DiWineTaste Podcast - English: Recent Episodes
Antonello Biancalana - DiWineTaste
DiWineTaste Podcast, discovering the enchanting world of wine, sensorial tasting, grapes, history and territories making the beverage of Bacchus unique. Hosted by Antonello Biancalana.
The Rottensteiner winery is committed to the production of typical Alto Adige wines, in particular those of the Santa Maddalena denomination, as well as white and red wines of the area, all of which having a remarkable personality. The magnificent passito produced with Gewürztraminer, a perfect interpretation of this very fragrant grape, is a triumph of aromas and sensorial elegance, such as to deserve DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine of summer 2024.
It was 1984 when the first vintage of a wine was produced that would become a milestone in the enology of Sardinia and Italy. The first wine from the island to be aged in barrique, Carignano del Sulcis Rosso Superiore Terre Brune is one of the many illustrious sons of one of the greatest Italian winemakers of all time: Giacomo Tachis. A great red wine that is still capable of exciting and worthily representing Sardinia and Italian winemaking in the world.
The De Stefani family has been involved in the production of wine since 1866, always dedicated to the valorization of the typical grapes of the Refrontolo area and of the denominations that extend into the provinces of Treviso and Venice. From Marzemino is being produced the excellent Stèfen 1624, a wine of extraordinary class and elegance, capable of winning DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine of May 2024.
Santa Lucia, in Corato, in the province of Bari, has been committed to the production of wines for over two centuries, with a family history that boasts four centuries of history. Among the most interesting varieties of Apulia, the Uva di Troia - locally called Nero di Troia - is the protagonist of the magnificent Castel del Monte Nero di Troia Riserva Le More 2019, a wine of beautiful personality and excellent quality, an impeccable expression of the great Apulian grape and its DOCG denomination.
Lacrima is a grape with a surprising versatility, capable of creating wines which are always appreciated for their aromas. Stefano Mancinelli is undeniably one of the historic producers who successfully committed himself to the wines produced with Lacrima grape and in the Morro d'Alba denomination. His Terre dei Goti Rosso, an impeccable example of class and elegance, gives the glass a powerful and rich expression of Lacrima, conquering DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine of the month.
Montefalco Sagrantino is a wine always capable of amazing results, with its proverbial power which, when well balanced and managed, makes extraordinary enological beauty. Like the Montefalco Sagrantino Exubera 2016 by Terre de la Custodia, a great wine confirming both the high quality of this winery and the magnificent territory from which it comes from.
Produced with late harvest grapes, Aglianico del Vulture Il Sigillo is one of Cantine del Notaio's iconic wines. The 2016 vintage, in its usual excellence, confirms DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine of the month. A masterpiece of remarkable elegance and class, of endless aromas in a magnificent symphony, with a caressing and powerful taste, an Aglianico of primary importance in the panorama of Vulture wines.
A precious wine is added to the celebrated Lafoa range of the Colterenzio winery, made of the main grape varieties that have distinguished Alto Adige winemaking for years. The Lafoa range is in fact enriched with an amazing reserve of Pinot Noir, a wine of sumptuous class and elegance, an enological masterpiece to be considered - undoubtedly - among the best wines of the region, awarded not only with DiWineTaste Five Diamonds, but also as the best wine of December 2023.
The Begali winery is one of the most important wineries in Valpolicella, committed to the production of wines from this land and, in particular, Amarone. The celebrated Riserva Monte Ca' Bianca 2017, made from Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Oseleta grapes, is certainly among the reference wines of the denomination. An Amarone produced in the classic territory, expressing an extremely refined class in the glass, with aromas of marked elegance and a full yet velvety structure.
Anna Maria Abbona's wines have always stood out for their excellent quality, with production focused on wines from the Langhe - in Piedmont - and, in particular, for the Dogliani area, famous for its wines from Dolcetto grapes. Dogliani Superiore San Bernardo 2018, one of the reference wines for the denomination, expresses the magnificent character of its personality, giving a Dolcetto of extraordinary class and elegance.
Antonelli San Marco is among the historic and reference wineries for Montefalco wines, in particular Sagrantino. Interesting white wines are also produced here and - in particular - with Trebbiano Spoletino, the emerging white grape of Umbria, part of the wines of the Spoleto denomination. An amazing wine, with great character and personality, the result of a particular production process and one of the most famous vineyards of the winery: Vigna Tonda.
Tiefenbrunner is one of the oldest wineries in Alto Adige, producing great wines with a magnificent expression of the territory. The Castel Turmhof winery wins the five DiWineTaste diamonds and the title of best wine for summer 2023 with the extraordinary Chardonnay Vigna Au, a grandiose reserve, a valuable representative of the enology of Alto Adige and Italy.
Tramin Winery represents an important reference for the production of wines from Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir grapes, among the excellence of Alto Adige and Italy. Alto Adige Gewürztraminer Terminum 2021 stands out for its elegance and finesse, an absolute masterpiece of enological precision in which the personality of the renowned South Tyrolean aromatic grape is fully expressed.
The revolution of Abruzzo wine-making begins with the dream of Gianni Masciarelli. A beautiful journey that brought Montepulciano - grape and wine - to the absolute top of the Italian enological Olympus. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Villa Gemma is an impeccable masterpiece of elegance, class and enological perfection, a wine capable of endless emotions, so much to conquer - and confirm - DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine of May 2023.
Travaglini represents the history of the wines of Gattinara, the famous area in the province of Vercelli (Piedmont) which has Nebbiolo grape as the prestigious interpreter of its wines. Thanks to this magnificent grape, after a careful and scrupulous period of drying, it takes life Il Sogno, the extraordinary wine fruit of the ideas and studies of Giancarlo Travaglini. A great wine with an excellent personality giving Nebbiolo a new and prestigious character, made of class, elegance and power.
The wines of Costantino Charrère and Les Crêtes have always won the highest appreciation of wine lovers. A success that is unmistakably perpetuated at each vintage and which confirms the monumental Chardonnay Cuvée Bois among the main representatives of this extraordinary winery in the Aosta Valley. The 2020 vintage confirms the absolute excellence of this magnificent wine, conquering both DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine of the month.
Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni from the Arnaldo Caprai winery has always been the reference wine for this area and was the first to get the magnificent red grape of Montefalco to the top of the enological Olympus. A Sagrantino of extraordinary elegance and class, combined with the typical power of this amazing red berried variety, renders to the tasting the spirit and soul of a land and a grape with a strong and majestic character.
Casalfarneto is located in the heart of the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi denomination, one of the main wine-growing territories of the Marches. Cimaio 2016 - produced with 100% Verdicchio grapes and affected by noble rot - expresses all the magnificence and elegance of the wines of this denomination, a five diamond masterpiece, an excellence deserving the title of the best wine of January 2023.
