Italy

Roagna is a renowned winemaker based in the Piedmont region of Italy, celebrated for their traditional and sustainable growing practices. They cultivate Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto grapes in prestigious vineyards like Barbaresco and Barolo, emphasizing biodiversity and minimal intervention.

Picariello’s Irpinia Fiano is a declassified version* of Fiano di Avellino, made from estate-grown fruit. Some of my favorite Italian white wines come from Campania. They may not be overly complex, but they’re beautifully balanced with just the right touch of minerality.

Renato makes very good, moderately priced wines from native grapes such as Vernaccia, Canaiolo Nero, and Sangiovese. We particularly enjoyed the Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

Torre dei Beati, named after a detail in a 14th-century fresco at the local church of S. Maria in Piano, symbolizes the “Tower of the Blessed” – the ultimate destination for souls striving for eternal peace after facing many trials.

Although often referred to as Gavi due to its Piedmont origins, traditional Gavi is predominantly made from the Cortese grape.

During the Quaternary period, the Ligurian Sea covered the valleys of this part of Tuscany with shallow, calm waters, creating an ideal environment for the growth of crustaceans and mollusks. These creatures were the first inhabitants of Montenidoli, leaving behind a precious heritage.

Luigi Ferrando has long stood as the foremost producer of wines from the Canavese region, where his family’s winemaking legacy dates back to 1900. With meticulous care, the Ferrandos tend to their Nebbiolo vineyards nestled on the mountainside terroir of Carema, forming an amphitheater shadowed by the imposing Monte Bianco.

I’ve been exploring various producers’ Falanghina lately. It’s a great alternative to Sauvignon Blanc and consistently surpasses Pinot Grigio. This La Rivolta Vigneti was particularly enjoyable and reasonably priced.

I the purchased this wine (as well as others) during our visit to the Villa in 2017. We had the distinct pleasure of having a private wine tasting with the owner, Simona Ruggeri Fabroni arranged for us by my friend Neal Rosenthal.

Falanghina, an ancient white varietal, flourishes in the Campania region, encompassing the area surrounding and east of Naples. Historically, this white wine has been the perfect companion to the exceptional seafood found in the region.

An almost forgotten varietal in the ancient region of Irpinia, Fiano, originally known as apiana, earned its name due to its sweet berries being a magnet for bees. Traditionally grown near hazelnut orchards, the grape’s flavor profile seems to bear the influence of its surroundings.

I’ve recently explored the Joaquin grape variety and wanted to delve into other winemakers who use the same grape. This Fiano is both intense and elegant.

According to DOC wine law, Erbaluce may only give its name to a label when grown in the Canavese. The grape comes from the North of Italy.

This wine, a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% of a combination of Colorino, Canaiolo, and Ciliegiolo, epitomizes the quintessential Chianti Classico from Castellina in Chianti.

We were all set to conquer the 47th annual Josh Billings runaground when the universe decided to punk us. You guessed it – the race got canceled faster than a rainy picnic! The culprits? Thunderstorms and winds that were apparently more excited about the race than we were. But hey, we weren’t about to let Mother Nature rain on our parade. We clung to tradition […]

A little information about the region and the grape. Campania represents a region in southwestern Italy renowned for its ancient ruins and breathtaking coastline. Naples, the capital of this region, stands as a vibrant city beautifully situated between the iconic gray cone of Mt. Vesuvius and the deep blue expanse of the Golfo di Napoli. Further to the south, the Amalfi Coast boasts towns like […]

A little history Paolo Bea doesn’t strictly adhere to organic or biodynamic principles, but it’s quite challenging to discover a more natural approach elsewhere. The family cultivates five hectares of vineyards primarily located near the estate, with some vineyards like Cerrette reaching altitudes of up to 500 meters above sea level. In contrast to numerous other producers, Bea has successfully crafted exquisitely balanced wines each […]

Ladies and gentlemen, gather around and let me regale you with the tale of my epic quest to discover the most magnificent summer white wine for 2023. Armed with an insatiable thirst and a questionable sense of adventure, I set forth on a perilous journey through tasting rooms, determined to find the elixir that would quench my summertime desires. My encounter with Janare del Sannio […]

Montenidoli is situated on 500 acres of woodland atop a hill that overlooks San Gimignano, facing the Chianti Classico region between Florence and Siena. This pristine land resides high up on the hill, benefiting from clean air and remaining untouched by any chemical pollutants created by humans. Under the guidance of Elisabetta Fagiuoli for over fifty years, Montenidoli has emerged as a leading producer of […]

Rizzardi KEYA Bardolino Chiaretto Classico The wine shop was pouring this, so I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by its color and freshness. It had a beautiful watermelon color with hints of peach and orange. On the palate, it revealed soft melon and herbal flavors. The wine had a long, tenacious finish that lingered with tropical fruit notes. KEYA is […]

Col di Luna produces sparkling wines at the foot of the Dolomites, upholding a family tradition and a preference for the Brut style. One of their offerings is the Flora rosato, made from a local grape variety called Raboso. This grape is not widely used due to its high tannin levels. I decided to try something different and opted for a wine made using the […]

This wine hails from Piedmont, a region in Italy that borders France and Switzerland, nestled at the foot of the Alps. The vineyard is owned by the Maccario brothers, who firmly believe in allowing the clean and healthy Barbera fruit to speak the loudest in the final wine. Harvesting takes place between late September and early November when the estate fruit reaches its optimal level […]

The Erbaluce came recommended by the wine shop owner having remembered a few whites I had previously bought. He made an excellent choice with this wine. It was just what I was looking for. The other wine I choose was not as good as I was hoping for but for the price it was worth a try. Cieck Erbaluce di Caluso, 2020 DOCG DOCG is […]