Sicily’s Mt. Etna continues to erupt….with wine!

Week eleven of wine adventures in Piedmont I had been meaning to explore this eastern Sicilian volcanic site for many years (see Mt Etna, left); ever since tasting one of its Etna Rosso wines, a blend of indigenous Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio almost a decade ago. The wines shone brightly then – starfish among […]

Barbaresco and Biodynamics

Week 10 of wine adventures in Piedmont Judging by the wave – ok, ripple – of interest following last week’s ‘Tale of Two Barbareschi’ game, the answer evidently can’t come a moment too soon. Yes, you guessed right: it was Producer B, Signor Teobaldo Rivella (left), hopefully coming to a Fine Wine Merchant near you […]

A tale of two Barbareschi…

– your chance ‘ to be a buyer’, yet more Biodynamics and fresh from the market… Week nine of wine adventures in Piedmont I just heard that my six year old son Patrick (left) made the correct call when asked to judge which Champagne should be served at his cousin’s wedding this summer – that’s […]

Nebbiolo streaks ahead; the French connection; Timorasso and Gavi

Week eight of wine adventures in Piedmont So whoosh! up went the thermometer and with it went the vines; particularly Nebbiolo, Italy’s most well-endowed in the foliage department after Sangiovese, scaling two metres high come the end of May. Two theories abound as to what to do next. Option A: slice off their punti/tops to focus […]