Italian Wine News

Tuscan wine Granducato clinches awards

2009-03-03T12:15:00.001+02:00

Granducato, the prestigious Italian wine label from Tuscany available in Malta, has clinched a number of important awards that have confirmed the quality and tradition of this long established range of wines.

The Chianti Classico Riserva 2005 has been commended by the Decanter World Wine Awards 2008, while the Chianti Classico San Piero Riserva 2005, Chianti Classico 2006, Chianti Classico Riserva 2005 and Chianti San Piero 2005 all won awards from Gambero Rosso 2009.

How to save money dining out in Italy

2009-02-28T00:39:00.000+02:00

It’s so good, so delicious and so pleasing to all the senses that it almost makes you feel guilty.

The biggest peccadillo, however, is missing out on the authentic Italian experience and getting trapped by hit-and-run restaurants plying the rich tourist trade.

Eating doesn’t come cheap in Italy these days, but there are ways to stretch the dollar to save up to make the splurges really count.

Verdoni Imports Italian Wine Dinner at Branches

2009-02-22T20:51:00.000+02:00

"The Wine Professor"

As of this writing, there are only 10 seats remaining for the Italian Wine Dinner at Branches in West Long Branch, presented in conjunction with Ocean Wines and Spirits. The wine dinner is scheduled for this Friday, February 20th, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Featured will be the outstanding vintages of Verdoni Imports; and the speaker will be Anthony Verdoni, "The Wine Professor."

Here's a look at the outstanding menu and wine pairings...

Wine honcho gives Italian varieties push

2009-02-09T11:08:00.000+02:00

From a poor childhood in Naples, to washing pots in a Manhattan restaurant, to the center of the Italian wine scene, Sergio Esposito has had a great rise.

And the wine importer is only in his 30s.

The owner of Italian Wine Merchants and partner of Italian cultural ambassadors Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich published a book last year, “Passion on the Vine: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Family, in the Heart of Italy.” (Broadway).

In what is becoming an increasingly common genre — the wine memoir — Mr. Esposito’s book begins with his early life in the housing projects of Naples. His family, marked for an ancestor’s support of Mussolini, was shut out of opportunity. The family didn’t have much money, but never wanted for food. Mr. Esposito, with help from a sharp ghost writer, writes so evocatively about Italian food — whether his mother’s peasant cuisine or the work of a four-star chef — that the words make you hungrier than cookbook glossies.

Valentino's Piero Selvaggio to become Italian wine Hall of Famer

2009-01-24T20:16:00.000+02:00

One of the highlights of the Italian Trade Commission's Vino 2009 U.S. wine convention this weekend in New York will be the induction of eight wine-industry professionals into the commission's newly created Distinguished Service Hall of Fame. Two Californians--Valentino's Piero Selvaggio and Corti Bros.' Darrell Corti--are among the inductees.

Since its mandate is to promote trade and industrial cooperation between Italy and foreign countries, it's little wonder that the commission has found that focusing on Italian wine is good for business. It is also little wonder that Selvaggio and Corti made the organization's short list.

In Italy wine is often taken for granted

2009-01-20T14:27:00.000+02:00

Italy and France are the two biggest wine producers in the world, and Italy has more land under the vine than any other country in the world, with the exception of Spain.

Unlike either France or Spain, the Italians cultivate grapes almost everywhere on the Italian peninsula, from the Alps in the north to the islands that are closer to the north coast of Africa than the Italian mainland. The Danzante Pinot Grigio we review this week is a light, fresh wine made from grapes grown in North East Italy.

The three northeastern areas where the fruit is sourced are Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Together they form a region known as Tre Venezie. The land is at high altitude and subject to cool summers, while warm winds blow in from the Adriatic Sea.

Learn the ABC's of Italian Wine

2009-01-13T21:43:00.000+02:00

Can’t pronounce “Fiano d’Avellino,” let alone describe its taste?

Savona, Gulph Mills’ upscale French and Italian restaurant, hopes to change that.

On Friday, January 9 at 5:30 p.m., Savona’s sommelier, Melissa Monosoff, will host an evening of wine tasting and education that will feature six wines from southern Italy, including: Fiano d’Avellino, Greco di Tufo, Grillo, Nero d’Avola, Primativo and Aglianico.

The event costs $35 per person, and includes samples of each vintage (three whites and three reds), as well as hors d’oeuvres prepared by Savona’s executive chef Andrew Masciangelo.

