A few weeks ago, I invited my new WSET buddy, Tim, along with his husband, Elliot, to join me for dinner at A16, my very favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco. The restaurant lives up to its name by giving you the feeling you're being transported, just as the autostrada, A16, literally does, to the … Continue reading “Been out in the wild” Campania
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Excuse me, you said Barbera d’ … what!?
It's my tenth Barrel Tasting Weekend and I'm standing in the Preston Winery tasting room with eight of my friends ... While Preston does not participate in the event weekend, that doesn't matter to us. We'll stop anyway; we want to know what's new. In general, the participants in this northern Sonoma springtime event limit … Continue reading Excuse me, you said Barbera d’ … what!?
Dolcetto di Dogliani Superiore DOCG
My travels last fall took me to many remote corners of Italy, one of which, among my very favorites, was Dogliani. Dogliani is a Piemontese region famous for its Dolcetto. The region produces some of the world's very best Dolcetto wines. Find my article, entitled Dolcetto from Dogliani, as the latest feature at Turin Italy Guide. Next … Continue reading Dolcetto di Dogliani Superiore DOCG
Ca’ di Rajo Raboso del Piave
I thought I had a handle on all of the red grape varieties of northeastern Italy. There are the Valpolicella grapes in Veneto: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, as well as Croatina, Oseleta, and Corvinone.† And the neighboring regions are full of indigenous grapes: Lagrein and Schiava in Alto Adige,‡ Teroldego in Trentino, as well as Refosco, Schioppettino and … Continue reading Ca’ di Rajo Raboso del Piave
Marion Teroldego 2005
"Thought to be a relative of the still rarer Marzemino, a grape of Greek origin, Teroldego has been famous in the Trentino area since the fifteenth century. At present it is more or less confined to the towns of Mezzocorona and Mezzolombardo, an area known as Campo Rotaliano, which comprises the Teroldego Rotaliano DOC zone."† … Continue reading Marion Teroldego 2005
A day in Monforte d’Alba
Something funny happened this year. After nine years of setting out for Piemonte da sola, I finally found someone who was doing the same. Sure I have been there with other friends and family members sporadically, at various times, and there are my German Barolo Boys who I meet every year. But until this year, … Continue reading A day in Monforte d’Alba