The Enrico Pira & Figli winery undeniably represents the history of Barolo and its wines. Run since the 1980s by Chiara Boschis - one of the first women in Italy to lead a winery and promient exponent of the so-called "Barolo Boys" - her wines have always been a reference for the appellation for class, elegance and finesse. Proof of this are the three Barolos of the 2018 vintage and, in particular, the Cannubi - the famous hill in the center of the Barolo area - magnificently well made, capable of endless emotions, of sublime class, an absolute reference for the Barolos of this vintage.
Montecappone has for years been a sure reference in the wine scene of the Marches and, in particular, of the two denominations of Castelli di Jesi and dedicated to Verdicchio. Gianluca Mirizzi successfully leads this beautiful winery in the Marche region, creating a prestigious range named after the family name. The best wine of November belongs to the "Mirizzi" range and is a magnificent expression of a precise wine making vision which sees Verdicchio as the absolute protagonist.
Among the main wineries of Campania and Italy, Feudi di San Gregorio has always stood out for the quality and excellence of its wines, all expression of Irpinia - in the province of Avellino - and made from the typical grapes of this territory. Taurasi Riserva Piano di Montevergine 2015, is the confirmation of a great wine, conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine for the month of October 2022.
Tenuta La Scolca is an important wine-making firm of Gavi and which marked the enological prestige of this territory and of the wines produced with Cortese grapes. Founded in 1919, La Scolca stands out, in particular, for the "D'Antan" line, wines produced only in the best vintages and aged for at least 10 years. La Scolca d'Antan 2008 is a magnificent expression of the potential of the Cortese grape, an absolute masterpiece of enormous elegance and class, complexity and personality.
Barollo winery, an interesting winery in Preganziol, in the province of Treviso, makes beautiful award winning wines, produced in the interesting area near Venice. Their Chardonnay 2018 is an expression of elegance and finesse, an impeccable interpretation of this famous grape, deserving DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine for summer 2022.
Colterenzio Winery is one of the main wineries in Alto Adige, which has always been capable of making wines of remarkable value and class. Alto Adige Sauvignon Lafoa 2020 is a wine of excellent class, with elegant aromas that lead directly to the qualities of the variety with which it has been made from. A Sauvignon Blanc son of one of the most celebrated lands for the production of the best white wines of Italy.
Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Classico Riserva Villa Bucci not only represents the renaissance of enology in the Marches region and Italy, it is also part of the history of modern wine making and the dream of two great figures - Ampelio Bucci and Giorgio Grai - who, combining their respective talents and ambitions, have conquered the Olympus of wine.
Tenuta di Capezzana is one of the oldest and most significant wineries in Tuscany, protagonist of the Carmignano appellation in province of Prato. This magnificent wine is dedicated to Ugo Contini Bonacossi - one of the most influential and important figures in the enology of this territory - a pure Sangiovese of extraordinary class and elegance, rich in personality, an admirable example of the potential of this variety in Tuscany.
The magnificent Barolo Riserva Gramolere 2013 by Giovanni Manzone is confirmed as one of the best expressions of Monforte d'Alba and of the entire denomination. A wine of the highest quality, superb class and elegance, persuasive and rich, wins DiWineTaste five diamonds for the sixth time and the title of best wine of the month for the third time.
Arpepe is one of the most significant and representative wineries of the evocative enological scenario of Valtellina, absolute pioneer of the rebirth of "Nebbiolo of the Alps" thanks to the passion and commitment of its founder, Arturo Pelizzatti Perego. Valtellina Superiore Sassella Stella Retica 2017 is a Nebbiolo which fascinates with its sumptuous elegance and impeccable class, a superlative wine of extraordinary finesse deserving five diamonds.
A great wine, impeccable elegance of Sauvignon Blanc. Venica & Venica wins DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine of the month with its excellent Ronco delle Mele 2020. Magnificence and brilliant class, exuberant aromas arising from the magic of this Sauvignon Blanc, an impeccable confirmation of extraordinary quality.
Artino 2019 of Tenuta Iuzzolini, produced with two of the most significant grapes of Calabria - Gaglioppo and Magliocco - wins the title of best wine of the month of December 2021. A masterpiece of class and elegance, finesse and remarkable balance, extraordinary representative of the enology of Calabria.
Fattoria La Valentina is one of the primary representatives of Abruzzo's enological greatness, in particular with its wines from Montepulciano grapes, a true reference point for the entire region, a magnificent wine capable of revealing the extraordinary potential of the primary red grape of Abruzzo. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Binomio 2016 conquers DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine for the month of November 2021.
The winery successfully run by Paolo and Noemia d'Amico stands out with excellent productions with wines made from grapes grown between Latium and Umbria. Among these, Atlante 2015 offers an interpretation of remarkable quality, a magnificent red wine produced with 100% Cabernet Franc from the vineyards cultivated in Umbria, yet another confirmation of the enological quality of this winery and of 2015 vintage.
The great Brunello di Montalcino Riserva PS 2015 by Siro Pacenti winery conquers, for the second time, DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine of the month. A Brunello - a Sangiovese - of monumental elegance and class, an extraordinary wine of incredible and impeccable greatness, to be counted - without a doubt - among the greatest vintages and interpretations of Sangiovese from the land of Montalcino.
The Durella grape - known in Veneto as Durello - is proving to be one of the most interesting rediscoveries of the Veneto wine scene in the last decade, a variety which is well suited to the production of sparkling wines, including the classic method, with results of primary importance. Proof of this is the Lessini Durello Riserva Metodo Classico Extra Brut 2013 by Gianni Tessari, who for years has been committed to the revaluation of this variety with excellent results.
Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero Gualberto 2010 - just like the 2008 and 2009 vintages - wins the DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine of the month. This magnificent wine - dedicated to the founder of Ricci Curbastro winery - is pure finesse and elegance, in perfect balance between the beauty of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, an absolute reference in the panorama of Franciacorta bubbles.
Vernaccia di Oristano is one of the most extraordinary wines of the Italian wine scene. A wine of extraordinary and unattainable complexity, Silvio Carta's Vernaccia di Oristano Riserva 2006 wins with full merit DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine for the month of May 2021. A magnificent result shared, ex aequo, with 2004 vintage.
Arnaldo Caprai winery is a fundamental protagonist of the Montefalco wine scene, a story originating and growing up under the banner of the magnificent Sagrantino, the great grape and wine of Umbria. Montefalco Sagrantino Valdimaggio 2016 conquers and confirms DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine of April 2021. A great wine, perfect union between the power of the famous Umbrian grape with the elegance of refined personality.
Fattoria Varramista, a very interesting winery in Tuscany, amazes for the beauty and elegance of its wines and, in particular, for the expression of Syrah which, with Varramista 2015 - not least, 2005 and 2001 vintages - stands out in the Olympus of the magnificent wines of Italy. The short vertical of Varramista 2001, 2005 and 2015 undisputably conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine of March 2021.
Torgiano Rosso Riserva Rubesco Vigna Monticchio is - without a shadow of a doubt - one of the most representative wines of Umbrian enology, for decades a magnificent representative of the Italian excellence in the world. Vintage 2015 brings in our glasses a magnificent Sangiovese rich in elegance and class, a refined expression of the famous Monticchio vineyard, an extraordinary cru of the Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin Torgiano Rosso Riserva.
