Reading Time: [est_time] Vertical tasting is a powerful tool. It is a way to peer into the winery's past, present, and future. With travel restricted around the world at the beginning of this year, opportunities to do large vertical tastings don't come up often. That's why I
Reading Time: [est_time] When it comes to my first true wine love, Italy holds my heart. In normal years, I'm in Italy at least five times per year. Thanks to the worldwide situation, that number went down significantly in 2020 and the first part of 2021 (hopefully
Reading Time: [est_time] Restoring a historic wine to its rightful place. That's what Alliance Vinum is aiming for. When it comes to the great wines of Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico are often the first names that come to mind. While one of the historic
Reading Time: [est_time] A noble wine waiting in the wings. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is one of the historic Tuscan wines. The first mention of the wines dates back to the 8th century and in the 16th century, Pope Paul III declared the wines of Montepulciano to
Reading Time: [est_time] Sangiovese is where our palates meet, more specifically Chianti Classico. Charine and I don't always agree on wines except for fine Sangiovese from the heart of Tuscany. Riecine is no stranger to producing great examples. The oldest records know Riecine as belonging to a
Reading Time: [est_time] "What's it like to work with such a big personality in the wine world?" "She's actually fantastic and listens to input and gives some flexibility in the cellar," answered Ettore Rizzi. He's a fiery ambitious man who is deeply involved with the production at
Reading Time: [est_time] "Stella Flora is named after my grandmother, a strong but sweet woman who worked in the vineyard until she was 89," Maria Pia Castelli tells me. In normal years, I'd be having this conversation in person, preferably in the vineyard or cellar. This year
Reading Time: [est_time] How many times must I proclaim my love for Sangiovese? The grape is undoubtedly best in its home of Tuscany. There are many appellations that are dedicated to Sangiovese including the famous Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino. Sandwiched in between both of these
Reading Time: [est_time] I love Sangiovese, period
Reading Time: [est_time] It's no surprise that we love Italian wine, from all parts of the country. In recent years, I've traveled to some lesser-known parts of Italian wine country including Valle d'Aosta, Puglia, and Sardegna. However, outside of Montefalco Sagrantino, Umbria still remains a blind