Italy

Reviews January 25, 2012

Querceto di Castellina L’Aura Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2008.

Grapes 90% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo Sangiovese [san-joe-vay-zee] is the main grape in Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Carmignano and Brunello di Montalcino.   Ciliegiolo [chee-lee-eh-joh-loh] is a much more obscure grape than Sangio, and it took a little research to find out some info! We’re all still learning, right? The name is apparently derived from the Italian word for cherry in Italian: ciliegi. Through clonal research, Ciliegiolo has been discovered to be the parent of…

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Reviews January 6, 2012

La Spinetta Nebbiolo, Langhe-Piedmont, Italy 2008.

Grape 100% Nebbiolo [neh-bee-oh-low]   Facts La Spinetta was founded in 1977 by Giuseppe and Lidia Rivetti. They’re big on the idea that the best wines are made in the vineyard, rather than in the winery, and take as minimal of a interventionist approach as possible toward all their wines.  Each bottle of La Spinetta bears a pencil drawing of a rhino, and there’s a very good reason for that! Historically, the rhinoceros has always…

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Pairings November 10, 2011

Grilled Flank Steak in a Garlic, Balsamic and Red Wine Marinade, Paired with Masseria Pietrosa Salice Salentino.

If you’ve been following these food and wine pairings, you’ll know that I ideally like to keep the recipes as quick and simple as possible. This pairing epitomizes that concept. The wine for this pairing is the Masseria Pietrosa Salice Salentino; yet another European wine which doesn’t do itself any favors with its name or label, so I’ll help explain: Salice Salentino is actually the town in the Southern Apulia region of Italy (the “heel…

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Facts, Funny November 5, 2011

Est! Est!! Est!!!

An Italian white wine named Est! Est!! Est!!! got its name from a medieval story (you decide whether it’s true)…. A bishop was planning to travel the Italian countryside and asked his scout to find inns that had good wines, marking the door with “Est” (“It is” or “This is it”). The scout was so excited about the local wine found in the area that he marked one inn’s door “Est! Est!! Est!!!” I’m not…

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Giveaway October 5, 2011

The Wine Lovers Giveaway!

It’s been a little while since I did a giveaway, so I thought I’d GO BIG! Here’s what I have to giveaway: Soiree Wine Aerator – the ONLY way I aerate my wine! The Wine Lovers Journal – a very cool hard-bound notebook for your labels and tasting notes. Private Preserve – wine preserver to keep your wine fresh for longer. Wine Away – red wine stain remover. California Wine Map – large fold-out wine…

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Reviews July 28, 2011

Cesari Mara Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2008

Grapes A blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara (don’t worry if you haven’t heard of them before, these grapes are generally only used in Italy in the wines of Valpolicella). Facts Read that title again! What a mouthful…….and that’s why your “average” wine buyer normally misses out on these awesome wines! The labels are no doubt very confusing, and the wines even more so; however if you’re feeling adventurous, the red wines from the Veneto…

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Reviews July 23, 2011

Gran Sasso Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Grape 100% Montepulciano [Mawn-teh-pool-CHA-noh] It’s a fun grape to say, especially if you do so with a really bad Italian accent. Say it with me: “Montepulciano!!!” Facts I hope you’re paying attention, because this is going to get tricky for a second! This wine is made from the Montepulciano grape; however there is ALSO a town called Montepulciano in Tuscany, which as it happens is nowhere near the Abruzzo region where this wine hails from….

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Reviews June 28, 2011

Borgogno Dolcetto d’Alba 2007 Paired with Flank Steak Spirals with Porcini and Red Wine Sauce

How nice is it to get home to a meal sat on the table when you walk in from working all day!?!? Not that I ask for it very often, but if the Mrs is off, and I’ve been working all day it’s definitely appreciated! Now don’t get me wrong; even though I’m English I’m not Victorian-English! I don’t give my wife a jolly-good-thrashing if dinner isn’t sat on the table, after I’ve been working…

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News June 16, 2011

Gary Vaynerchuk’s Daily Grape Feature – Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2007

Wine: 2007 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano  Grape: 100% Sangiovese Score: 91 Points Price: $25 MSRP   Gary’s explanation why: For all you longtime Italian fans out there, you very well know that about 10 years ago, Tuscan wines were as hot as Saved by the Bell. In the last few years, popularity has waned… not only are sales down, but prices have followed suit for many high end wines, especially in the Super Tuscan…

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