South Tyrol is a magnificent land of excellent wines, not least those produced with aromatic white grapes, as in the case of the wine awarded the title of best for the month of January 2021. Kellerei Kaltern - Cantina di Caldaro - conquers for the second time this title, in addition to DiWineTaste Five Diamonds, with a wine produced with dried Moscato Giallo grapes.
Salvatore Molettieri, the giant of Aglianico, tells the territory of Taurasi and the greatness of the Aglianico grape through the personality and uniqueness of his wines. The amazing Riserva Cinque Querce 2012 is confirmed at the top of the excellence of the Taurasi denomination, a complex and elegant Aglianico, the result of a qualitative and productive path that has brought Salvatore Molettieri to the top of Italian and world winemaking.
Donnafugata is one of the most significant and representative wineries in Sicily, founded in 1983 by the far-sightedness of Giacomo Rallo and his wife Gabriella Anca with the precise aim of undertaking an innovative wine-making quality project. High quality wines, celebrated and consolidated for decades now, important representatives of Sicily such as this magnificent Etna Rosso Fragore 2016 in which is expressed the beauty and potential of Nerello Mascalese, one of the most interesting grapes of this region.
Elena Walch is one of the "primadonnas" of the Italian wine scene, considered by all to be "the queen of Gewürztraminer". Her wines have always been an emblem of quality and elegance, class and refinement. The beautiful Gewürztraminer Concerto Grosso is no exception and it is the best wine of the month for October 2020.
Macondo is a small winery run with exacting care by Lorenzo Catasta who, in 2016, decided to make wine from his father's vineyards, planted 50 years ago. Bianko - this is the name of the only wine produced by Macondo - is made from the blend of Trebbiano Toscano and Pecorino grapes, aged for 22 months in barrique, expresses a magnificent sensorial complexity and richness, an endless sequence of clean aromas, as to deserve DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine of September 2020.
When in 1998 the very first vintage of Morgante's Don Antonio was poured in the glasses of wine lovers all over the world, it got an extraordinary success in a very short time thanks to its impeccable quality. Among the first wines from Nero d'Avola to become famous beyond the borders of Sicily, after many years the charm and excellence of Don Antonio remain a flagship wine for the whole Italian enology.
La Regola 2016 - a wine taking its name from the winery making it - fully expersses the class and elegance of Cabernet Franc, a not so easy grape both to cultivate and to vinify, it is however appreciated by wine lovers for its vegetal character in which can be perceived green bell pepper. La Regola 2016 conquers DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine of June 2020.
San Leonardo is - undoubtedly - among the best wine of Italy and of the world. Created in 1980s by the talent and intuition of Marquis Carlo Guerrieri Gonzaga, this renowned wine from Trentino is capable of surprising, year after year, vintage after vintage, with a renewed and extraordinary magic of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmènère and Merlot.
Campi Flegrei Piedirosso Vigna delle Volpi 2016 by Agnanum, brilliant example of the potentials of this wine area near Naples, has been awarded with the title of best wine for April 2020. A majestic interpretation of Piedirosso - the ancient and exclusive red berried grape of Campania - gives the senses incredible sensations of elegance and class, besides the typical qualities of black pepper and the lively crispness.
Tenuta Sant'Antonio - winery committed to the production of Valpolicella and Soave wines - with its stunning Amarone della Valpolicella Campo dei Gigli 2015 conquers DiWIneTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine for March 2020. A magnificent Amarone made from Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta and Croatina grapes, a wine of extraordinary class and elegance.
By the blending of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, majestically aged in cask, is produced Alto Adige Terlano Classico Bianco Riserva Nova Domus, a wine of extraordinary class and elegance, a perfect balance of sensations and aromas, an amazing magic by Cantina Terlano.
The extraordinary Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Poggio Ronconi 2014 of Citille di Sopra conquers the title of best wine of January 2020 and DiWineTaste five diamonds. A difficult vintage majestically interpreted by the winery of Torrenieri - few kilometers from Montalcino - confirming the high wuality level of the winery led by Fabio Innocenti.
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Balciana 2016 - undoubtedly the flagship wine of Sartarelli winery - conquers again DiWineTaste five diamonds and wins - for the second time - the title of the best wine of the month. A great wine, ,extraordinary expression of Verdicchio and of Castelli di Jesi area, a masterpiece of quality capable of giving emotions to the senses vintage after vintage.
Siddura's Moscato di Sardegna Passito Nuali vintage 2016 conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and it is the first wine from Sardinia to deserve the title of best wine of the month. A wine of great elegance and class, sublime sensorial finesse, Nuali is the result of the excellent potentials of the territory of Gallura and impeccable production, from vineyard to bottle.
A great Trentodoc, produced with Chardonnay, refermented and aged in bottle for at least 84 months, conquers the title of best wine of October 2019 as well as confirming the five diamonds ranking obtained with vintage 2008. The magnificent reserve sparkling method by Endrizzi, of impeccable balance between effervescence, crispness and charming roundness, certainly is one of the best bubbles in Trentodoc appellation.
Adarmando 2017, excellent white wine from Umbria, confirms DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine of the month. A great wine produced with Trebbiano Spoletino - emerging variety of Umbria - capable of reaching sensorial highs of remarkable quality, is an endless symphony of aromas and flavors, of class and elegance.
Elena Fucci's winery celebrates twenty years of activity with a special and magnificent wine - available in limited quantity - capable of pushing her renowned Titolo up to a new and extraordinary top. A masterpiece Aglianico del Vulture aged in large cask conquering DiWineTaste diamonds and the title of best wine for Summer 2019.
Flagship wine of Tenute Silvio Nardi at Casale del Bosco, the renowned Brunello di Montalcino Vigneto Manachiara 2012 conquers for the second time the title of best wine of the month, also confirming the excellence of DiWineTaste five diamonds. A Brunello of spectacular class and elegance, expresses the magnificence of Sangiovese as well as power and personality, with strong however smooth tannins, for an impeccable balance and finesse in every sensorial aspect.
Apollonio is an interesting winery in Salento having more than a century of history and committed to the cultivation of grapes and wine production. A broad and significant range of this territory, made of white, rosé and red wines all of them being both interesting and valuable. Copertino Rosso Riserva Divoto 2010, made with Negroamaro and Montepulciano, conquers the title of best wine of May 2019 and DiWineTaste four diamonds and one star.
Ricci Curbastro is one of the most celebrated wineries of Franciacorta and famous for its Satèn, a wine marking a reference for this style in its territory. Among the excellence made by the winery of Capriolo - in province of Brescia - a special mention goes to Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero Gualberto that, as for vintage 2009, confirms and conquers again DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine of the month.
The magnificent Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Bellovedere 2015 conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of the best wine for March 2019. A great wine expressing the magnificience of a favorable and promising vintage, the confirmation of the huge potentials of Montepulciano in the land of Abruzzo. Rich, powerful, elegant and impeccable, Bellovedere is an extraordinary wine capable of giving emotions to the senses.
