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. However, it’s even more special when that vintage marks a quarter-century. …
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 …
Share this Post
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 …
Share this Post
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 …
Share this Post
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 …
Share this Post
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 …
Share this Post
Tuscan Salad: Insalata di Fegatini di Pollo
Tuscan Salad: Insalata di Fegatini di Pollo Here’s a simple Tuscan salad recipe that’s cheap, quick and easy. I first tried it in a restaurant in San Gimignano while attending their Anteprima, where the new Vernaccia wines are previewed and judged. However, it’s also available in many UK Italian restaurants. While the English translation is Warm Chicken Liver Salad, that simply …
Share this Post
Tenuta Sette Cieli: above us only sky
Tenuta Sette Cieli: above us, only sky There are many bright stars in the Bolgheri heavens. Bolgheri is the tiny Tuscan village that now shoulders a colossal reputation. These days, it’s famous for those iconic red wines that rival or surpass the most outstanding wines of Bordeaux. Much of Bolgheri is a flat coastal strip, but rolling hills rise not …
Share this Post
Luce della Vite from Frescobaldi – Luce 2016
Luce della Vite from Frescobaldi – Luce 2016 In Italian, Luce means light. Light brings life. That’s the name of this Supertuscan winery, owned by the Frescobaldi family, whose top wine is Luce della Vite. In 1993, this project released its first vintage. It was originally a joint venture between two wine titans, namely Vittorio Frescobaldi and Robert Mondavi. Tenuta …
Share this Post
A Tuscany Travelogue – introducing Toscana
A Tuscany Travelogue – introducing Toscana. This is an overview article about the wines of Tuscany because many regard it (with some justification) as quintessential Italy. This is a topic needing an entire book or two. However, here it is in less than 1,300 words. Two included maps show just how complex Tuscany is. For brevity, the links in the …
Share this Post