Malvasia Moscata: a Spumante wine higher esteemed by wine lovers compared to Champagne
Posted on: 09-07-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
Today, 09 07 2020, ten wine professionals sit together in front of me Karina Imschoot, tasting Malvasia Moscata, 2013, 48 months sur lié. Their judgement: this is fare more delicious compared to equal priced champagnes
More details from Ian d'Agata:
Malvasia Moscata is the newest and the rarest of all the white-berried Malvasias in Italy, but its’s apparently the most abundant one in California, where it was planted by Piemontese i...
Erbaluce di Caluso but also Erbaluce Novarese and Costa delle Sesia
Posted on: 08-07-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
Legend has itg that the fairy Albaluce blessed the townspeople of Caluso with Erbaluce as her gift, hence the variety’s name. An ancient cultivar already known in the seventeenth century , its pale hue as well as that of its wine explains why Erbaluce is also called Bianchera, Albaluxe and Ambra. The pale yellow-green color of this variety’s berries when not fulfy ripe explains why Erbaluce is called Binachera. Albaluce and Ambra: the pale yellow-green color ot this...
Nas-Cëtta: the forgotten grape of Novello which turned into a successtory
Posted on: 05-07-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
Nas-Cëtta or Nascetta: which one do you want to taste?
Some grapes are only to be found in one country, some grapes only in one very small town, or even very small parts of the town. This is the case with Nas-Cëtta, with a very limited production by only nine winegrowers. What’s the difference between Nas-Cëtta and Nascetta: this limit of nine producers in Novello and every other Nascetta is made in Piedmont but outside of this little town. Nas-Cêtt...
Pelaverga piccolo or Pelaverga di Verduno
Posted on: 02-07-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
Just to make clear we are discussing today the Pelavera Piccolo which is a native, local grape of Verduno and not the Pelaverga Grosso which is a DOC Colline Tortinesei and Colline Saluzzesi.
Pelaverga Di Verduno is produced only in and around the town of Verduno, situated at little distance of La Morra and Barolo. It was said that this grape, Pelaverga Piccolo or Pelaverga di Verduno was brought from the area of Saluzzo by a friar, named Sebastiano Valfré in 18th century.
Ver...
The evolution of DOC wines in Langhe
Posted on: 02-07-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
Recognition of the Langhe registered designation of origin (DOC) dates back to 22 November 1994. At that time it counted on eight varieties, two without specification of the grape variety (white and red) and six with variety reference (Arneis, Chardonnay and Favorita among whites; in addition to Dolcetto, Freisa and Nebbiolo among reds).
On 14 December 2010, following a substantial amendment to the product specification, nine other varieties were added and one without reference to the var...
Timorasso, also wine to ripe in your cellar, with Riesling notes
Posted on: 30-06-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
Timorasso yields an intellectual wine, not unlike a very dry Riesling from the Nahe or the Rheinhessen. There is no denying the intensely mineral and herbal aromas and flavors of these wines.
Still the excitement about Timorasso and its wines is palpable, since the best wines are some of Italy’s most unique, interesting white wines. The fact is, Timorasso has only resurfaced to international attention, and this thanks to the unique efforts of Walter Massa, a wine producer of the C...
Vespolina, not to be catalogued as a medium grape!
Posted on: 29-06-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
Trio of Vespolina
Some of most popular wine journalists are convinced Vespolina is the best native grape variety. Like all things worthwhile, it can be difficult: it is not the easiest grape to work with. However, producers are working more and more monovarietal wines with this grape as consumers are very interested in midweight, perfumed reds wines.
In fact, it is a very pity consumers only consider the Vespolina grape as a midweight grape as it represents so muc...
Tasting Session Francesco Brigatti top wines with Ian dAgata
Posted on: 17-06-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
Francesco Brigatti is a special, small winegrower in the north of Piedmont. He makes small quantities of elegant, expressive wines based on the classic Nebbiolo variety, and he also makes delicious top-quality wine from the native varieties that are normally blended with Nebbiolo in this area, such as Vespolina and Uva Rara, and a top-quality Erbaluce white wine. His cellar is in Suno, not far from the southern end of Lake Maggiore.
The wines based on nebbiolo from this region (Alto Piemonte)...
Taste wine of Roero and receive voucher of value 40 €
Posted on: 14-06-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
Antica Cascina dei Conti Di Roero is a pearl in the Roero landscape, more specifically in Sant'Anna, where quality prevails. Even though we can't really speak of a universal organic certificate, The Green Experience rules are 100% respected and followed at this winery - a very important project in Piedmont.
What are these rules?
Environmentally friendly and sustainable viticulture and production
Protection of biodiversity and the natural environment
Aesthetic protecti...
The WOW effect from Podere ai Valloni
Posted on: 05-06-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
In 1969, the 'appellation d'origine contrôlée' - the Doc - of Boca wine was established by ministerial authorisation. But the vineyards, which had covered every metre of the territory just a few decades earlier, had almost completely disappeared: the DOC of the wine had arrived, but the wine was no longer there.
However, there were people who had a passion for wine and for this area and in 1980 Guido Sertorio and his wife Cristiana Lombardi bought the "Podere...
Organic wine: what is the difference with traditional wine production?
Posted on: 29-05-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
Organic wine: less tasty than conventional wines?
The fact that organic wine is still not generally accepted can be seen from the questions asked via our chat function. Moreover, the clicks on ordering organic wine but then opting for a traditional wine last minute.
How did we proceed to convert a prejudice - organic wine is less tasty - into a positive opinion. A number of customers who were negative towards organic wines were sent a tasting set with two organic wines and two traditio...
Working in the vineyards, problematical situation in Italy
Posted on: 25-05-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
Pandemic or not, nature does not stop and the vineyard and agriculture need competent and skilled workers to continue their work. But in the last few days, the controversy surrounding this subject has become persistent: Martin Foradori Hofstätter, a famous winemaker from Termeno, had to hire a plane to take a group of workers specialized in vineyard work from Romania, because he could not find equally skilled personnel in Italy. And so we started talking again about the importance of manpow...
Merano Wine Festival, ready according to Covid-19 rules
Posted on: 25-05-2020
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| Karina Imschoot
A return to the origins of Italian wine, but looking to the present, digital tools, e-commerce, but also the rules imposed by the pandemic, with staggered access, with fever measurement at the entrance, redesigned rooms and ad hoc protective devices, including portable copper spittoon for each person, to ensure the safety of visitors and exhibitors, with the desire to move forward and give a positive signal to the world of wine and wine lovers.
All this is the starting point for Helmu...