Northern Italian Wines
Favorite Dolcetto
Winemakers tend to be a sociable lot, and if you visit a winery at (roughly) lunchtime, you may well find yourself invited to stick around for a bite, especially if it's a family-run operation. The wine will of course be from the cellar, but you shouldn't expect the flagship wine. Rather, what people dink every day, and if you're in Piemonte's Langhe (home to Barolo and Barbaresco, among others), chances are you'll be drinking Dolcetto. It drinks very well with all sorts of foods.
Winemakers tend to be a sociable lot, and if you visit a winery at (roughly) lunchtime, you may well find yourself invited to stick around for a bite, especially if it's a family-run operation. The wine will of course be from the cellar, but you shouldn't expect the flagship wine. Rather, what people dink every day, and if you're in Piemonte's Langhe (home to Barolo and Barbaresco, among others), chances are you'll be drinking Dolcetto. It drinks very well with all sorts of foods.
Getting Ready for the Holidays: Favorite Franciacorta
Though some other Italian sparkling wines are better known -- spritzy dry Prosecco and lasciviously sweet Asti, in particular -- none can match Franciacorta's depth or elegance, and indeed pundits often liken Franciacorta to French Champagne. It's an excellent wine for a special occasion in the course of the holidays, or a party if you decide to go all out, and any of these wines, which I tasted at the Franciacorta Festival this fall, will bring great enjoyment.
Though some other Italian sparkling wines are better known -- spritzy dry Prosecco and lasciviously sweet Asti, in particular -- none can match Franciacorta's depth or elegance, and indeed pundits often liken Franciacorta to French Champagne. It's an excellent wine for a special occasion in the course of the holidays, or a party if you decide to go all out, and any of these wines, which I tasted at the Franciacorta Festival this fall, will bring great enjoyment.
Lambrusco
Times are changing: Medici Ermete adds a whole new meaning to the concept of Lambrusco, as does the Tenuta Pederanza.
Times are changing: Medici Ermete adds a whole new meaning to the concept of Lambrusco, as does the Tenuta Pederanza.
Fontanafredda
Where the King once went to get away from it all (and see his love) is now a superb winery, exciting to visit and with wines worth seeking out.
Where the King once went to get away from it all (and see his love) is now a superb winery, exciting to visit and with wines worth seeking out.
L'Azienda Giorgio Carnevale
The reemergence of a company with a glorious past means exciting, very distinctive Piemontese wines for today.
The reemergence of a company with a glorious past means exciting, very distinctive Piemontese wines for today.
Allegrini
Gems from one of the most innovative wineries in the Veneto region.
Gems from one of the most innovative wineries in the Veneto region.
Ca'Lojera
A small winery overlooking Lake Garda, with some very interesting white wines.
A small winery overlooking Lake Garda, with some very interesting white wines.
Les Clos Baudoin
A detour to the Loire Valley, and the Vouvray produced by Prince Poniatowsky. Keep an eye out for it!
A detour to the Loire Valley, and the Vouvray produced by Prince Poniatowsky. Keep an eye out for it!
Ceretto
One of Piemonte's major wineries looks to the future without loosing site of its past.
One of Piemonte's major wineries looks to the future without loosing site of its past.
Marchisio
Most Roero Arneis is underwhelming. Sergio Marchisio's, on the other hand, is worth seeking out.
Most Roero Arneis is underwhelming. Sergio Marchisio's, on the other hand, is worth seeking out.
Bellavista
Franciacorta brings to mind Maurizio Zanella, and rightly so. However, he's certainly not alone.
Franciacorta brings to mind Maurizio Zanella, and rightly so. However, he's certainly not alone.
Alighieri
A venerable winery in the Veneto that is also a fine Agriturismo, and would be a great base for exploring the city and seeing the Opera.
A venerable winery in the Veneto that is also a fine Agriturismo, and would be a great base for exploring the city and seeing the Opera.
Ca Lojera
The Wolf's Den, a nice winery just south of Lake Garda with fine Lugana (a white) and red wines too. Also an agriturismo where you can eat very well. In English and Italian.
The Wolf's Den, a nice winery just south of Lake Garda with fine Lugana (a white) and red wines too. Also an agriturismo where you can eat very well. In English and Italian.
Cavit
One of Trentino's major producers, especially known for sparkling wines. An elegant site with nice graphics and lots of information on how sparkling wines are produced. In Italian and English.
One of Trentino's major producers, especially known for sparkling wines. An elegant site with nice graphics and lots of information on how sparkling wines are produced. In Italian and English.
Giancarlo Nada
Superb Barbaresco, and all about the winery.
Superb Barbaresco, and all about the winery.
Lambrusco
From your Mining Co. Guide, notes on a vastly underrarated wine from Emilia Romagna.
From your Mining Co. Guide, notes on a vastly underrarated wine from Emilia Romagna.
Il Prosecco
Prosecco has a reputation of being a light fizzy wine, and while it is fizzy there's much that is quite serious and well worth seeking out. The area is also quite beautiful, and a fine, slightly off the beaten path destination well worth visiting.
Prosecco has a reputation of being a light fizzy wine, and while it is fizzy there's much that is quite serious and well worth seeking out. The area is also quite beautiful, and a fine, slightly off the beaten path destination well worth visiting.
Tasting Notes
From your About.com Guide, observations on wines tried and liked.
From your About.com Guide, observations on wines tried and liked.
Una Realtà Storica del Barolo
Notes on Prunotto, one of the great Barolo producers, which is now rapidly expanding into other Piemontese denominations under the direction of the Antinori family. The index page has a nice blurb, and the wine descriptions are interesting.
Notes on Prunotto, one of the great Barolo producers, which is now rapidly expanding into other Piemontese denominations under the direction of the Antinori family. The index page has a nice blurb, and the wine descriptions are interesting.
Teroldego Elisabetta Foradori 1997
Robin's notes on ELisabetta's Teroldego work well for many other wines produced in this particular slice of Trentino -- a wine worth looking for.
Robin's notes on ELisabetta's Teroldego work well for many other wines produced in this particular slice of Trentino -- a wine worth looking for.
Il Vignale
Fine Gavi from a beautiful estate.
Fine Gavi from a beautiful estate.
Visconti
One of the first wineries to make Lugana, the white from the southern shores of Lake Garda. In Italian (you can order direct within Italy), German, and English. Good wines!
One of the first wineries to make Lugana, the white from the southern shores of Lake Garda. In Italian (you can order direct within Italy), German, and English. Good wines!
Wine Comparisons
From Your Mining Co. Guide, notes taken during moderated wine tastings. Sounds drier than it is.
From Your Mining Co. Guide, notes taken during moderated wine tastings. Sounds drier than it is.