The Cost of Living Crisis Case, Festive Season 2022 I hope you like my Christmas card! Everyone knows we’re in a cost-of-living crisis, so this situation has affected my wine recommendations for the festive season. We all want to celebrate and enjoy ourselves, but in a cost-conscious way. What is a wine-lover to do? A real price cap Hence, for …
Le Serre Nuove dell’ Ornellaia 2020
Le Serre Nuove dell’ Ornellaia 2020 Le Serre Nuove dell’ Ornellaia is sometimes known as LSN. It’s the official “second wine” of the now iconic Ornellaia estate. They say it’s “made with the same passion and attention to detail as Ornellaia; it reflects the estate’s pedigree”.* Does it live up to this billing? Let’s travel together to the Bolgheri region of Tuscany …
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Di Madre In Vigna: Antonella Corda four years on
Di Madre In Vigna. Antonella Corda four years on Di Madre In Vigna? That must be Antonella Corda in Sardinia. That phrase is prominent on her bottle labels. It says that the land is the mother to the vines. But you could infer that Antonella Corda is also the vines’ mother. Four years ago, I had the great fortune to …
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Le Cupole 2020 – IGT Toscana Rosso by Tenuta di Trinoro
Le Cupole 2020 – IGT Toscana Rosso by Tenuta di Trinoro The late Andrea Franchetti created the Tenuta di Trinoro estate during the 1990s. Returning to Italy (he had been a wine broker in New York), he wanted to make the best Italian wine. For this, he chose a remote site in Tuscany, without any wine history, in the Val d’Orcia. …
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San Leonardo 2017 – Trentino’s Flagship Bordeaux Blend
San Leonardo 2017 – Trentino’s Flagship Bordeaux Blend Here is San Leonardo 2017. Gambero Rosso once described this red wine, made by Tenuta San Leonardo, as “one of the fifty wines that changed Italy”. They have awarded their Tre Biccheri to it consistently, and it has become something of a legend in Italy. It’s from Trentino, a less well-known Italian wine region. …
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Badia di Morrona – excellence in Chianti DOCG
Badia di Morrona – excellence in Chianti DOCG This article concerns Badia di Morrona, a medium-sized wine estate south of Pisa in Tuscany. They make a wide range of wines, including Chianti DOCG, called I Sodi del Paretaio. But before we get to that, it’s worth considering the broader context of Chianti DOCG. Chianti DOCG Chianti is one of the …
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Epokale: In the Hall of the Mountain Grill
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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Summer Bubbles 2022 Collection. Rain or Shine.
Summer Bubbles 2022 Collection. Rain or Shine. It’s June. Feeling outdoorsy? Here’s my Summer Bubbles 2022 collection without any preamble: five sparklers to enjoy during the British summer. There’s something here for everyone, come rain or shine. So don’t forget your pacamac. Summer bubbles one. Valdo, Edizione Oro Puro, Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry NV, DOCG Valdobbiadene, Veneto, Italy. 11.5% …
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Macarons and Recioto – Wine & Cake #2
Macarons and Recioto – Wine & Cake #2 Welcome to the second article in an occasional series about pairing wine with cake. This time its Macarons with Recioto della Valpolicella, the classic sweet red wine from Italy’s Veneto region. Macarons Who invented Macarons? There are rival claims aplenty. While proto-versions have Arabic origins, France and Italy claim it as theirs. One of …
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Ribolla Gialla and a Dachshund – what’s the link?
Ribolla Gialla and a Dachshund – what’s the link? What links the Ribolla Gialla grape variety with a Dachsund? The answer is the Eugenio Collavini winery in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy. But as for why – you’ll need to read to the end to find out. Friuli Venezia Giulia Friuli Venezia Giulia lies in the northeast corner of …
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