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Rietine, Chianti Classico, Tuscany (25/9/2011)

November 4, 2011

This history of Chianti is long and complex and today the region of production is divided into several sub-regions with the Chianti Classico region – considered the best of them, and where it all began – at its heart sitting neatly between Firenze in the north and Siena in the south. Early attempts to define […]

Azienda Agricola Simonelli-Santi, Orcia, Tuscany (24/9/2011)

October 25, 2011

The regions of production of two of Tuscany’s finest wines – Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montpulciano – are separated by a strip of land where the River Orcia flows. You can stand in the main town - San Quirico d’Orcia - and see the hill of Montalcino to the west while over […]

Podere Le Berne, Montepulciano, Tuscany (24/9/2011)

October 20, 2011

The medieval hill town of Montepulciano has a problem, namely that is shares its name with a red grape variety grown extensively on the other side of Italy in Abruzzo. The town of Montepulciano and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo are entirely unrelated of course, yet confusion reigns; sometimes I wonder whether the Italians do it deliberately… So, […]

Fattorie Giannozzi Wines, Marcialla, Tuscany (22/9/2011)

October 19, 2011

Fattorie Giannozzi is a small family-owned and run Fattorie that can trace winemaking in a direct line since 1710. Situated about halfway between Siena and Florence their vineyards lie in the district of Barberino Val d’Elsa which itself is just 2km from the edge of the Chianti Classico region. The grapes here are grown without […]

Olive Oil

October 13, 2011

Almost all Tuscan vineyards are interspersed with olive groves; olives are the other big crop of the region. Consequently, most producers make olive oil in addition to wine and there is an equal variety of styles available. I have to be careful here since, whilst my palate is accustomed to wine, it is not used […]

Fattoria di Fugnano, San Gimignano, Tuscany

October 13, 2011

Up a steep, winding track to the west of the hilltop town of San Gimignano sits the Fattoria di Fugnano. The estate was originally bought by the current owner’s grandfather who fell in love with the area and wanted a property here. Back in those days Fugnano made acceptable bulk wine, but on the passing […]

Azienda Agricola Verbena, Montalcino, Tuscany

October 6, 2011

Luca Nannetti and his wife Elena own Azienda Agricola Verbena which sits just over halfway up the south side of the hill of Montalcino in the south of Tuscany. The Verbena farmstead’s lands extend to a total of 23 hectares along the Via Traversa dei Monti at about 400m above sea level and comprise a […]

Who is allowed to tell us how much to drink?

July 28, 2011

The latest edition of Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade Review – the weekly wine trade publication – contains details of their “Responsibility OK” campaign urging companies in the drinks trade to sign up to seven alcohol responsibility pledges. It’s a trade led campaign aimed at nudging everyone towards a healthier approach to alcohol consumption in […]

Gold Medal? So What!

July 20, 2011

Walking through town today I passed a pub advertising “Award Winning Wines” and I wondered whether anyone has ever looked at this and thought “Award winning eh? I’ll pop in for a glass!” I suppose some see a certain reassurance from a medal on a bottle, but (remember the Emperor who placed such trust in […]

Contains Sulphites...?

February 16, 2011

We’ve had a few enquiries about the wording on wine labels that reads “contains sulphites” which does tend to look scary as if somehow wine has suddenly had some sinister additive included suddenly. In fact, it’s just one of many tools used by winemakers, and it’s a labelling rule that tells only half the story. […]

When Prosecco is not Prosecco

February 10, 2011

First there was Sparkling Saumur, then there was Cava. Blanquette de Limoux was in there somewhere as well, but the fashionable non-Champagne sparkler of the moment seems to be Prosecco. Clean, refreshing fizz from Northern Italy, in either “spumante” (fully sparkling) or frizzante (semi-sparkling) and made from the Prosecco grape. Simple eh? Except it isn’t. […]

Mulled Wine

November 8, 2010

If you like the warming effect of a glass (or mug)! of mulled wine during the autumn and winter months it really is worth making the effort to make your own mulled wine. Don't be tempted by the tea-bag style sachets of gunk which are somehow supposed to magically convert regular red plonk into delicious […]

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