“You may have the universe if I may have … Abruzzo?” I’m rewriting a charming quote by Giuseppe Francesco Verdi, the famous 19th century composer who left us with Rigoletto, Il Trovatore and La Traviata among other great operas. Verdi actually ends the aforementioned quote with the word “Italy”, but I don’t think he’d be […]
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Wine enthusiasts here’s your chance: Experience Italy, glass by glass, with Jo-Ann Ross
One of my favorite Italian proverbs goes like this: “Anni e bicchieri di vino si contano mai.” Translation: “Age and glasses of wine should never be counted.” The proverb might suggest a Bacchanalian night of drinking, but that’s not the point. It’s true meaning is: Forget about your age, stay young, and enjoy the company […]
Iconic Super Tuscans and several inviting – and affordable – ‘sidekicks’
When it comes to Italy’s iconic Super Tuscans, there’s almost always a reliable “second fiddle” in the house. Think of famous movie sidekicks: Tonto to the Lone Ranger; Robin to Batman, and Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes. The same is true for Super Tuscan red wines. Tenuta San Guido’s “Sassicaia” ( SRP: $250-$300), which is […]
Gautherin Chablis: My summer choice for a cool, satisfying, uplifting drink
(CORRECTION UPDATE, JULY 9: The suggested retail price for the 2020 Raoul Gautherin et Fils Grands Vins de Bourgogne Chablis is $36 a bottle. I erroneously reported the cost in my original article, for which I apologize to Craig Gandolf at Cynthia Hurley French Wines and, of course, my readers. That said, I stand by […]
Saddle up for the summer with cool ‘ranch’ whites from Ancient Peaks Winery
Did you ever drink an authentic California “ranch” wine? Ancient Peaks Winery in Paso Robles is firmly placed on my bucket list. It’s located on the historic Santa Margarita Ranch which is still operated as a cattle ranch. The estate vineyard, Margarita Vineyard, stretches out over 857 acres at 1,100 feet above sea level. It’s […]
A bombshell Barolo for $19? Kirkland Signature brand makes it happen
A 91-point Barolo for $19? That’s insane, right? No, it’s not. It’s Kirklandian, as in Kirkland Signature Barolo from Costco, the No. 1 wine retailer in the United States. I must admit there’s no better store to find a wine bargain than at Costco. And this one is a double doozy. Barolo is one of […]
Malbec Madness: Argentina and France deliver $11 bargains extraordinaire
If you missed World Malbec Day on April 17, here’s your chance to make up for it with two quality wines from Argentina and France, respectively, that capture the tasty characteristics of the Malbec varietal for $11 each. Trivento Malbec Reserve 2020, Mendoza, alcohol 13.8% – From one of Argentina’s leading wine houses comes this […]
Power to Portuguese wines and the stunning value they deliver
[URIS id=7034] What is the only European Union country to have increased its wine exports the past two years despite the COVID-19 pandemic? The answer is PortugaI. Not bad for the EU’s fifth largest wine producer (behind Italy, France, Spain and Germany). The new question is why? Well, one only had to be in attendance […]
Two cooool reds that refresh from Italy’s majestic Alto Adige/Suditrol
Coooooool climate wines? Where better to look than Italy’s Alto Adige (Suditirol), the country’s most isolated, northernmost wine-growing region whose borders touch Austria and Switzerland? Yes, the winters are cold and snowy near the Italian Swiss Alps and Dolomite mountains. Yet, most of the year there’s plenty of bright sunshine (300 days) to stimulate vines. […]
From Argentina’s Land of Malbec, Coen Wines elevates the standard with organic elegance
When Attilio Pagli arrived in Mendoza in 1992, the Italian oenologist was excited about his new consulting project: to produce high quality wines from what were believed to be old vines of sangiovese growing in Argentina’s mountainous Uco Valley. Sangiovese is Italy’s most noble red grape, used in the production of world-renowned Chianti Classico and […]