Italian sparkling wine exports blossom

2009-01-06T19:38:00.000+02:00

Italy's sparkling wine exports registered a 29% increase in sales last year, with UK sales rising nearly 100%.

According to Italy's sparkling wine trade body, the Forum Spumanti & Bollicine, sales rose to 1.6m in value and were up by 11% in volume on 2007.

This is the first time exports of Italian sparkling wine (Spumante) have overtaken national sales, said Giampietro Comolli, President of the Forum.

'Spumante is clearly overriding Champagne and seducing foreign markets because it beats other sparkling wines on the merit of its quality-price ratio,' he said.

Europe is the largest importer of Italian sparkling wines, taking almost three quarters of total exports.

Brown-Forman selling Italian wine brands

2008-12-25T19:45:00.000+02:00

Louisville-based Brown-Forman (NYSE: BFB) has marketed Bolla since 1968. It bought a minority share in the brand in 1972 and purchased the business and trademark in 2000.

Brown-Forman has owned the Fontana Candida trademark since 1987.

Gruppo Italiano Vini has produced Fontana Candida for Brown-Forman since 1987. It began making Bolla for Brown-Forman in 2006.

In a news release, Brown-Forman CEO Paul Varga said Brown-Forman is selling the Italian wine brands as “a continuation of its efforts to focus the time and resources of the company on their best opportunities for growth and shareholder returns.”

Historic moment for Italy's wine producers

2008-12-18T20:28:00.000+02:00

Italian wine producers and their U.S. importers are celebrating. After a decade, Italy has regained its leadership position as the number one wine producer in the world. For the past ten years France has maintained this position. While final data will be released in late January, the EU Commission estimates that at the conclusion of this year's harvest Italy has experienced an eight percent growth in production, close to 47 million hectolitres of wine. In comparison, wine production in France has decreased by five percent to 44.4 million hectoliters of wine.

With the 2008 harvest just concluding, Giuseppe Martelli, General Director of Assoenologi (The Italian National Association of Enologists), comments that, "Overall 2008 was a mixed year depending on the region. Among white wines, strong harvests prevailed in Trentino Alto-Adige and Friuli-Venezia-Giulia. The predominantly red wine regions of Piedmont and Tuscany also appear to have noteworthy harvests."

Italy may become world's biggest wine producer

2008-12-14T15:02:00.000+02:00

MILAN, Italy (AP) — A bumper harvest is expected to push Italian wine production above that of neighboring France for the first time in a decade, possibly making Italy the world's largest wine producer.

The Coldiretti farmers lobby estimates the production of Italian wine is up 8 percent over 2007 to 4.7 billion liters, compared with 4.44 billion liters in neighboring France, where production fell 5 percent. Figures will be confirmed in January.

Italy last surpassed France's production in 1998, and has since been reducing the area of land cultivated as vineyards in favor of improving quality, Coldiretti's wine expert Domenico Bosco said Wednesday.

Italy's strong harvest is largely due to good weather, Bosco said, which helped Sicily, in particular, recover from lower 2007 yields caused by a deadly fungus there.

I Picked Grapes For An Italian Wine Giant

2008-12-08T09:23:00.001+02:00

I spent six months in Barolo, Italy (pop. 646) living out of a tent in the garden of the local Pittatore farmhouse. Through the Pittatore family, I was able to secure work picking wine grapes for famed vintner Luciano Sandrone. My story documents the experience of harvesting the grapes for such a luminary, from the daily schedule to the relationships of the crew members; from the unspoken hierarchies and politics to Sandrone's humble evolution into wine giant.

This morning the rocks of Raffaella’s driveway bow in genuflection as the tires of a gray pick-up roll hoof-like toward the front gate. The horn cries, and I walk, still half-frozen from a cold night in the tent, toward the sound of my ride to the vineyard. I am in Barolo, Italy, lucky to have scored a job picking wine grapes for the season.

Legacy Brings Old World Italian Wine to the New World Chinese Consumer

2008-11-19T10:28:00.000+02:00

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Sipping and swooning with Italy's wine royalty

2008-11-11T11:08:00.000+02:00

The royalty of Italian wine visited Miami this week, bringing some of that country's rarest and best wines. The group of 18 top producers, called Il Grandi Marchi, is led by Tuscan pioneer Piero Antinori.

