La Gioiosa is a leader in Italy's Prosecco. It sits in the heart of the Prosecco production region, in Italy’s northeast. The undulating hills of the region make it the perfect backdrop for La Gioiosa. Vineyards flank the roads and give us...
Northern Italy’s St. Pauls Winery and Selections
Northern Italy’s St Pauls, in the village with the same name, is nestled just below Bolzano, which sits to its northeast. St. Pauls is a cooperative winery with approximately 150 grower members who are responsible for their own vineyards and...
Vespa, A Gem of a Place in Manduria
Known as the heel of the boot of Italy, Puglia is renowned for its vast farmland, stunning coastlines that are snuggled in between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas and red wines made mostly from the Primitivo grape, indigenous to the area. Manduria is...
Cafaggio – A Renowned Producer of Chianti Classico
Chianti Classico is a renowned wine region nestled nicely in between Tuscany’s Florence, Siena and Arezzo. The grape Sangiovese is the shining star within the region. Chianti Classico, comprised of approximately 18,000 acres, is its own...
Piedmont: Home to the Italian Grape Nebbiolo
My work in the wine business during the last 15+ years has gifted me the ability to travel to Italy. Long, winding roads, flanked by an endless sea of vineyards and farms, are common in Italy’s countryside. I have reveled in this bucolic beauty...
Savoring the European Long Lunch
My travels, whether France, Spain or Italy, always give me something profound that is an integral part of our European neighbors' lives, the European long lunch - il pranzo lungo. That tradition may seem more foreign to us here in the U.S....
Italian Bubbles That You Need To Know
This time of year is always a special one with the frenetic activity of the holidays and many celebrations abound. Italian bubbles you need to know are a must for celebratory times – actually, any time. They are my go-tos for sipping, and their...
A Journey Through Northern Italian White Wines
Northern Italy is filled with a beautiful and diverse landscape of vineyards, wines, and the families who make them. Long, winding roads, flanked by an endless sea of vineyards and farms, is common in the countryside. The undulating hills remind me...
A Quick Buying Guide to Rosé Wine
Light red, salmon, pink! These are words that describe the beautiful hues of rosé wines, wines given their name because of their color. Restaurant wine lists and retail stores are full of these beauties all year long, not just in spring and summer....
The Christmas Soup Story and Recipe
Christmas Soup is a delicacy that my mother has made every Christmas Eve for more than 50 years. A recipe handed down from an Italian family friend full of spinach, mini meatballs and egg and cheese drops, Christmas Soup always has a...
A Guide to Understanding Lambrusco
Listen to article - 4 minutes. The word Lambrusco often conjures up images of the TV commercial jingle “Riunite on ice…that’s so nice” or the excessively sweet wine that our grandparents drank. While the brand Riunite put Lambrusco on the U.S. wine...
Trends In Changing Our Wine Wardrobes
This time of the year - when the humidity has dissipated and nights are crisp and cool - is one of my most favorite seasons, like it is for many people. I love the freshness that a new season brings. While I feel sad about less light-filled days, I...