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Trentino & Alto Adige: Worlds Apart
featured, Italy: North
, Nov 2020
As if engrossed in a Tolkienesque fantasy novel, we delve into the labyrinth of producers, varieties, labels, languages and the diverse terroirs of Trentino and Alto Adige. However, while traversing this realm where Italian meets Austrian meets German, it quickly becomes apparent that the effort we put in to comprehending its people and the array of fascinating and stimulating wines they produce is truly worthwhile. Together, let's take a trip down the rabbit hole to better understand two of Italy’s most under-the-radar regions.
The Grand Vin of the North: San Leonardo
featured, Verticals & Retrospectives, Italy: North
, Jul 2020
When we think of Italy’s highly successful experiments with Bordeaux blends, it’s often the coast of Tuscany that comes to mind. But what if I told you that one of the country’s grandest wines hails from the north instead, in the region of Trentino? I invite you to explore the past, present and future of Tenuta San Leonardo through one of the most riveting verticals ever assembled.
Nebbiolo in Its Many Guises: Alto Piemonte & Valtellina
featured, Italy: Piedmont, Italy: North
, apr 2020
There is no question that Nebbiolo is one of the world’s greatest and most noble red grapes. An ability to convey the essence of site and vintage through the lens of producer style places Nebbiolo in rarified company. Once consumers experience the magic of Nebbiolo – most often through the wines of the Langhe – it is only natural to ask: What else is out there? The answer is Alto Piemonte and Valtellina, two separate and distinct regions, both of which offer so much to explore.
Venica & Venica Friulano Collio Ronco delle Cime 1990–2017
featured, Italy: North
, Mar 2020
Venica’s Ronco delle Cime is one of Italy’s benchmark Friulanos. Sleek and refined, it ages well, never losing its crisp, juicy character and food-friendly personality.
Schiopetto Friulano: 1992-2017
featured, Italy: North
, Mar 2020
Mario Schiopetto is considered the father of modern Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) wines. Before his arrival, FVG wines garnered mostly local interest and were consumed fairly quickly after the harvest. But Schiopetto’s wines were clean, precise, mineral and ageworthy, and they rapidly gained an international following, literally putting FVG on the map. Schiopetto’s Friulano, first made in 1965, has long been one of the region’s gold standards for this iconic indigenous variety.
Alto Adige: On a Roll
featured, Italy: North
, Feb 2020
Readers will find some of Italy’s best wines in Alto Adige, the northerly mountain region that borders Austria. It is here that the country’s top white wines are made, while there are increasingly more compelling reds to choose from as well. Readers won’t want to miss out on the latest vintages. Overall quality has never been higher.
Volpe Pasini Pinot Bianco Zuc di Volpe: 1999-2017
featured, Italy: North
, Feb 2020
Pinot Bianco has called Friuli Venezia Giulia home for centuries now. Volpe Pasini’s Zuc di Volpe single-vineyard bottling is one of the best Pinot Biancos Italy has to offer. Pretty and varietally expressive, it’s also quite ageworthy.
Valle d’Aosta: Micro Productions, Mega Quality
featured, Italy: North
, Jan 2020
Valle d’Aosta makes some of Italy’s most distinctive wines. Unlike most other regions of Italy, producers here excel with both native and international varieties. The latest vintages confirm this – and then some.
Friuli Venezia Giulia: The New Releases
featured, Italy: North
, Jan 2020
Along with Piedmont and the Valle d’Aosta, Friuli Venezia Giulia offers wine lovers the greatest diversity in grape varieties and wine styles of any region in Italy. The whites and sweet wines are among the best in the country, and the reds have also become especially enticing in recent years.
Grosjean Petite Arvine: 1997-2016
featured, Verticals & Retrospectives, Italy: North
, Dec 2019
Although the birthplace of Petite Arvine is contested between the Switzerland’s Valais and Italy’s Valle d’Aosta, there is no doubt both countries make beautiful wines. The Grosjean family’s Petite Arvine is especially fine, and it ages well, too.