A Verdicchio of remarkable class and elegance, umpteenth confirmation of the extraordinary potentials of this variety in the Castelli di Jesi territory, Montecappone's Utopia Reserve 2015 express a magnificent excellent in every sensorial aspect. A great Verdicchio - entirely vinified in stainless steel - a superb expression of the renowned appellation of Marche, conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title the best wine of February 2019.
Avvoltore 2015 - flagship wine of Moris Farms - conquers the title of the best wine for January 2019 as well as confirming DiWineTaste five diamonds. A great wine, fruite of the blending of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, expresses great elegance and class since ever, as well as a silky agreeableness of tannins smoothed by time and the vibrant acidity of Sangiovese, well supported by the power of Cabernet Sauvignon and the spicy touch of Syrah.
The magnificent Offida Pecorino made by Tenuta Cocci Grifoni and dedicated to Guido Cocci Grifoni, important and fundamental figure for the rediscovering and revaluation of Pecorino grape, conquers for the second time DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine for December 2018. A white wine of extraordinary class and elegance, capable of confirming the excellent quality of Pecorino grape, today among the great white berried grapes of the Italian wine scene.
Elegance, class, cleanness and expression of a magnificent wine making quality. Brunello di Montalcino Riserva PS 2012 of Siro Pacenti - one of the most representative and significant wineries of this famous wine area in Tuscany - conquers DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of the best wine of November 2018. A Brunello di Montalcino of endless magnificence, supported by a high quality production of absolute value and impeccable excellence.
Castel De Paolis is constantly committed to quality, a journey which led to the creation of extraordinary wines such as Muffa Nobile, I Quattro Mori and Donna Adriana. This latter white wine, fruit of the blending of Viognier and Malvasia Puntinata del Lazio grapes, conquers DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine for October 2018. A wine of huge quality and elegance, Donna Adriana 2016 undoubtedly is one of the best white wines of Italy, a cult wine of Latium enology, of impeccable and extraordinary elegance.
Querciabella is one of the leading and most prestigious wineries in Tuscany, known everywhere for the excellence of its wines. Camartina, produced by this renowned winery of Greve in Chianti, certainly is one of the most fascinating wines of Tuscany in which Cabernet Sauvignon meets Sangiovese, for a result of excellent and absolute quality, as to conquer DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title for the best wine of September 2018.
Montefalco Sagrantino Valdimaggio is the last born wine at Arnaldo Caprai winery exclusively made with the famous Umbrian red grapes. Released for the first time with vintage 2012, Valdimaggio has promptly conquered DiWineTaste Five Diamonds, confirmed in this 2014 vintage. A Sagrantino having great class and remarkable agreeableness, powerful and elegant, charming and fascinating, it conquers the title for the best wine of summer 2018.
Bocale winery, owned by Valentini family, is today one of the leading figures of the panorama of Montefalco wines and, in particular, Sagrantino, here produced in sry and passito (sweet) style, Their Montefalco Sagrantino 2013 conquers the title of the best wine of the month for June 2018, a wine having character and personality, in which it is full expressed the soul of red wines of this prestigious wine area of Umbria.
Among one of the most successful wineries of Montefalco - famous city of Umbria, Italy - Tabarrini is a well known producer for the quality of its wines and, in particular, its Montefalco Sagrantino wines, produced in three distinct crus as well as in the traditional sweet style. Montefalco Sagrantino Colle alle Macchie 2013, besides conquering, once again, DiWineTaste five diamonds, it is the wine of the month for May 2018.
Giovanni Manzone winery, established in 1925, undeniably is among the most interesting and prestigious expressions of Monforte d'Alba, a territory known for the full bodied and powerful Barolo wines. The magnificent Barolo Riserva Gramolere 2011 conquers once again DiWineTaste five diamonds and for the second time the title of best wine of the month. A great wine, a magnificent Barolo, spectacular interpretations of Nebbiolo in the land of Monforte d'Alba.
Sangervasio's Vin Santo, winery of Palaia, in province of Pisa, Tuscany, conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of the best wine of March 2018 with the excellent Colli dell'Etruria Centrale Vin Santo Recinaio 2005. A magnificent wine made from dried grapes, capable of expressing excellence in every sensorial aspect, produced with Trebbiano Toscano, San Colombano and Sangiovese.
In 1988, during one of the many dinners two friends used to have together, originated one of the greatest iconic and cult wines of Tuscan and Italian enology. Made by blending Sangiovese from Capannelle's vineyards and Merlot from Avignonesi's estates, 50 & 50 is a wine of remarkable elegance and finesse, a majestic representative of the so called "Super Tuscan" category and that, today as well as in 1988, continues to amaze for its impeccable quality.
Giacomo Bologna has been one of the greatest figures of Italian wine, one of those who had the courage to believe in the richness of his territory and grapes, giving a fundamental contribution to the relaunch of Italian enology. In particular, he has been successful in transforming a grape, considered by many as humble and capable of making ordinary wines, into a variety of remarkable value and quality. When in 1982 was released for the first time Bricco dell'Uccellone, the destini of Barbera changed forever. A great and majestic wine, Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone 2015 conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of the best wine of January 2018.
Ricci Curbastro is one of the most famous names in Franciacorta, prestigious Italian land for bubbles, one of the very first wineries to join and found Franciacorts Consorptium thanks to the work of founder Gualberto Ricci Curbastro. The best wine of December 2017 is in fact the faithful and right tribute to the founder of this winery, in a style, complexity and elegance unique: Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero Gualberto 2008. Mainly produced with Pinot Noir and the remaining part with Chardonnay, this wine expresses complexity, class and elegance as well as the rigorous and precise purity of dosage zero style - or pas dosé - giving life to a masterpiece worth five diamonds.
Caldaro Winery - Kellerei Kaltern - main protagonist of the wines from the are in which is found the lake with the same name, conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine of November 2017 with the excellent Alto Adige Moscato Giallo Passito Serenade 2013. A very refined wine and of noble elegance, expresses an extraordinary finesse with a very rich bouquet of tropical fruits. A superlative sweet wine made of dried grapes of Gold Muscat (Yellow Muscat), impeccable in every sensorial and organoleptic aspect.
Monteverro 2013, produced by the winery of Capalbio having the same name, in Tuscan Maremma, is the best wine of October 2017. Made from the famous grapes of the so called Bordeaux blend - Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot - Monteverro 2013 expresses a magnificence elegance, with charming and impeccable aromas, ax extraordinary long finish. A great wine confirming the huge viticultural and wine making potentials of Maremma.
Ballabio winery of Casteggio, in province of Pavia, is committed, since 1905, to the production of sparkling wines, one of the most old wineries of Italy committed to the production of this wine style. With its Farfalla Zero Dosage - a classic method of refined elegance and class - conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds as well as the title of the best wine for September 2017. The creators of this spectacular bubble the Nevelli family - owners of Ballabio winery - and Carlo Casavecchia, the well known and talented piedmontese wine maker who, after having contributed to the relaunch of Marsala wine in Sicily, is now confirming, with this wine, his expertise and knowledge by giving us a classic method sparkling wine "zero dosage" of rare elegance.
