep slopes that welcome the sunrise.  As is usual in these parts, …

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Cantina Tramin and their path to Alpine wines

Paul Howard Alto Adige/Südtirol, Articles, Blog, Italy, Sustainability, Wine Business

Cantina Tramin

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, …

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Peter Zemmer Riesling and Pinot Noir

Paul Howard Alto Adige/Südtirol, Articles, Blog, Italy, Sustainability

Zemmer Rolhüt Pinot Noir

Peter Zemmer Riesling and Pinot Noir A recent Wine Alchemy article introduced Weingut Peter Zemmer from the Alto Adige (Südtirol) region of Italy. It featured his “cru” Pinot Grigio Riserva called Giatl. Rather than reprise that piece here, suffice to say that the Peter Zemmer operation is a family-owned winery in the south of the region, at Cortina ssdv. As is typical …

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Peter Zemmer, “Giatl” – A Unique Pinot Grigio Riserva

Paul Howard Alto Adige/Südtirol, Articles, Blog, Italy, Sustainability

Peter Zemmer Giatl

Peter Zemmer, “Giatl” – A Unique Pinot Grigio Riserva Heading north on the A22 (Autostrada del Brennero), you’ll arrive in the Alto Adige (Südtirol) region of NE Italy. In this southernmost part, fruit trees and vines flank the motorway. Here lies the pretty and tranquil village of Cortina ssdv, or Cortina sulla Strada del Vino. It’s the smallest village on …

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Christmas 2018 – six favourite wines

Paul Howard Alto Adige/Südtirol, Articles, Blog, Molise, Umbria

Christmas 2018

Christmas wines 2018 – six favourites What are my six Wines for Christmas 2018? ‘Tis the season.  If you’d like more recommendations, then please look at my lists from 2017 and 2016 too. As for my selection criteria for Christmas 2018, they have to be versatile; excellent with food or at a party. I’ve tried to mix the selection up …

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Lagrein from Cantina Bolzano: Taber Riserva

Paul Howard Alto Adige/Südtirol, Articles, Blog, Italy

Cantina Bolzano / Kellerai Bozen: Lagrein and more

Lagrein from Cantina Bolzano: Taber Riserva Lagrein is an Italian native red grape variety, grown mostly in Trentino-Alto Adige since ancient times. Lagrien usually makes a monovarietal wine but does also feature in blends. Arguably, Lagrein wines are best from around Bolzano, the capital of the Alto Adige. Indeed, the Benedictine monks of Gries Abbey near Bolzano were famous for …

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