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 and …
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 little introduction. The name Le Pupille 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 …
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MonteRosola, an emerging Tuscan star
MonteRosola, an 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 get a sense of how MonteRosola and their wines fit into this delightful Tuscan landscape. Volterra lays claim to the title, “the oldest town in Tuscany.” …
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Goldilocks. Or, drinking Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Goldilocks. Or, drinking Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Any opportunity to try the wines made by the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) in Burgundy is the chance of a lifetime. Not only is this celebrated patch of dirt in the village of Vosne-Romanée regarded as producing the most outstanding red Burgundy, many consider it to be the source of the world’s …
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Rare Champagne grape varieties – this is their story
Rare Champagne grape varieties – this is their story Under the Champagne laws, three principal grapes are allowed in Champagne, namely Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Together, they account for 99.74% of vineyard plantings. However, there are also four rare Champagne grape varieties tolerated. They are all white varieties, namely Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Petit Meslier and Arbane. In France, …
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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 little 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 …
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Chiesa del Carmine – an authentic taste of Umbria
Chiesa del Carmine – an authentic taste of Umbria Chiesa del Carmine is a restored estate in Umbria, some thirty minutes north of the twin delights of Perugia and Assissi. It’s near to the Tuscan border, in a small limestone valley accessed from the river valley of the Upper Tiber (Fiume Tevere). This short article is about why their wines are …
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IWCA – International Wineries for Climate Action
IWCA – International Wineries for Climate Action Wine is one of the most valuable agricultural products in the world. Now we’re witnessing the catastrophic effects of the global climate emergency. The world’s vineyards are vulnerable to an increasing amount of extreme weather events; from storms, floods, heat, fire and drought. Some marginal winegrowing regions in the world have arguably benefited thus …
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Colet Navazos Extra Brut, original and brilliant fizz
Colet Navazos Extra Brut, original and brilliant fizz Regular readers will know of my love of Sparkling wine and Sherry. They are two unique wine styles with entirely different origins. Two methods defined by their complicated production and maturation processes. They couldn’t be more different from one another. Poles apart, you might say. But what if someone was bonkers enough …
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Pla de Bages and its unique heritage
Pla de Bages and its unique heritage These days, Pla de Bages is a rather obscure Spanish wine region in the heart of Catalonia, Spain. Yet winegrowing has been here since Roman times, and the word Bages comes from Bacchus, the Roman God of wine. North-west of Barçelona, this fascinating region occupies the valleys of two rivers, the Llobregat and …
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