Everything you need to know about Sweet Wines
What do Port, Moscato d’Asti, Sauternes, Alsace’s Vendange Tardive, Passito and Icewine have in common? They are all sweet wines - although vinified in different ways. In this article, I explore the various styles of sweet wine, their production and taste profiles ...
A red from the foothills of Mount Olympus
A red blend from Rapsani (Thessaly, Greece) was my favourite in a recent wine tasting in London. Terra Petra by Thymiopoulos Vineyards has Burgundian quality and an outstanding value-for-money ratio. Great Greek wines have never been so alluring ...
Etna: four volcanic winemakers (part 2)
Intrepid winemakers are the real protagonists of the Etna wine scene. In the second part of my Etna series, I pick four vintners whom I know and value: Benanti, I Vigneri, Frank Cornelissen and Tenuta di Fessina. Four pioneers of a land full of wonders. Here are their philosophies and marvellous wines ...
Etna: the wines of the volcano (part 1)
One of the world’s most active volcanoes is also a fascinating wine region. Etna wines are among the finest in Italy. Long history, unique terroir and resourceful winemakers are the ingredients of Etna’s success. Do you want to know more? I explore the vinous wonders of Mount Etna in a two-part series. ...
Wine in Art: Ancient History
Hittite rhytons, Egyptian tomb paintings, Greek vases, Roman mosaics - all these art forms depicted wine in ancient civilisations. Together we run through the history of wine in the first part of my Wine in Art series ...
#TryJanuary – A Rossese di Dolceacqua from Liguria, Italy
Following the #TryJanuary tradition, this year my pick is a wonderful ‘Poggio Pini’ Rossese di Dolceacqua Superiore by Tenuta Anfosso. This elegant red wine comes from Liguria, in north west Italy. A must-visit region for every Italian winelover ...
Festive Drinking, an Italian Affair
I found myself drinking more Italian wine during the last Christmas break. Here are the four most interesting wines I drank: a Riesling from Oltrepò Pavese, a Piedirosso from Campania, a Nero di Troia from Puglia and a sweet Bianco di Greco from Calabria. My New Year’s gift to my readers dotted with juicy tasting notes! ...
Drinking under lockdown – Two rosé from Rioja and Emilia-Romagna
Rosé are just as diverse as red or white wines. In this article, I discuss two great rosé: Contino Rioja Rosado by CVNE and "Il Mio" Malvasia Rosa by Camillo Donati ...