As Janet and I had been in Piemonte but not got to the Gavi area, we made a bee-line for the home of the Cortese grape at Vinitaly 2010. This massive wine fair allows you to taste some of the real specialities (and peculiarities) of Italy and that includes some little known sparkling wines. Here
Vinitaly 2: mainly bubbles Read More »
Visiting Vinitaly, the annual five-day Italian wine fair in Verona, is in many ways a microcosm of the Italian wine scene – massive in scale, seemingly infinite in possibilities, by turns exhilarating and exasperating. The sheer scale of it is quite intimidating – 13 huge pavilions and 4200 producers. If the producers bring five wines
Vinitaly 1: the Italian wine city Read More »
This smallish family firm produces six wines, all red, with a total production from six hectares of 40,000 bottles a year. As Danilo explained, there are just three of them in the firm, so the upside is that you get to do a bit of everything. He had worked previously as a sommelier in the
Fiorenzo Nada – small is beautiful Read More »
There is a very assured feel about the entire operation at Albino Rocca in the village of Barbaresco itself. The vineyards have been build up to an impressive 23 hectares and the usual excellent job has been done in hiding the winery under the house. There is also the obligatory beautiful view of the hills
Albino Rocca – where the quality shows Read More »
Annette Hilberg arrived in the Roero area from Germany 26 years ago and now seems very settled. She and her husband were about to set off for a tasting of old vintages of Barbera at the end of a long day. She was clearly excited about this, which is great to see in those in
Hilberg-Pasquero: ‘bio-ergo-dinamica’ Read More »
Just down the road from Malvirà in Canale itself is Monchiero Carbone which is the product of the two named families joining forces in the present husband and wife team. Again, the winery is hidden from view, here underground, below the courtyard of a traditional dwelling. Parts of the cellar are very old, going
Monchiero Carbone – when two families are better than one Read More »
There are some days when everything is just perfect – the spring sunshine, the countryside emerging from a long hard winter, the place, the people. Our visit to Malvirà was one of those days. As with quite a few wineries in Piemonte, the building could be just a rather larger house from the outside. But
Spring sunshine at Malvirà Read More »
The winery of the historic family firm of Renato Ratti sits overlooking a magnificent sweep of vines, just on the edge of the town of La Morra. Sig. Ratti made a significant contribution to winemaking here, being first off the mark with the classification of the important single vineyards, the ‘cru’. The winery used to
Renato Ratti – history with a view Read More »
This estate was created in 1990 when Elvio Cogno decided to set up in his own name, having previously been part of an important partnership. It is now run by Walter Fissore and his wife Nadia (Elvio’s daughter) who showed us around this beautiful farm house (cascina) which serves as winery and home. It has
Elvio Cogno – a family winery in good health Read More »
Elio Grasso has 16 hectares in the Barolo area with spectacular views of Serralunga d’Alba. Mind you, you almost give the ghost before you arrive because, although it is just outside of Monforte d’Alba, to get to the estate you have to go three quarters the way around a hill to be facing nearly back
Elio Grasso: two styles of Barolo Read More »
