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Friuli-Venezia Giulia: In Search of an Identity Part II
featured, Italy: North
, Oct 2024
Internationally perceived by some as the defining wines of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, macerated white wines from the area are blockbusters of the wine world. However, their inception, ‘history’ and quality have become confused, and in the blinding glow of their popularity, the region finds itself in yet another identity crisis. I visited the first adopters of the style to discover how the wines came to be, their meaning today and the realities of the region where they come from.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Both Sides of the Spectrum
featured, Italy: North
, Apr 2024
Two successive warm and drought-filled years challenged winemakers in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, yet the 2021s and 2022s still offer plenty of pleasure. Readers will find many beautifully balanced yet sun-kissed wines. Unfortunately, others lack substance and come across as aromatically challenged, ripe and one-dimensional.
Trentino-Alto Adige: Pushing the Limits
featured, Italy: North
, Mar 2024
Over the past two decades, Trentino-Alto Adige was largely unaffected by the negative impact of climate change yet is now dealing with successive warm vintages. While we can still depend on their production of cool, crisp whites and alpine reds, recent years have reshaped the wines and forced producers to begin thinking outside of the box.
Borgo del Tiglio Rosso Riserva: The Road Less Traveled
Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, Italy: North
, Mar 2024
Why would one of the greatest producers of white wine in Italy want to organize a tasting of the second label of their red wine? This is the question that was on my mind as I drove down the country road that leads to Cormòns, the small hamlet that is home to Borgo del Tiglio.
Veneto: A Constant State of Evolution
featured, Italy: North
, Feb 2024
Veneto remains a hotbed of activity and a source of many of Italy’s finest wines. Amarone, Valpolicella Superiore and Soave, along with an exciting mix of IGTs and Bordeaux blends, make for a large selection of high-quality wines. Wide stylistic differences, varying levels of quality from one estate to another and new releases that span multiple vintages (especially for Amarone) mean readers have plenty to choose from.
Sparkling Wines from Italy for Every Occasion
featured, Italy: North
, Dec 2023
The holidays are upon us. While I don’t think anyone needs an excuse to open a great bottle of sparkling wine, the reality is that more bottles in this category will be sold in the next three weeks than at any other time during the year.
Trentino-Alto Adige: Knocking on Heaven’s Door
featured, Italy: North
, May 2023
Is there such a thing as too much good wine? In Trentino-Alto Adige, there may be. Quality is exceptionally high, prices are incredibly fair, and producers continue to raise the bar. However, consumers have to navigate a multilingual system and wade through an ocean of entry-level wines to get to the best the region has to offer.
Pride and Tradition: The Friulian Way
featured, Italy: North
, Apr 2023
Friuli-Venezia Giulia’s potential is evident every time I visit and taste with winemakers. A melting pot of traditions, cultures and terroirs, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is capable of producing world-class wines from a staggering list of indigenous and international grape varieties. However, the region faces many hurdles in fully realizing that potential at a higher level.
Veneto: The Land of Opportunity
featured, Italy: North
, Mar 2023
Veneto is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Amarone is achieving a newfound balance, Valpolicella is seeking more refinement, and Soave increasingly emphasizes terroir-driven, expressive wines. In addition, the interior areas boast a number of under-the-radar gems, making Veneto a region to get genuinely excited about.
A Valle d’Aosta Interlude
featured, Italy: North
, Jun 2022
Italian by definition, yet more influenced by French and Swiss neighbors, Valle d’Aosta is quite unique relative to other regions in Italy. It’s precisely that diversity that makes Valle d’Aosta both fun and intriguing to explore.