Fontanafredda’s Vigna La Rosa vintages
Tasting top vintages of Fontanafredda’s Vigna La Rosa, the historic Barolo producer’s top wine
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Italian wine
Diary 53: vintage reflections
Following the publication of The Wines of Piemonte, the International Wine and Food Society has asked me to contribute to its vintage and drinkability chart for Piemonte. These are my vintage reflections on beginning this task. I am following in the illustrious footsteps of Nick Belfrage MW, pioneer writer on Italian wine, and Michael Garner,
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Diary 52: Mapping Barbera
DOC/DOCGs in Piemonte Piemonte is proud to have no fewer than 60 wine denominations and no IGT wine. But this number of DOCs/DOCGs brings problems as well. Mapping Barbera denominations in Monferrato shows these very clearly. In the 1970s, there was a rush to create the newly available accreditation as a DOC. Barolo and Barbaresco
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Diary 52: a celebration tasting
And finally, it’s been a busy time! In September, my 400-page book, The Wines of Piemonte, was published … And here is what I tasted, no drank, with my local tasting group to celebrate the happy day. The tasting reflects the book: Barolo and Barbaresco of course, but so much more! Great grape varieties, a
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Piera 1899
It was great to be able to taste the wines of a larger Friulian company, based in Friuli Grave. Normally all the spotlight is on Collio and Friuli Collio Orientali, rather than on the flatter plain normally associated with volume production and Glera for Prosecco. The winery Piera 1899 produces a number of lines but
Diary 51: publication day!
I am delighted to say that publication day for my book has arrived, four years after my book proposal was accepted. It is now available for sale directly from the publisher. This is the culmination of a huge amount of intense work, especially over the last four years. I am hugely grateful to all the producers and
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Diary 50: an important milestone
Since my last update in January, I have made important progress on The Wines of Piemonte. The big news is that on 31 May, on time, I submitted my full text to the Classic Wine Library. This is genuinely an important milestone! While it has been on the publisher’s and Amazon’s websites for some time to pre-order, that
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Diary 49: Piemonte in Verona
Vinitaly 2023 The biggest event in Italian wine business is the national wine fair, Vinitaly, held in Verona every year in spring. It is massive. 93,000 visitors, of which more than a quarter were foreign buyers, attended this year. The organisation has improved over the years, especially since the pandemic, with a better shuttle bus
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Diary 48: two women wine producers in Boca, Alto Piemonte
Where and what is Boca? Last spring I was able to spend two weeks in Alto Piemonte, the remarkable Nebbiolo territory close to the Alps. However, even a fortnight in a relatively small region means you can’t visit all the top producers. I came back knowing that I needed more depth in Boca DOC in
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Diary 47: the wines of newcomer Emanuele Gambino
It is always exciting to be in on something new. Most wineries in Piemonte are happy to regale you with how many generations have been farmers before them. And there is nothing wrong with local pride. By contrast, Emanuele Gambino of the winery with the same name is a new venture. Yes, part of the
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