The following reports are provided by Aldo Cifola (La Monacesca), Sergio Arcuri, Loredana Tanganelli (Scopetone) and Mirco Mastroianni (Massaretti). First up, Aldo Cifola, winemaker/owner at the La Monacesca estate, recounts how his Verdicchio di Matelica fared: “Summer 2013 was complicated due to the repetitive rain showers in June and July, let alone the unprecedented eight […]

Italian Buyer David Berry Green reports from the vineyards surrounding the Monte Vulture volcano, and finds the political temperature is rising amongst the producers. Basilicata’s mountain vineyard, the brooding volcanic Monte Vulture, surrounded by one thousand hectares of noble Aglianico vine, threatens to ‘erupt’ anew, despite having lain dormant for 300,000 years. I’m just back […]

As I write, the larger Langhe estates are still feverishly gathering up the last of the Nebbiolo harvest, the still-warm sun lighting up the stunning autumn colours. Harking back to the years before global warming started to make its presence felt, ie pre 1995, the 2013 Langhe Nebbiolo harvest has been reassuringly late. It all […]

By a happy coincidence, I found myself in the capital on the day that London Cru’s Barbera arrived at their West Brompton winery in Seagrave Road. It was great to catch up with winemaker Gavin Monery (@Ldncru), and to check up on the Barbera. The fruit, last seen hanging on the vines near Priocca in […]