Tedeschi is one of the historical families involved in the production of Valpolicella wines and Amarone, the famous red from Veneto, fruit of majestically dried grapes and turned into that magic called wine. Their Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Capitel Monte Olmi 2011 - undoubtedly one of the most prestigious labels of the Italian wine scene - confirms DiWineTaste five diamonds and conquers the title of best wine for Summer 2017.
The magnificent white wine of Querciabella - Batàr 2014 - conquers for the second time the title of best wine of the month, in this case June 2017. A masterpiece of wine making produced with Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc in equal parts, majestically made in a perfect symphony of aromas and elegance.
Gran Masetto, the famous and celebrated red wine produced by Endrizzi winery of San Michele all'Adige, conquers - with vintage 2012 - DiWineTaste five diamonds and, for the third time, the title of the best wine of the month. A great wine made from Teroldego grape, an extraordinary expression of the magnificent autochthonous grape from Trentino.
Mirabella in one of the historical wineries of Franciacorta, founded in 1979 by wine maker Teresio Schiavi and engineer Giacomo Cavalli, it has always been a well distinguished winery in the Italian wine scene for the excellence of its bubbles. Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero Riserva D0M 2006 certainly is the proof of the quality produced in Mirabella's vineyards, a Franciacorta or remarkable elegance and personality, having an organoleptic profile joining complexity to class. DiWineTaste five diamonds and title of the best wine of the month for April 2017.
Created by the intuition of Marquees Carlo Guerrieri Gonzaga, believing his land was capable of making wines of absolute excellence, San Leonardo 2000 - the first vintage to be made by wine maker Carlo Ferrini after the great Giacomo Tachis handed over the making - confirms the greatness and elegance of this immense wine from Trentino. Seventeen years of glorious evolution for an impeccable elegance confirming the excellence of the magnificent San Leonardo.
Montefalco Sagrantino Spinning Beauty 2006 - a monumental wine aged for eight years in barrique - conquers the crown of best wine of February 2017 and DiWineTaste five diamonds. A superlative wine, fruit of the experimentation and far-sightedness of Arnaldo Caprai winery, led by Marco Caprai, taking Sagrantino, once again, to the top of worldwide Olympus of wine making.
From Campo San Giorgio vineyard, Umani Ronchi Osimo's estate, comes this magnificent Conero Riserva of sumptuous elegance and character, an interpretation of Montepulciano conquering DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine of January 2017.
Trento Extra Brut Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2004, one of the best representatives of Italian bubbles in the world, conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine of December 2016. A monumental wine of endless elegance, give the sense an extraordinary organoleptic experience, from sight to the endless persistent, with a symphony of magnificent enological excellence.
Cantine del Notaio with its Aglianico del Vulture Il Sigillo 2010 conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine for November 2016. A magnificent interpretation of Aglianico from overripe and dries grapes for a result of remarkable power and elegance, the renewed proof of the excellence produced in this winery of Rionero in Vulture.
Planeta is one of the most significant wineries of Sicily, protagonist of the enological prestige of the island, with estates in the most representative viticultural areas of the region. Menfi Chardonnay 2014 - one of the most renowned wines made by Planeta - conquers DiWineTaste diamonds and the title of the best wine of October 2016, a magnificent interpretation of the famous Burgundian grape that in the land of Menfi reaches level of excellent quality.
For the second time a wine made by Fattori winery of Terrossa di Roncà - in province of Verona, Italy - conquers the title of best wine of the month. September awarded the excellent Amarone delle Valpolicella created by the talent of Antonio Fattori and his wine vision, a magnificent red having power and charming and endless elegance.
Evien Oro 2013 conquers the title of the best wine of summer 2016, a great white created by Fabrizio Ressia after having experimented on Muscat Blanc in the Langa are for a long time. Charming, aromatic and rare elegance, Evien Oro is the result of the passion for aromatic wines associated to the greatness of a generous and prestigious territory.
Fiano certainly is one of the most prestigious white berried grapes of Italy, mother of extraordinary wines and having in Irpinia - the famous wine land in province of Avellino - one of its most elegant expressions. Vinified in inert containers, Fiano di Avellino Alimata 2013 gives our sense a charming crispness joined to a charming roundness, a perfect wine being, undoubtedly, a magnificent companion of the table.
Elena Fucci is a talented vintner or Basilicata, famous all over the world for her extraordinary Aglianico del Vulture Titolo, a reference wine for this territtory since a long time. With vintage 2013 - the first time this winery is being reviewed in our Guide - conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds as well as the title of the best wine for this month. A magnificent Aglianico, emblem of Vulture, characterized by noble class and impeccable elegance.
The fact Campania is a land of great white wines - not to mention red wines - it is a well known thing. Taburno certainly is one of the most interesting territories of this region and here, at Torrecuso in province of Benevento, is located the historical Fontanavecchia winery, mainly committed to Aglianico and Falanghina. One of the great wines made by Rillo family - Taburno Falanghina Facetus 2008 - conquers DiWineTaste five diamons and our sun, as well as the title of best wine of April 2016. An endless Falanghina, rich in emotions and extraordinary class.
For the second time the Sagrantino of the famous Arnaldo Caprai winery conquers the title of best wine of the month. Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni, certainly among the most appreciated and known representatives of this grape and land, also conquers and confirms DiWineTaste five diamonds. A wine joining power to elegance, an endless charm made of a magic balance and class.
San Leonardo conquers for the second time the title of the best wine of the month. After vintage 2007, 2010 too has been awarded with this title, as well as DiWineTaste five diamonds. Created by the intuition of Marquis Carlo Guerrieri Gonzaga and Giacomo Tachis - the greatest of Italian wine makers - San Leonardo is a wine of absolute excellence, a magnificent masterpiece of elegance and class, fruit of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenére, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
Sartarelli is committed to the vinification of Verdicchio and in their vineyards is exclusively cultivated this magnificent white berried grape of Marches. Here is being produced one of the greatest expressions of this variety - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Balciana - produced with late harvested grapes and, in certain years, affected by noble rot. A great wine confirming in vintage 2013 its great prestige.
Quereciabella, one of the most prestigious and interesting wineries of Tuscany and Italy, conquers, with its extraordinary Palafreno 2012, the title of the best wine for December 2015. A Merlot of absolute wine making magnificence, of rare quality and class, Palafreno 2012 is certainly a wine reaching the top of worldwide enology, five DiWineTaste diamonds of excellence.
The Garofoli family represents the history of wine making in Marches region, among the protagonists of the rebirth of Verdicchio, the giant white berried grape of Marches. To their monumental Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Podium 2013 goes the title of the best wine of November 2015, five diamonds of extraordinary class and elegance.
