Today I gave a talk on social media and the wine industry at a conference in Logrono (Rioja) organized by DIAM, the closure company. Also speaking was José Penin, author…
A profound Valpolicella Ripasso
I have been sampling this wine over the last three nights, and it has got better each time. It’s made by Nicola Ferrari (a bloke – in Italy, Nicola isn’t…
A brilliant Tuscan Cabernet Franc
Regular readers will know that I’m not really a super-Tuscan kind of guy. But here’s one that enticed, despite its ripeness and richness. It’s a varietal Cabernet Franc, and it’s…
Gulfi’s delicious Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Gulfi is an organic winery in Sicily, specializing in local grape Nero d’Avola. I recently tried through their range, which is characterized by big, structured, burly expressions of this grape….
Reports of vandalism at Soldera
One of Italy’s great wine estates. Soldera, making some mindblowing Brunello di Montalcino, in the south of Tuscany. I reviewed these rare gems a few years ago, after a fantastic…
A brilliant, affordable natural Salice Salentino
Come with me to the south of Italy, and to a winery who I know very little about, and about whom there is very little on the internet. This is…
Fighting jetlag with Querciabella
Now this is my style of Sangiovese. It’s savoury, but it has elegant fruit, too. Both elements are held in lovely tension. It’s helping me fight my body clock, which…
A big night out in Melbourne, with a good feed and lovely wines
Sunday night in Melbourne. Just before the beginning of the Royal Melbourne Wine Show, which I am here to judge. The evening started off in the City Wine Shop, Spring…
Two very nice affordable wines, from Portugal and Italy
It’s always good to stumble across wines that over-deliver for their price point. Here are two that I tried today and was impressed by. Tenuta Roveglia Lugana 2011 Italy From…