''We are all highly individualistic, competitors but with a real friendship,'' said Antinori.

Their wines are individualistic too.

''Our wine is an expression of our soil,'' says Alberto Chiarlo, who poured a powerful, mineral-scented barbera. ``We used to feel inferior to barolo, so we want to make a very special wine.''

Barolos, meanwhile, are trying to soften their image. Based on the inky nebbiolo grape, they have been known as powerfully tannic when young, needing years of aging. That's changing.

''It's partly because of global warming,'' said Pio Boffa, of Pio Cesare. ``But we also learned to decrease our yield, which makes the grapes ripen earlier.''

Italian wines from Alvini

2008-10-30T13:00:00.000+02:00

The award-winning Cagiòlo Montepulciano D'Abruzzo DOC 2005 is made from 100% Montepulciano grapes and has an abv of 14%.

The ruby red wine with purplish highlights has a delicate spicy cocoa and vanilla bouquet with a full-bodied taste and velvety tannins.

The Pieve Di Croce Lugana DOC (12% abv) is made from 100% Trebbiano di Lugana grapes and has a pale yellow colour with greenish highlights. Fragrant with delicate notes of apple and sharp pear on the palate, the wine is described as elegant and full-bodied with a crisp freshness.

Italians look to conquer Portuguese wine market

2008-10-19T02:41:00.001+03:00

Italian wine distributors La Fattoria have launched a selection of Italy’s finest regional wines onto the Portuguese market, the official presentation taking place at the exclusive Vilamoura Hilton Hotel.

La Fattoria’s project was introduced at the same time as the winner of Best Sommelier 2008, Manuel Moreira, elected by the Association Internacional de Sommeliers.

It is hoped that La Fattoria will become a point of reference for quality Italian wine in Portugal.

“We are ready to take on the great opportunities presented by the Portuguese market, which has a long, mature tradition of wine making, and is ready to expand its knowledge beyond the national frontier”, said Roberto Del Gizzo, country manager of La Fattoria Portugal, which is based in Cascais.

WINES OF THE TIMES An Italian Name Worth Practicing

2008-09-30T17:39:00.000+03:00

In an effort to remedy this sad state of affairs the wine panel recently sampled 25 aglianico wines, mostly from the two leading aglianico regions, Campania and Basilicata, with a couple of other areas sprinkled in. Florence Fabricant and I were joined for the tasting by two guests, Chris Cannon, an owner of Alto and Convivio, and Charles Scicolone, a wine consultant.

Both Chris and Charles agreed that aglianico wines languish unfairly out of the minds of most consumers. Part of the reason is simply that the wines are overshadowed by more familiar names like Chianti, Barolo and even Valpolicella.

More important is the diffuse nature of aglianico production, which has prevented any one name or region from becoming well known. In addition, while the grape is ancient, widespread production for international consumption is relatively recent.

Why would you want to drink quality-labeled Italian wine from a box?

2008-09-02T12:01:00.000+03:00

There, you have your little villa, with wonderful pine trees around, ancient stones, the scorching sun, crickets buzzing in the garden. And on the table, slices of mozzarella, Roman plum tomatoes covered in olive oil and basil and, of course, some wonderful white wine ... served in a paper box.

Why would you want to drink quality-labeled Italian wine from a box? Ask the Italian ministry of agriculture.

The agriculture ministry has decided to allow the producers of the country's top-notch wines to sell their vino in cardboard boxes and in more refined versions of the wine box with a plastic pocket inside that protects the wine better.

The reasons are a mix of concerns about the environment and flattening sales abroad because of tough competition.

Brunello wine makers say U.S. sales power ahead

2008-08-13T13:32:00.000+03:00

MONTALCINO, Italy (Reuters Life!) - Sales of top Italian wine Brunello di Montalcino to the U.S. market have powered ahead despite an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud by some producers, winemakers told Reuters this month.

The United States, one of the world's biggest wine markets, scrapped threats to bar imports of Brunello after Italy pledged that a government agency would guarantee authenticity of the premium red wine.

"U.S. sales have not suffered any slowdown. They have been gathering speed since July," said Patrizio Cencioni, chairman of the Consortium of Brunello di Montalcino who was elected after news of the investigation broke out in April.

Italian wine, unique design

2008-07-04T21:15:00.000+03:00

Resembling something more like a bottle of shampoo, Voga will be marketed towards the younger, more "style-conscious Millenial generation" of wine drinkers, but could result in consumers thinking they’ve ended up in the health and beauty section of Tesco.

