Art of fine living at the HarrowFebruary’s meeting of Andover Wine Friends was a spectacular lunch at The Harrow Inn, Little Bedwyn. They put on a great show for 17 of us, while running the front half of the restaurant as usual. I was seriously off duty – too much… '
Pale, red and elegantWith the whole world of wine to choose from, which three grape varieties would you group together for a focused red wine tasting where there is noticeable relationship between the varieties? The two Cabs and Merlot would be one obvious choice –… '
1970s Claret – old friends reunitedSaturday night’s Andover Wine Friends’ Fine Wine supper was remarkable by any standard, the main act being eight wines from Bordeaux from four vintages in the 1970s. The first thing to celebrate was the friendship and generosity of those… '
Tuscan Harvest Watch 2011New: a first for the Winefriend website! During the harvest of 2011 growers from wineries in key Tuscan regions will be reporting how the picking is going on this website. They will reflect on the ups and the downs of what will we hope with be a successful climax to their year. Click here. Many thanks to the participating estates: I Veroni, Chianti Rufina; Caparsa, Chianti Classico; Campo alla Sughera, Bolgheri; Massa Vecchia, Upper Maremma; Capitoni, Val d’Orcia, between Montalcino and Montepulciano; Sassotondo, Lower Maremma |
Articles on recent visits
Chianti Rufina – fine Sangiovese-based wines and Vin Santo from this small and special area east of Florence (July 2011) Roussillon and Southern Languedoc – red blends, sparkling wines of Limoux, much improved whites and its own style, vin doux naturel (June 2011) Puglia – rich Negroamaro and Primitivo and subtle Nero di Troia, developing whites, sweet wines, even the occasional sparkler and great food from land and sea (April 2011) |
Ways to write about wine
This website has two main components. First there is the blog which chronicles the journey. Whether it’s tasting at home, with local wine groups, at big organised tastings in London, after walking through the vineyard in Italy or wherever, the posts try to give a flavour of that experience. The second element is the web pages which allow a subject to be dealt with in more detail. The most expansive part at the moment is the Tuscan Maremma, a relatively little known part of central Italy which Janet and I have been visiting for some years, but there are recent sets of pages on Chianti, Roussillon and Puglia, not to mention a whole section on the regions of France. Particularly memorable visits are to be found in the special places section. In addition, I am developing gallery sections to showcase pictures without the need for all those words. It’s a bit like wine itself – the words can only take you so far, the real thing is the tasting, the eating and drinking, in company of friends and loved ones.
Click here for special places Click here for my approach to wine
Dear David,
Just a quick note to say lovely to meet you yesterday at the tasting( i was the guy asking about your notebook!I had a wonderful time ,its not often i get the chance to taste such great wines. Hope to see you again.
Regards Steve Povey.
Thank you, Costanza – it was a fascinating trip and there will be more pages over the next couple of weeks.
To the next time in Tuscany!
David
Hallo David!
Your website is always fantastic, and your news about Puglia very interesting.
Thank you
Costanza
Haven’t written before until I had read all about the Sancerre trip – thanks so much for including all the details that are so interesting – I only wish that I could write in such a positive and interesting style – many congratulations! If you and Janet come up to town I’d be only to delighted to lunch you at my club (3 minutes from Embankment/Charing Cross stations). Can promise drinkable wine, but not up to the standards that we would like to become accustomed!
Chris – I would love the principal pages to be in French too, especially I am developing the French regions pages at the moment. I need a helping hand!
David
I’ve just had a look at your very interesting website. Why is it written in English and Italian only? I would be ready to translate it from English to French !
thanks Costanza – sto lavorando su una versione italiana con l’assistente italiana adesso … forgive my Italian mistakes as well!
A presto
David
Writing from Massa Marittima, in the Tuscan Maremma, i’ve enjoied reading about our special wines and how is fantastic tasting, eating, drinking in company of friends.
See you again!
(Perdonate i miei errori in Inglese. Ciao)