The gently rolling hills of montefalco copy

Umbria: Peeling Back the Layers

featured, Italy: Center & South

Eric Guido, Oct 2024

Umbria’s diverse landscape, terroirs, styles and grape varieties can be a lot to handle. However, navigating this complexity and the wide range of vintages in the market is well worth the effort, as Umbria consistently produces some of Italy’s most exquisite wines.

The historic vineyards of conti costanti as seen from the winery copy

Conti Costanti: Montalcino’s Most Historic Estate

featured, Italy: Tuscany, Verticals & Retrospectives

Eric Guido, Oct 2024

As a self-taught young man, Andrea Costanti immersed himself in the world of winemaking and Brunello di Montalcino. He rose to become one of the region's leading winemakers. This vertical details the last nineteen years of that evolution, showing Costanti’s blend of traditionalism and progression.

The vineyars of nicodemi in the subregion of teramo copy

Abruzzo: Trials and Tribulations

featured, Italy: Center & South

Eric Guido, Sep 2024

Come heat waves, drought, torrential rain or frost, winemakers in Abruzzo continue to push forward to prove their value. Readers will find exciting new releases in both 2022 and 2023, but these are also two vintages with extremely low production because of challenging weather conditions.

The extreme southeast of montalcino looking out toward castelnuova dell'abate copy

The Magic of 2022 Rosso di Montalcino

featured, Italy: Tuscany

Eric Guido, Sep 2024

The last few vintages in Montalcino have been varied, with drastic climate events defining each season. However, winemakers understand that there is no new normal. Every year brings a different set of challenges, resulting in a unique and, in the case of 2022, charming selection of wines.

Cugnoli landscape of rolling hills and the majella massif in the distance copy %281%29

Tiberio's Fonte Canale: Redefining Trebbiano d'Abruzzo

featured, Italy: Center & South, Verticals & Retrospectives

Eric Guido, Aug 2024

In only 12 years, Fonte Canale has become one of Italy's iconic white wines. Tiberio’s Fonte Canale is made from the hard-to-find Trebbiano Abruzzese grape. This vertical, spanning the first official release in 2012 up to a preview of the yet-to-be-released 2022, will give readers a good idea of how the wines develop over time.

The bethel heights vineyards in the eola amity hills copy

Oregon 2022: The Rollercoaster Vintage

featured, United States: Oregon

Eric Guido, Aug 2024

From a decimating frost to a hot and dry summer, uneven ripening and a rushed harvest, Oregon growers and winemakers faced many challenges in 2022. Readers will need to be selective based on producer, but in many cases, perseverance yielded fascinating wines.

The regeneratively farmed vineyards of villa creek copy cover

Paso Robles 2021-2023: Far From Typical

United States: California, featured

Eric Guido, Jul 2024

Paso Robles fans have reasons to be optimistic. Following the challenging, smoke-affected 2020 vintage, the 2021s are truly fantastic. Although the 2022s are not as captivating, the 2023s may outpace them all.

Old vines that create the rosso del conte at tasca's tenuta regaleali estate 2 copy

Unveiling the Diverse Palette of Sicily: New Releases and Beyond

featured, Italy: Center & South

Eric Guido, Jun 2024

Sicily has impressed me over the last decade, surpassing expectations and proving its worth in the grand scheme of Italian wine. My recent trip reconfirmed that the region's forward momentum is far from over, from the simple yet wonderfully pure weeknight quaffers to the highest levels of fine wine from Mount Etna. Through it all, I get the feeling that this is just the beginning of Sicily’s rise.

Cover cellars dug into the volcanic cliffs of vulture copy

Getting in on the Ground Floor: Aglianico del Vulture

featured, Italy: Center & South

Eric Guido, May 2024

Aglianico del Vulture is the best source for world-class, long-lived Italian wines that have yet to gain full recognition. This is one of the most improved categories in Italy. It won’t be long before the rest of the world catches on.

In taurasi at the cinque querce vineyard of salvatore molettieri 4 copy

Breaking the Mold: Campania’s Push to Reinvent Itself

featured, Italy: Center & South

Eric Guido, May 2024

Producers in Campania continue to go against the grain in an attempt to overcome the reputation of the past. The purity and quality of Aglianico, Piedirosso and Fiano across the region continue to rise. Moreover, the best of these wines offer tremendous value.