Valle dell'Acate is one of the historical wineries of Sicily and the province of Ragusa. A winery involved since its beginning to the production of wines from indigenous grapes - Nero d'Avola, Frappato, Inzolia and Grillo - it is one of the protagonists of Cerasuolo di Vittoria and Frappato di Vittoria. In 2008 they decided to make a dream from what it promised to be an exceptional vintage: this is how Il Moro Limited Edition 2008 was born, a great wine which makes us believe about a great future for Nero d'Avola made by Valle dell'Acate.
Gran Masetto is present in our Guide since many years and at every review it has been capable of conquering DiWineTaste Five Diamonds. Even vintage 2011 confirms the same prestigious result, by also conquering the title of the best wine of September 2015, a goal this reached for the second time in two years.
Cannonau represents the enology of red wines in Sardinia. Its origins have been debated for a long time and believed to be introduced from Spain, where it is known as Garnacha Tinta. Important archaeologic discoveries in Sardinia allowed the history of Cannonau to be rewritten as well as the history of viticulture of the Mediterranean area, by finding out the famous red grape is present in the island for at least 3200 years.
A magic wine, fruit of absolutely unique climatic and environmental conditions and made in Orvieto - in Umbria - in the hills dominating Corbara lake. To the magic take part the essential and precious contribution of noble rot - the famous Botrytis Cinerea - and the commitment for quality: this is how Barberani's Orvieto Classico Superiore Calcaia 2012 is made, a symphony of charming aromas and an enchanting personality. DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and best wine of summer 2015.
Soave Motto Piane is the best wine of June 2015: not just it conquers DiWineTaste Five Diamonds but also the sun, therefore a good value wine. Made by the competence of Antonio Fattori - one of the most skilled and many-sided vintners of Soave - Motto Piane 2013 expresses elegance and balance, as well as impeccable cleanness. A great white wine made from 100% Garganega, dried for 40 days and part aged in steel tanks and part in cask, an exciting and well made wine.
A sensorial perception found in every style, acidity plays a fundamental and specific role in every type of wine. It is right the intensity and nature of this element to contribute to quality and balance of wine: from white to red, from sparkling to sweet, in each of them it strongly contributes to the agreeableness of taste.
Yet another Brunello di Montalcino conquers DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of the best wine of the month. Montosoli cru, besides being one of the most famouse representatives of Brunello di Montalcino, is also the very first cru ever made in this territory in 1975. A wine which marked the history of Montalcino and still today - year after year - confirms its excellence.
Chef Tommaso Arrigoni runs Innocenti Evasioni restaurant since 1998, in zona Portello (Milan, Italy), with his partner Chef Eros Picco. Besides working in the kitchen of the restaurant - having one Michel star - Chef Tommaso Arrigoni is in charge of the cellar too, by personally visiting wineries and discovering the bottles to be added in his wine list.
A great wine and a beautiful grape, among the primary viticultural and wine making expressions of Italy, conquer the title of the best wine for this month. Montefalco Sagrantino Collepiano 2010 by Arnaldo Caprai provides a magnificent performance with this vintage, by giving an impeccable balance as well as a stunning interpretation worth of Five Diamonds.
Chef Eros Picco, owner of Innocenti Evasioni restaurant of Milan - one Michelin star - talks about his vision of cooking and wine, as well as giving us an interesting recipe made with cod. He will then unfold the secret of one of his best known recipes - Foie Gras terrine - by telling us it would not be the same without a special ingredient: sweet wine.
Among the most representative wines of Umbria, Adarmando is also one of the most interesting expressions of Trebbiano Spoletino of the region, a grapre of remarkable potentials and now acclaimed protagonists of the green heart of Italy. Adarmando, in this vintage 2012, conquest for the first time DiWineTaste Five Diamons and deserves, undeniably, the title of the best wine of March 2015.
Everything starts in 1902 when Giulio Ferrari - the founder of this prestigious winery of Trentino - had the intuition of understanding his land was well suited for the making of great sparkling wines. Trento Extra Brut Riserva Lunelli is the result of this long story, extraordinary representative of TrentoDOC, an example of great elegance and finesse, DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the best wine of February 2015.
Muscat Blanc is among the most ancient and appreciated varieties of history, praised by many authors of the past because of the delicious wines produced with this grape, it is still today one of the most appreciated ones. A grape very common all over Italy, Muscat Blanc is particularly famous in France as well, where it is used for making extraordinary sweet and dry wines, all characterized by a charming aroma of grape.
Tenuta Cocci Grifoni was established in 1970 by Guido Cocci Grifoni, and right here in this winery has been produced, in 1969, the very first bottle of Rosso Piceno Superiore DOC. Committed to the reevaluation of local white varieties Pecorino e Passerina, this winery from Marches is one of the protagonists of Offida appellation, to which belongs the best wine of January 2015 - Il Grifone 2008 - DiWineTaste five diamonds.
Let's introduce the evaluation of the taste of wine, by understanding the parts making it and how they develop, from basic tastes to tactile sensations. Important role is also played by the contribution of aromas, an important factor making the taste of wine - and of any food - more complex and interesting.
Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Doria is the result of twenty years of research aimed to the production of a great wine, magnificent expression of class, finesse and elegance. Impeccable expression of Sangiovese grape and its characteristic crispness, Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Doria 2007 enters our Guide for the first time and conquers five diamonds, as well as the title of best wine of December 2014.
Belonging to the family of the most important varieties of Italy, Montepulciano is among the most spread grapes in central Italy, a position shared with Sangiovese, variety with which - it must be noticed - does not have anything in common. Capable of making wines of absolute magnificence, Montepulciano can also give refined rose wines as well as classic method sparkling wines.
Luigi Maffini and Raffaella Gallo have a clear and precise wine view: to make in their territory - Cilento - expressions of high quality and elegance through the territorial expression of Fiano and Aglianico. A fully achieved goal, both for white and red wines, and one of them - Cilento Fiano Pientaincatenata 2012 - conquers DiWineTaste Five Diamods as well as the title of best wine for November 2014.
One of the quality of a good taster is memory. The skill of being capable of recognizing the quality of a grape or wine is an excellent help for any future tasting. Taking note of the sensations perceived during the tasting of a wine is therefore a fundamental practice and very useful in order to improve your tasting skills.
San Leonardo certainly is one of the greatest wines of Italy and of the world. Created in 1982 by the passion and talent of marquis Carlo Guerrieri Gonzaga, this extraordinary Bordelaise blend is capable of showing every year its indisputable class, elegance and quality. A magnificent wine joining power and elegance, a remarkable result having very few rivals in the world.
Once it was believed Müller-Thurgau to be the result of a crossing of Riesling with Sylvaner, recent studies have found out it is a crossing of Riesling with Madeleine Royale. Created at the end of nineteenth century by professor Hermann Müller, this variety is still today common in Germany and Italy.
Produced for the first time in 1977, San Giorgio is the result of the experiments done by Giorgio Lungarotti in the mid of 1970s, when he decided to introduce Cabernet Sauvignon in his vineyards, which he will then blend to Sangiovese and Canaiolo Nero. An extraordinary wine that in vintage 2005 conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine for September 2014.
