Pasión de Bobal Rosado – Last of the Summer Wine The late August Bank Holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, is held on the last Monday of the August. It represents the last gasp of the Summer holidays*. After this comes the Great Return; whether to work, to college or school. Who hasn’t had cause to dread that dreary prospect? And …
Peter Zemmer Riesling and 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 …
Share this Post
Louis Pommery England – English Sparkler, French Twist
Louis Pommery England – English Sparkler, French twist Champagne Houses have kept a watchful eye on English Sparkling Wine ever since it started making waves a few years back. What began as rumour became fact when they bought land in Britain for sparkling wine production. Two Champagne Houses well-known for this are Vranken-Pommery Monopole* and Taittinger. Meanwhile, English Sparkling wine is …
Share this Post
Litorale Vermentino – Val Delle Rose, Famiglia Cecchi
Litorale Vermentino – Val Delle Rose, Famiglia Cecchi I recently joined a great online wine tasting presented by Andrea Cecchi. His family wine roots date back to 1893, and they bought their first property in the sixties, which was Villa Cerna in Castellina, Tuscany. However, Cecchi’s enterprise has grown significantly. They now have three other Tuscan estates (another in Chianti …
Share this Post
Nadsat and Newspeak – Words for Wine
Nadsat and Newspeak – Words for Wine Are you self-isolating in Airstrip One, watching our dystopias unfold? Choose from climate emergency, the covid-19 pandemic, surveillance society, social media hate-crimes, fake news, or 1001 other worrisome issues (add your own here). Our world can sometimes seem like it’s becoming a combination of two classic books: George Orwell’s 1984 and Anthony Burgess’s …
Share this Post
Peter Zemmer, “Giatl” – A Unique Pinot Grigio Riserva
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 …
Share this Post
Luce della Vita Celebrates its 25th Anniversary 1993-2017
Luce della Vita Celebrates its 25th Anniversary 1993-2017 In 1993, Frescobaldi released their first vintage of Luce della Vita. 2020 marks a milestone, as their latest release of the 2017 vintage is their 25th. For any wine producer, the release of the new vintage is always an exciting moment. When that vintage marks a quarter-century, it’s even more special. Time then, …
Share this Post
Porchetta – An Italian Food Classic
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 wherever you stay in Italy, ask if there’s a van visiting nearby. This might be at a market or village celebration. Sometimes the regular vans are pitched on the side …
Share this Post
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 further north on the Via Chiantigiana. This old scenic road links Florence with its historic and bitter rival, Siena. Now the SR222, this …
Share this Post
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 …
Share this Post