I tried a new drink over the holidays and it was absolutely fantastic. Destro “Saxanigra” Spumante Millemisato Brut (SRP: $25) from the Mt. Etna region in Sicily. This Italian sparkling wine, from the 2017 vintage, is made from 100 percent red Nerello Mascalese grapes and puts to rest any notion that bubbly wines are less […]
Italian
Tuscany’s Chianti Classico: The ‘Black Rooster’ has a lot to crow about
Now is the time to stock up on one of Italy’s greatest red wines – sangiovese-based Chianti Classico. The last three recorded vintages from this DOCG appellation – 2018, 2019, 2020 – have earned high quality ratings of 92 points or better, and the 2021 vintage is trending in a classic direction (95 points and […]
Puglia’s Primitivo: Salivating over the Salento Peninsula
Some wines “speak” to you. They tell a story about history, culture and the people who cultivated the land, grew the grapes and made the wines. That’s why I am fascinated by Old World wines from Italy and other European countries where viticulture has played an important role in people’s daily affairs going back thousands […]
Wine critic Antonio Galloni shines the sportlight on Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
According to my Italian Wine Scholar textbook, Italy’s Vino Nobile di Montepulciano red wine has enjoyed great fame for centuries. French philosopher Voltaire mentioned it in his famous 18th-century work “Candide.” Famed novelist Alexander Dumas wrote about it in “The Count of Monte Cristo.” And Thomas Jefferson, America’s third president, lauded it as his favorite […]
Say “I love you” with sparkling Italian Prosecco
What’s not to like about Italian Prosecco? It’s an easy drinking sparkling wine that’s bubbly delicious and much less expensive than French Champagne. Plus, you can get creative and mix all kinds of fruit juices with Prosecco to make colorful and refreshing sparkling drinks. One of my favorites is the Bellini, made famous at Harry’s […]
Just in time for the holidays: Italy’s sparkling new Prosecco DOC Rose`
What is the best-selling new wine produced in Italy? The answer is simple: Prosecco DOC Rose`. More than 50 million bottles are in circulation worldwide since Italian wine regulators approved the new production zone and denomination for the Glera-Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) rose` blend in May 2020. According to the Consorzio di Tutela della Denominazione […]
Italy unleashes native pink power with ‘Rosautoctono’ wine campaign
Don’t be surprised if you start seeing more Italian “rosato” (rose`) at your favorite wine shop in the near future. Italian producers from Lombardy to Sicily are banding together to promote a rosato renaissance. The unifying movement, called “Rosautoctono”, is somewhat historic: In a country where people are extremely proud and protective of local and […]
Pasqua Family wines tell a love story about Italy with every sip
The Pasqua Family of Verona has a simple philosophy when it comes to winemaking: Put passion and quality into every bottle produced. It also helps that Pasqua’s portfolio of seven wines highlights native grapes – Garganega, Trebbiano di Laguna, Corvina, etc. – and unique terroirs that bring special distinction to the Veneto region. The Pasquas […]
Italy’s Dolomiti wines give rise to Alto Adige’s growing popularity
Besides tasting very good, Italian wines usually have an interesting tell to story. One can learn a lot about Italy’s culture, history and traditions just by reading the bottle label and then following up with an Internet search on the winemaker, the winery, and the region. Often overlooked are wines from Italy’s northernmost wine-growing regions […]
Remember 2011? Paolo Scavino Barolo helps fill in the blanks
What do I remember about the year 2011? Not much, except for two events that have stood the test of my aging mind. On May 2, U.S. special forces pulled off a daring raid on Osama bin Laden’s walled-in compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan and shot and killed the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks that took […]
