Reading Time: [est_time] "We opened this special bottle last night and thought it would be great to share it with you," Dirk Niepoort said. "The base of this wine is from the mid-1800s." I've tasted wines several times with Dirk and he's always generous. If you're lucky
Reading Time: [est_time] Here's an article that's long overdue. It's a recap of a weeklong sprint through Moldova back in 2019. It was one of my favorite memories of that year and gives me hope that travel opens up again this year. Here's a journey through
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] For better or worse, 2020 is a year all of us will ever forget. This last year saw the fear of one singular thing affect the entire world. My life was deeply altered, like countless others around the world. That's not to say
Reading Time: [est_time] Carignan was at one time, one of the most planted red grapes in the world. This underappreciated variety is mostly associated with the south of France and Spain (its homeland) where it's often blended. In recent years, varietal examples from Chile have gotten
Reading Time: [est_time] Over ten years ago, I had my first Greek wine, an Alpha Estate, 'Hedgehog' Xinomavro. It captivated my palate back then and started my Greek wine journey. Greece has a long history of production, dating back to at least 2000 BC. In the 20th
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
Reading Time: [est_time] Some grapes just speak to you. For me, that grape is Sangiovese. I love it in all forms, especially in its spiritual home of Tuscany. This 'blood of Jupiter' (where the name Sangiovese originates from) creates the great wines of Chianti Classico, Brunello di
Reading Time: [est_time] Quinta Varzea da Pedra is one of my favorite discoveries of 2020. Every year, I taste thousands of wines from all over the world. A handful of those wines have that special something, a twinkle in the eye. That's what drew me to Quinta