In July I spent an illuminating week in Piedmont, with Berrys’ Italian buyer David Berry Green and a team of colleagues. The purpose of the visit was to increase our understanding of the Nebbiolo grape, arguably the king of Italian varietals (although we spent a good amount of time increasing our understanding of local Piemontese […]

Earlier this month I visited Italy’s north-eastern province, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, to meet Luca Sirch, the producer behind Berrys’ Pinot Grigio, based in Cividale just north of Gorizia in the hilly Colli Orientali del Friuli (COF). At the same time I dropped in on some of the producers making so-called ‘natural wines’ on the border with Slovenia. […]

Tuscany is often referred to as the Bordeaux of Italy. So Piedmont is surely comparative to Burgundy, at least according to the engaging personality of Chiara Boschis at E. Pira who says “we are all small artisan producers, rather like the Burgundians”. This view is further supported when you consider that production of the indigenous […]

Last week I visited Lombardia’s Franciacorta region accompanied by Edwin Dublin, one of Berry Bros.’ sparkling wine experts, who also works in our No.3 St James’s Street shop. For both of us this was our inaugural visit to the region. Over two days we visited seven cantine: Lantieri di Paratico, Bellavista, Biondelli, Monte Rossa, Cavalleri, Uberti […]