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...
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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...
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Wine in Art: Ancient History

Hittite rhytons, Egyptian tomb paintings, Greek vases, Roman mosaics - all these art forms depicted wine in ancient civilisations. Together...
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A semi-serious guide to food and wine pairing – Part 1

Wine and food are two of the greatest pleasures in life. What happens when you combine them? Take your taste...
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Five classical composers that loved wine

What did Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini and Brahms have in common? Beyond being great classical composers, they all loved wine!...
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What is terroir? A beginner’s guide

Holy grail or propaganda? Terroir is a controversial topic among winelovers. What is terroir? Its definition, origin and history
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#TryJanuary – Exploring new grape varieties or wine regions (part 1)

Willing to discover new grape varieties and unveil off-the-beaten-track wine regions? Give #TryJanuary a go! My contribution to the initiative envisions a white and a red wine, both from Italy. A falanghina from Campania and a humagne rouge from Aosta Valley ...
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10 things I learned wine blogging

My first year of blogging about wine was full of interesting novelties with big and small discoveries. Here’s what the wine world looks like from the perspective of a blogger newbie. My personal list of the 10 things I learned about wine blogging in 2019 ...
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Jerez and Sherry – Part 2: Sherry winemaking and styles

Unveiling the secrets of Sherry winemaking: the ageing process, the Solera system and the styles you can find on the market (spoiler: the majority are dry!) ...
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Jerez and Sherry – Part 1: history, geography, grapes

Jerez and Sherry are synonyms of a tragically underappreciated wine. This is my first article of a mini-series dedicated to Sherry. Together we explore its glorious history, geography, climate and local grapes ...
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Wine of the Month – November: Produttori del Barbaresco Asili

Sour cherry meets aromatic dried herbs and umami undertones in this outstanding Barbaresco Riserva. Produttori del Barbaresco Asili is a complex and fascinating wine. After 15 years, the wine is at its peak ...
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How the Italian song “Volare” was inspired by wine (and Chagall)

A hot summer day in Rome. A missed appointment. A Chagall painting. And a wine. These are the ingredients of the genesis of the most popular and iconic Italian song: Volare by Domenico Modugno. Here’s (more or less) how it went ...
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Chianti Gran Selezione – Is the most famous Tuscan wine getting more confusing?

The Chianti Consortium has approved a set of changes to the Chianti DOCG. They have introduced a new Chianti Gran Selezione denomination. The news sparked animosity and indignation among wine professionals ...
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Three red wines for the autumn to drink now

What do pinot noir, cabernet franc and mourvedre have in common? They are all spot-on for this season! Here are my three recommendations for red wines for the autumn. Three grapes, three wines, three stories. And some food pairing ideas ...