Knowing how to recognize each variety and wine is an art taking time and commitment. A method to start how to understand the differences among the many varieties is to compare by contrast two or more wines. It will be those differences to make evident the specific characteristics of each variety.
Bindella, a well known winery of Montepulciano and mainly involved in the production of Vino Nobile, charms the senses of wine lovers with two extraordinary Vin Santo wines as well, both dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi. To the rare and prestigious Occhio di Pernice 2004 goes the title for the best wine for summer 2014: a monumental wine, an endless symphony of aromas and emotions.
Amilcare Grieco - brand ambassador of Cantine del Notaio of Rionero in Vulture - tells DiWineTaste readers about the famous territory of Basilicata and Aglianico, prestigious grape of South Italy, an extremely versatile variety capable of making different wine styles, from sparkling to full bodied red wines.
Antonelli San Marco winery was established in 1881 by Francesco Antonelli and since then here are being produced excellent wines and olive oil. The winery is today run by Filippo Antonelli who, with unchanged commitment to quality, makes Sagrantino di Montefalco with a remarkable elegance, an identifying mark found in all of his wines. Montefalco Sagrantino Chiusa di Pannone 2007 conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of the best wine of June 2014.
Grape of very ancient origins - and mainly unknown - since the Middle Age it was known a red berried grape called "Grissa", which is probably corresponding to Barbera. A grape that in past times was associated to the production of common wines, thanks to the remarkable job of Piedmontese vintners, today Barbera is the mother of magnificent wines, among the excellencies of Italy.
Arnaldo Caprai winery - established in 1971 - has always believed in the remarkable potentials of Sagrantino, in particular when there were few in Montefalco committed to its production. With Marco Caprai, who is successfully running this extraordinary Umbrian winery since 1988, Sagrantino and Montefalco began a new journey and a new life to the conquer of the world. To the monumental Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni 2009 - emblem of the rebirth of this territory - goes the title of best wine of May 2014.
The taster does his or her job through senses and the use of a glass, a fundamental tool allowing the correct perception of the sensorial qualities of a wine and, in particular, of its faults. Not only a simple glass from which drinking a wine, indeed a technical tool capable of favoring the complex task of sensorial analysis.
Giampaolo Tabarrini is a passionate and exuberant vintner who made of Sagrantino his primary passion. To his Montefalco Sagrantino Colle alle Macchie 2009 we awarded DiWineTaste five diamonds as well as the title of the best wine of April 2014, an award to which is added Montefalco Sagrantino Passito Colle Grimaldesco 2008.
Today we simply call it Friulano, but this magnificent grape from Friuli Venezia Giulia - once Tocai Friulano and still today known worldwide as Sauvignon Vert or Sauvignonasse - has been always capable of making wine of remarkable body and longevity, all being characterized by a lively crispness and a pleasing touch of almond.
Roche d'Ampsej is the masterpiece of Matteo Correggia, unforgettable vintner of Langhe and Roero who, in just few years, was capable of conquering the worldwide scene, getting extraordinary success and awards. Today the heritage of Matteo Correggia lives on the job of his wife Ornella Costa and their sons, by making remarkable wines in this great territory in the province of Cuneo.
Recognizing wine aromas is something taking practice, memory and experience, qualities which cannot be learned in a short time. In the beginning it is good to concentrate on the aromas you can easily recognize, such as fruits and flowers.
Methius is one of the most important representative wines for the history of classic method production in Trentino and Trento DOC appellation. Created in 1986 by Carlo Dorigati and Enrico Paternoster, today it is the fifth generation of Dorigati family - represented by Paolo and Michele - to continue the prestige of this important Italian wine.
Power and character, as well as elegance and versatility, Aglianico is capable of expressing its magnificence from sparkling to sweet wines, as well as whites, rosé and, of course, great reds. A grape or remarkable personality, Aglianico is the absolute protagonist in Campania and Basilicata.
To the most celebrated wines of Tre Monti wine of Imola, successfully run by Sergio Navacchia and his sons Davide and Vittorio, goes the title of best wine of January 2014. It is Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore Riserva Thea 2010, a magnificent example of how the famous red berried grape can reach excellent results in the territory of Romagna.
The olfactory analysis of a wine is the most complex part of the whole process of tasting but it certainly is the one richest in satisfaction. It takes experience, memory and the right approach to the initial phases of the evaluation. In this episode Antonello Biancalana explains what you should do when you smell for the first time a glass of wine.
This month we had three wines awarded with five diamonds: Pelago 2009 and Maximo 2010 of Umani Ronchi and I Sodi di San Niccolò 2008 of Castellare di Castellina. The title of the best wine of December 2013 goes to Maximo 2010, a mastepiece created by the talent of Giacomo Tachis and of which the first vintage was 1992, produced with Sauvignon Blanc grapes affected by Botrytis Cinerea.
Ancient variety having a strong bond with the territories of the province of Verona and Vicenza, Garganega is capable of making wines of magnificent elegance, both in dry and in sweet styles made from dried grapes. With time, and the proper viticultural and wine making conditions, Garganega has proved to have very good possibilities of aging in bottle, giving wines of interesting complexity.
The Moris family, of Spanish origins, is committed for more than 200 years to the production of wine in Massa Marittima, in Tuscan Maremma, and it is among the wineries which determined the success of Morellino di Scansano. Also famous Avvoltore that, in vintage 2010, conquers DiWineTaste five diamonds and the title of best wine of November 2013.
The olfactory evaluation of wine certainly is the most important aspect of tasting. This important examination is made of three distinct phases, each of them allowing the determination of faults, opening and the aromatic profile of a wine.
Out tasting committee awards Gran Masetto 2009 of Endrizzi winery, the title of the best wine of October 2013. A great wine made from Teroldego grape, the great autochthonous grape from Trentino that, in this wine, expresses power, elegance and class.
A variety having uncertain origins, however believed to be originated from Sicily, Nero d'Avola is the protagonist of most of the red wine of this island. A versatile grape, capable of making immediate and direct wines, as well as giving examples of structure and complexity, when vinified in cask and cultivated with quality criteria.
Altemasi is Cavit's Trento DOC range and made of five wines. Our tasting committee has evaluated the whole range and, among them, has awarded Trento Riserva Brut Altemasi Graal 2005 with five diamonds, an excellent classic method having a remarkable elegance and class.
The olfactory evaluation of a wine is the most difficult phase of tasting, but it is also the most amazing and interest as well, capable of determining, in good part, the quality of a wine. From the evaluation of faults to positive aromas, the nose can tell a many things about a wine's character.
Our tasting committee continued its job also during summertime and evaluated - among the many - the Barolo wines made by Ettore Germano and Giovanni Manzone wineries. Hard choice to make, by considering the quality of both wineries, at the end we have chose Barolo Riserva Le Gramolere 2005 of Manzone, which we awarded with the title of best wine for Summer 2013.
