Porchetta – An Italian Food Classic One of the joys of cuisine in Italy is finding mobile food vans selling hot Porchetta, especially on weekends and national holidays. I recommend that you ask if there’s a van visiting nearby wherever you stay in Italy. It might be at a market or village celebration. Sometimes the regular vans are pitched on the …
Gagliole: Three Authentic Expressions of Tuscany
Gagliole: Three Authentic Expressions of Tuscany Gagliole is a winery based in the heart of Chianti Classico. It owns vineyards at two separate and distinctive locations. One is at Castellina, while the other is at Panzano, some 20 km north on the Via Chiantigiana. This old scenic road links Florence with its historic and bitter rival, Siena. Now the SR222, this route takes …
Malvirà Roero Arneis – Stylish White Wine in Two Guises
Malvirà Roero Arneis – Stylish White Wine in Two Guises Arneis is a fashionable Italian white grape variety. It has an exciting story to tell and can make excellent wines. Two of those wines feature here, both from the Malvirà winery, showing contrasting styles. Malvirà is at Canale, the unofficial “wine capital” of the Roero DOCG, in Piemonte, northern Italy. Arneis is …
Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico DOCG 2018
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 …
The Great Vine – the World’s Oldest Grapevine?
The Great Vine – the World’s Oldest Grapevine? Where is the world’s oldest grapevine? Perhaps in continental Europe, which has been growing grapes for centuries. Alternatively, in a place that’s a cradle of winegrowing, such as Georgia or Syria. Surprisingly, the world’s oldest fully documented grapevine is thriving in London. This is The Great Vine, which it’s now 252 years young. …
Brunello di Montalcino Terroir: Tenute Silvio Nardi 2015’s
Brunello di Montalcino Terroir: Tenute Silvio Nardi 2015’s Tenute Silvio Nardi has just released their three 2015 vintage Brunello di Montalcino DOCG wines. This article is about how each one expresses their particular Montalcino terroir. Let’s begin with a little more about Brunello and why Nardi is a classic producer. Then we can see how these wines express their environments …
Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs – Book Review
Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs – Book Review This article reviews a new wine book by Ian D’Agata, entitled Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs. It follows on from his indispensable previous book, Native Wine Grapes of Italy. Here D’Agata continues his focus on Italian native grape varieties. This time he shows how these can communicate a unique “somewhereness” in the wines made from them. …
Le Pupille – Delicious Summer Drinking
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
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 …
Tedeschi and climate change – the future is at stake
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 …