Franziskus Haas is the fifth generation to run his family’s winery, and here I got to try three of his Pinot Noirs, a variety he planted in the 1980s. Haas…
In Milan, some pictures
This weekend I am in Milan, on a small press trip with Ramada Hotels. I’ve been doing a bit of work putting together a special wine list for Ramada, showcasing…
Cape Wine (6) exploring Italian grape varieties in South Africa
What is it with Italy’s grape varieties? They are really interesting in Italy, but seldom travel well. Still, they attract their devotees, and they are planted in a range of…
Tasting 2015 Barbarescos and 2014 Barolos with Gaia Gaja
The articulate Gaia Gaja was in town to showcase her 2015 single vineyard Barbaresco releases, as well as the 2014 Barolos. Perhaps Gaja’s greatest achievement as a producer has been…
2016 releases from the singular Tenuta di Trinoro, one of Tuscany’s leading wine estates
When Andrea Franchetti first planted his Tenuta di Trinoro vineyard in 1992, he achieved something few vignerons get to do: he created something entirely new. Born in New York, he…
New releases from Frank Cornelissen: single-vineyard Etna wines
Frank Cornelissen was in town showing off his new wines. It’s a series of single-vineyard wines from his 25 hectares and 19 plots on Mount Etna. ‘It’s the focus of…
More on Prosecco Wars
More on Prosecco. The debate – outlined yesterday on this blog – about whether the Australians should be allowed to label their wines by grape and place, including use of…
The wines of Ricci Curbastro, Franciacorta, Italy
As a fan of sparkling wines, I was pleased to get the chance to meet Riccardo Ricci Curbastro and taste through his wines, at a masterclass hosted by Vini Italiani…
A 50 year old Barbaresco
This was a generous birthday gift. You never quite know what you are going to get with an old wine, and 1967 wasn’t a strong vintage in most European wine…