FICO Eataly World. From Farm to Fork in Bologna. FICO Eataly World opened in Bologna in November 2017. Though I was in Bologna exploring the nearby Colli Bolognesi wine region, unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to visit it. Instead, I vowed to come back and, nearly a year on, I did. I went twice. This special place is all …
Feudi di San Gregorio – heritage and innovation (updated)
Feudi di San Gregorio – heritage and innovation (updated) Welcome to Campania, in the Mezzogiorno, beautiful southern Italy. It’s where Feudi di San Gregorio is, in the “shin” of Italy’s boot, some 50 km inland from Napoli. This wine producer became, in just a few years, an icon of the modern Italian winemaking renaissance. It remains one of the leaders in restoring authentic …
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Bruno Paillard Champagne Première Cuvée MV
Bruno Paillard Champagne Première Cuvée MV Maison Bruno Paillard is an independent, family-owned Champagne house based in Reims, founded only in 1981, with its first vintage in 1985. At the time this was the first new Champagne House to be created in over a century. Bruno Paillard was just 27 years old when he set it up. Now his daughter Alice …
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Antonella Corda, Stunning Sardinian Wines
Antonella Corda, Stunning Sardinian Wines Antonella Corda is from a family of Sardinian winegrowers and is an agronomist specialised in vine management. She inherited her family traditions in 2010, returning to Sardinia from Trentino, then making her first vintage in 2011. In so doing she has created a boutique winery producing outstanding Sardegnan wines that are subtle, authentic and refined. …
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Sicily, the Land of Baroque ‘n’ Roll, Part 1
Sicily – the Land of Baroque ‘n’Roll, Part 1 This land Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, symbolised by the Trinacria, representing the island’s triangular shape and fabled fertility. Winegrowing here dates back to the 8th century B.C. by ancient Greek colonies. Sicily has highly visible evidence of conquest by many civilisations. Phonecians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Normans, Arabs, Germans, …
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Sicilian Wines, My Delightful Dozen. Baroque ‘n’ Roll, Part 2
Sicilian Wines, My Delightful Dozen. Baroque ‘n’ Roll, Part 2. Here are wines that I consider to be outstanding examples of Sicilian wines from all over the island. I’ve deliberately restricted the choice to only one wine per producer. I’ve also chosen different grape varieties and styles wherever possible. Hence it shows off the Island’s enormous diversity. Sometimes that’s made …
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Nero Oro Nero d’Avola Appassimento, DOC Sicilia, 2017
Nero Oro Nero d’Avola Appassimento, DOC Sicilia, 2017 Nero Oro comes from the Feudo di Santa Tresa estate in Sicily, in collaboration with a company called The Wine People. It’s intriguing in several ways, and not just because of the taste. Firstly, it’s 100% Nero d’Avola, a grape indigenous to Sicily and one of it’s best varieties. Since the 1990’s, …
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Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, Part 2
Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, Part 2 Part 1 of this article covered Vermentino di Sardegna wineries and wines from the south of the Island. In this Part 2, it’s time for those further north. These are roughly centred on the town of Alghero, featuring ten wineries and 18 wines. Further north Soletta Tenute Soletta is in Codrongianos, near Alghero and …
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Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, Part 1
Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, Part 1 Vermentino di Sardegna comes from the island of wind and wine. Sardegna is roughly the size of Wales and the second biggest of all the Mediterranean islands. Being there feels like it’s an entire continent, such are the varying landscapes. Once upon a time, Sardinian Vermentino was mostly quaffing wine, cheap and cheerful. However, …
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Discovering Vermentino di Gallura DOCG
Discovering Vermentino di Gallura DOCG Vermentino is one of the many different grape varieties grown on the island of Sardegna. Most of them are indigenous, and many are unique. However, the most widely grown grapes here are red Cannonau (Grenache), and white Vermentino. Consequently, these two have become the signature grapes of Sardegna, the Isola del Vento. Doubtless, Vermentino is …
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