They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but maybe when we talk about wine, we should retool this statement to beauty being “on the feel of the palate.” These days, when everything moves so fast, people want to learn about any number of subjects in as quick a manner as possible. … Continue reading 2014 – A Challenging Year – in more ways than one
Today, wines made from the Barbera grape are respected as some of Piemonte’s finest reds, but it wasn’t always that way. In fact, until recently (thirty years ago), Barbera was nothing more than an everyday wine meant to accompany salumi and pasta at lunch or dinner. Of course there’s nothing wrong with that (and there … Continue reading Braida di Giacomo Bologna – Top 100
After spending a bit of time in the province of Asti tasting Barbera last week (thanks to the organizers of Barbera Meeting 2010), I can report on one aspect that is rarely mentioned regarding this variety; the ability of Barbera to age well. In reality, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Barbera can age; after … Continue reading Aging Barbera
Falanghina Vineyard of Mastroberardino (Photo ©Tom Hyland) For my final post of 2009, I want to salute some of the finest Italian producers of this decade. Each year in the Spring issue of my Guide to Italian Wines, I list the year’s best wines and producers. I’ll be working on that shortly, but for … Continue reading The Decade’s Best Producers – Part One