Simon Bradbury, Sales Director of GAW, said: “We believe that bold innovation is key in order to attract new consumers and trade others up through the wine category. Voga has proved a massive hit across the world, so we are confident it will also excite plenty of interest in the UK.”

Voga has exceeded company expectations across the pond, but GAW and Enoitalia may be taking a gamble with the brand, as older wine drinkers could be put off by the uncharacteristic design of the bottle. The cork closure with large, airtight twist cap is however a thoughtful feature, and will keep the wine fresh for longer.

Italian wines from organic or biodynamic grapes

2008-06-23T12:50:00.000+03:00

Piedmont had sent 67 wines and was therefore the region represented the most, followed by Tuscany that had sent 60 wines for competition. The gold medals for the best organic wines were given to four manufacturers: San Zeno of Fasoli Colognola ai Colli (Veneto), Villa Guani of the brothers Rovero of Asti (Piedmont), L’Autentica of the cellars of Notaio die Maschito (Basilicata), and Col di Pietre Rosse of the company Bulichella di Suvereto (Tuscany).

This year, for the first time, the same committee as for "The Mayor’s Selection 2008" - the competition organised by Città del Vino - with over 50 judges from all over Europe evaluated the samples. The organic wines received very good result: 73.65% of the samples sent received a score higher than or equal to 80/100, and therefore will be included in the guide "Vini da Vedere." In addition to the gold medals, 25 silver medals and 79 special mentions were awarded. On June 26, together with the “Selection of the Mayor”, the awards ceremony will take place in Rome.

Italy to check Brunello wine production standards

2008-06-11T10:58:00.000+03:00

ROME (AP) — Italy has set up a panel of experts to check if Brunello di Montalcino meets production standards, following an investigation into whether some of the wine might have been cut with other grape varieties, the Agriculture Ministry said Monday.

Minister Luca Zaia said the step was taken to protect consumers worldwide and safeguard the reputation of one of Italy's best-known wines, which is supposed to be made from only sangiovese grapes.

Three wine experts will be on the committee, a statement from the minister said.

US may block imports of Italian wine

2008-05-20T23:26:00.000+03:00

Italian authorities last month seized hundreds of thousands of bottles of 2003 Brunello di Montalcino because of the suspected use by winemakers of grapes other than the Sangiovese, the only ingredient allowed in the premium Tuscan wine.

The allegations were first made in a news magazine report and the Agriculture Ministry has confirmed that hundreds of thousands of bottles of the wine have been seized by investigators.

A letter by the US Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to the Italian embassy in Washington said US customs authorities had been told to "withhold the release of all shipments" of the wine from June 9 unless Italy or importers could demonstrate only Sangiovese grapes were used.

The WineNews Corner

2008-05-06T12:28:00.001+03:00

The European CMO (Common Market Organization) wine reform that will go into effect on August 1, 2008, is decidedly geared towards conservation, postponing the resolution of the root of the problems for European wine. Nevertheless, there are a few comforting efforts towards transparency, like the formalizing within the EU of a ban on vinifying and/or mixing wines and musts that come from other countries, as well as the more unscrupulous practices that are allowed in the New World.

This theme, often confronted on the website www.winenews.it, was also one of the central debates at Vinitaly 2008.

TWELVE ITALIAN RED WINES DEFY ECONOMIC CRISIS

2008-04-23T18:32:00.000+03:00

Some wine lovers and experts consider the 1997 vintage as "the last myth of the 1900s". Twelve of the best labels from the 1997 vintage were signaled out for distinction last week at the 42nd Vinitaly, the Italian Wine and Spirits Trade Fair in Verona. Top wine buyers and importers, wine investment fund managers, collectors, Italian Guides (Gambero Rosso, Ais, Espresso, Maroni and Veronelli ), as well as influential wine magazine editors and critics (Wine Spectator, Decanter, Falstaff, Parker) paid homage at a horizontal tasting of the prestigious vintage. According to wine experts at Vinitaly, the twelve bottles are by now only available on the collector's market—with an overall value estimated at more than 53,000 euros. "The twelve wines presented during this tasting-event have seen their value grow over time, in terms of quality and sensorial features and pure commercial value," the Director General of VeronaFiere, Giovanni Mantovani, said.