I heart Italian Pink Bubbly

February. It's the month to love, right? Well people love to hate Valentine's Day. Did you know the day after is officially National Singles Day? As if in revolt! I don't mind it. I don't really care actually. What's wrong with a day (or a month) to think about how much you love the special … Continue reading I heart Italian Pink Bubbly

Baglio di Pianetto, Sicilia

While I haven’t yet traveled to Sicily, I have extensively researched and tasted Sicilian wines over the last ten years. So when I was asked last summer to review some of the Baglio di Pianetto wines from Sicily on enotecaMarcella, I was amenable to the idea and certainly felt prepared to do so. After tasting the … Continue reading Baglio di Pianetto, Sicilia

Nerello Mascalese—your summer wine!

Earlier this year, in the spring, right around the time I decided to turn a focus to southern Italian wines, my neighbor, Bruce, incidentally—and ecstatically—informed me that he and his girlfriend, Jan, were going to Sicily at the end of May! "Oh my God! That's so awesome!" I exclaimed, as I felt a surge of … Continue reading Nerello Mascalese—your summer wine!

Exploring Everyday Nero d’Avola

Well, I have been focusing on southern Italian reds like I promised. Dreams of traveling to Puglia, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, and Sicilia ... dance in my head, but so do dreams of touring Yellowstone National Park, hiking through the colorful canyons of Utah, exploring Machu Picchu of Peru, and doing some serious wine tasting in Chile. However, if … Continue reading Exploring Everyday Nero d’Avola

Nero d’Avola, Negroamaro, Nerello Mascalese, etcetera … at Tre Bicchieri San Francisco 2014

Every year when I go to Tre Bicchieri San Francisco, I try to formulate a plan of attack so I don't get ... well ... trashed. If you've ever been to any of those big tasting events at Fort Mason Center or anywhere else, you know: it's not easy to focus. Especially at Tre Bicchieri, … Continue reading Nero d’Avola, Negroamaro, Nerello Mascalese, etcetera … at Tre Bicchieri San Francisco 2014

Italian Rosato

When I was a kid, I loved pink. But it didn't take long for me to realize my uncanny resemblance to Strawberry Shortcake. And in less time, I realized that image really wasn't one I was going for. I ruled pink completely out of my wardrobe by age 12, along with red, yellow, purple, and … Continue reading Italian Rosato