Third in a 4-part series How to make great wine despite astringent tannins If a wine has strong tannins, you cellar it until it becomes drinkable, right? That’s one step, but there is quite a lot more to getting a good wine from grapes with very strong tannins. Sicily’s Nero d’Avola is the grape I’ve […]
Best of Sagrantino
part 2 of 3 articles on Montefalco’s Sagrantino wines Montefalco’s top wines: my picks A note about prices: the Montefalco Rossos, which are blends, vary from about €10 to 15 (cellar prices), sometimes higher for reserves, and in Europe you can expect to pay anywhere from €18 to 40 for Sagrantino wines, with higher prices […]
Wine books: Chasselas, 2 guides, Swiss grapes
Holiday and gift-giving time is not far off, and this year you should consider some good books for wine fans. My four top choices, three of which are in French, are: Cepages Suisses, histoire et origines, by José Vouillamoz, out this week Gault & Millau Guide Suisse 2018, published in October Guide Bleu 2017/18, published […]
Umbrian good karma: rebirth of Sagrantino
First of a 4-part series Montefalco is a relatively new Umbrian magnet for winelovers, thanks in no small part to its intriguing contrasts. Start with the town itself, all hardness cushioned by softness: built on and surrounded by pink-tinged monastic era stone, perched above green rolling hillsides. Shop after shop boasts foods for grandmothers’ recipes and […]
Swiss wine news: GPVS awards, Arvinis guest, events
Swiss Winery of the year title goes to the Dutruy brothers in Founex, Vaud The Dutruy brothers in Founex are celebrating tonight, winners of the 2017 Swiss Winery of the year title. It is given in part for the large number of wines that obtain medals, in relation to the number of entries a winery […]