Off the beaten track – some lesser-known Italian wines Despite the smaller harvests reported this year, Italy remains the biggest wine-producing country globally. Many readers will know that this massive volume of wine is also incredibly diverse, whether in quality, price, style, terroir, business or winegrowing philosophies. The last time I looked, there were 569 grape varieties registered, with 377 …
Tommasi: two terrific classics. Amarone and Ripasso
Tommasi: two terrific classics. Amarone and Ripasso Back in July 2021, I wrote about Le Fornaci. a Lugana DOC white wine made by Tommasi. Tommasi is famous for two outstanding red wines from Valpolicella Classico, benchmarks of their contrasting styles. Their Amarone originated in 1959, while their Valpolicella Ripasso started in 1995. These red wines rely on drying the fresh grapes, …
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Le Fraghe – a delightful Bardolino, any time
Le Fraghe – a delightful Bardolino, any time Regular readers will know that recent articles have been exploring around the shores of Lake Garda – virtually, of course, as travel hasn’t been possible. Those wanting to catch up with these can find pink wine from Chiaretto di Bardolino and whites from Custoza and Lugana, all of which are DOC wine regions. But …
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Le Fornaci – an exciting Lugana white wine from Tommasi
Le Fornaci – an exciting Lugana white wine from Tommasi Le Fornaci is an ongoing wine project by the Tommasi family. It’s in the Lugana DOC on the southern tip of Lake Garda. Gradually, this project has come to fruition, and the latest 2020 release is a beauty. Here’s why. Tommasi Tommasi is arguably so well known they need little …
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Chiaretto di Bardolino – Anteprima 2021
Chiaretto di Bardolino – Anteprima 2021 Chiaretto di Bardolino is a crisp, dry and pale-pink wine made in the Bardolino DOC on the Venetian shore of Lake Garda. The Italians never refer to this wine as a Rosato or Rosé, though that’s what it is. Instead, it’s always known as Chiaretto, meaning “the little light one”. Lake Garda is to …
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The Wines of Conegliano Valdobbiadene (Pt.2)
The Wines of Conegliano Valdobbiadene (Pt.2) This Part 2 features the Wines of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Part 1 of this article told the story of this DOCG and why the Prosecco from here is Superiore. Now it’s time to see if the wines to live up to that billing. Winemaking The DOCG regulations allow the sparkling Superiore to …
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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 no 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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Diversity discovery in Valpolicella, Part 1
Diversity discovery in Valpolicella, Part 1 Part 1 of this article explores the diversity of Valpolicella; concerning grapes, styles, laws, terroirs, and winegrowing philosophies. Then Part 2 features twelve recommended Valpolicella wines illustrating these features. So, what do we think of when we think of Valpolicella? Is it: A: A cheap red quaffing wine without merit produced in vast quantity for supermarkets? or B: …
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Runcata Soave Superiore DOCG, Tenuta Corte Giacobbe
Runcata Soave Superiore DOCG, Tenuta Corte Giacobbe I recently had the pleasure of visiting Tenuta Corte Giacobbe, to find out more about their top Soave Superiore DOCG called Runcata. Runcata is made only with the Garganega grape variety. It’s a single vineyard right up on the Eastern border of Soave. The terroir here has different characteristics from others in Soave, …
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Lessini Durello – Exciting Fizz from the Veneto
Lessini Durello – Exciting Fizz from the Veneto Between Verona and Vicenza in Northern Italy lies a currently obscure DOC, based on a little known Italian white grape variety called Durella. Eclipsed by Venetian vinous heavyweights such as Valpolicella, Soave and Prosecco, the tiny enclave of Lessini Durello nevertheless makes unique sparkling wines. Now, some thirty years after becoming a …
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