Pinot Noir is a very versatile variety, capable of making among the most elegant red wines of the world and among the most prestigious sparkling wines, such as Champagne. Very hard variety to cultivate and to vinify, Pinot Noir divides wine lovers in two sides: those who love it and those who are indifferent to it.
Fortified wines probably are the less common style of the entire wine making scene. This particular wine style offers to the senses of any taster one of the most amazing sensorial experience, including appearance. A masterpiece result of time and oxidation which, in this case, gets a noble character.
Godiolo winery of Montepulciano and run since generations by Fiorini family, uses the traditional grapes of this historical and prestigious wine area of Tuscany: Prugnolo Gentile, Canaiolo Nero, Colorino and Mammolo. From these grapes born, ex-aequo, the two best wines of June 2013: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2006 and 2001 vintages.
Sweet wines from dried grapes, commonly called "vini passiti" in Italy, are produced both with white and red berried grapes, characterized by intense and deep colors as well as very low transparencies, moreover a quite evident density observed in the sides of the glass.
Giacomo Fenocchio winery is located in Monforte d'Alba and has been established in 1864. Still today they make Barolo by following the tradition of this land in three prestigious crus of this noble territory: Cannubi in Barolo, Villero in Castiglione Falletto and Bussia in Monforte d'Alba. Barolo Bussia 2008 is awarded with DiWineTaste five diamond and it is also the best wine for this month.
Among the most interesting white berried grapes of the Italian wine scene, Fiano was considered a member of the historical family of "apiane" grapes, however it is also supposed the name comes from "Apia", the ancient name of Peloponnese from which, maybe, the grape was introduced to Campania.
In the evaluation of sparkling wines' appearance, effervescence and bubbles generally play a fundamental role. The aspect of sparkling wine is not, of course, bubbles only, it is however this characteristic to determine the quality of production method.
The Arrigoni family makes wine in Liguria and in Tuscany. Their Cinqueterre Tramonti 2011 conquers the title of the best wine of April 2013, a wine rich in personality and character, with a charming smell of sea breeze.
The color of red wine gives the taster many information about grape cultivation, variety, territory, soil and wine making technique. Most of the times a low transparency is considered as a quality factor, but not all the red berried grapes are capable of making wines with a dark and impenetrable aspect.
Mother of the greatest red wines from Piedmont and Lombardy, Nebbiolo is also found in Vallée d'Aoste and Sardinia. Indisputable king of the vineyards in Piedmontese Langhe, Nebbiolo has a powerful character to which is added a noble elegance.
The vineyard and winery of Mossio Brothers is located in Rodello, in a hill dominating the city of Alba. Here we find, at the top of the estate, Bricco Caramelli where are being cultivated Dolcetto grapes giving this wonderful wine character, power and elegance.
Rose wines probably are the least understood and most underrated style of the wine scene. Indeed, they are produced with a specific technique having a proper dignity and wine making value, an unique character which is well evident in their color.
Antonello Biancalana interviewing Marquees Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga, in occasion of the seminar of Milan dedicated to Tenuta San Leonardo of Borghetto all'Adige, in province of Trento. The extraordinary story of one of the most prestigious wineries of Italy and the creation of San Leonardo, the great wine created by Marquees Carlo Guerrieri Gonzaga, a magnificent example of class and elegance.
Tenute Silvio Nardi is successfully run by Emilia Nardi, prestigious winery of Montalcino, among the most important and significant viticultural expressions for the production of the famous Tuscan winery. To their Vigneto Manachiara vintage 2006 our tasting committee awarded the title of the best wine of February 2013.
Among the most important red berried grapes in the world, Cabernet Sauvignon is the queen of Bordeaux vineyards - in particular Médoc and Graves - introduced in this territory by Romans in the first century AD, it is the descendant of Vitis Biturica.
Let's resume the subject of wine sensorial tasting and, in particular, the aspect of wine. In this episode we will talk about the color of white wine, its evolution and the factors determining its hue.
January 2013 had three wines which reached the result of DiWineTaste five diamonds, two of them being produced by Villa Mongalli of Bevagna - Sagrantino di Montefalco della Cima 2004 and 2006 - and the third wine produced by Tedeschi family of Pedemonte, San Pietro in Cariano. To Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Olmi 2007 goes the title of the best wine for January 2013.
In this episode we are going to talk about one of the most famous grapes in the world, capable of giving wines of remarkable crispness, to which it is added a pleasing minerality. Sauvignon Blanc is a grape which loves cool climates, whereas in warm areas it loses most of its pleasing qualities.
The first episode dedicated to wine appearance analysis, an evaluation which goes beyond the simple determination of color and the definition of style. From appearance we can understand the quality of grape, the meteorological condition of the year, wine making and viticultural aspects.
Antonello Biancalana introduces wine sensorial tasting, a fundamental subject every wine lover should know and use in order to better appreciate the beverage of Bacchus. In this episode are being introduced the fundamental phases of tasting: appearance, smell and taste.
In December our tasting committee has awarded five wines with five diamonds: Vin Santo di Montepulciano Dolce Sinfonia 2007 of Bindella, Rosso Conero Riserva Selezione Gioacchino Garofoli 2007 and the wines Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Podium 2010, Serra Fiorese 2007 and Selezione Gioacchino Garofoli 2006, all made by Gioacchino Garofoli winery. The latter - masterpiece of wine maker Carlo Garofoli - has been awarded by our tasting committee as the best wine of December 2012.
Antonello Biancalana talks about Sangiovese, one of the most ancient red berried grapes cultivated in Italy, probably since Etruscan times. Sangiovese is the mother of the most important red wines of Italy, including Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Antonello Biancalana introduces one of the most interested white berried grapes in the world: Riesling. A variety of remarkable interest, capable of making white wines of magnificent elegance, it is characterized by a pleasing and evident acidity.
The decision of the best wine of November 2012 has not been easy to make. Six wines awarded with fie diamonds: Colle Santa Mustiola's Poggio ai Chiari 2001; Tabarrini's Sagrantino di Montefalco Colle alle Macchie 2006 and Sagrantino di Montefalco Passito Colle Grimaldesco 2007; Cantine del Notaio's Aglianico del Vulture Il Sigillo 2008, L'Autentica 2007 and 2009. Not one, but two wines of the month: L'Autentica 2007 and 2009.
The famous red grape from Bordeaux, France, gives its wines an unmistakable touch of velvety roundness, a quality favored by the taste of wine lovers all over the world.
Antonello Biancalana talks about Chardonnay, the renowned French grape which from Burgundy conquered the vineyards of the world. Alone or blended with other grapes, Chardonnay is capable of rounding the crispness of every wine thanks to its unmistakable "velvety" touch.
In October, DiWineTaste committee has awarded five diamonds to eight winery produced by four wineries. The very hard choice to award the best wine of October was made and we decided for Querciabella's Batàr 2009.
Sagrantino di Montefalco, history, production and tasting of the main red berried grape of Umbria which made Monfetalco famous in Italy and in the world.
The first episode of DiWineTaste Podcast. Antonello Biancalana welcomes all of DiWineTaste's readers and all of the podcast listeners.