Category Archives: Italy

Il Bistrot della Pasticciona, Lido, Roma

Posted on September 3, 2022 by winellama

In March 2021, when the pandemic was so widespread that the entire world seemed to be shut down, and people were despairing of the future, I read an article about Italy and how people were struggling there. That’s when I … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy | Tagged camilla moccia, Il Bistrot della Pasticciona, italia, Italy, lido, ostia lido, roma, rome | 4 Comments

Nebbiolo, Luigi Oddero, Barbaresco DOCG, La Morra, Piedmonte, Italy, 2008, 14% abv., C$100

Posted on April 11, 2022 by winellama

From one of the truly bona fide, historic and traditional Barolo houses comes a 2008 Barbaresco. The Oddero family has been in La Morra since before the 1700s, and the seventh generation of family members is still in charge of … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Nebbiolo, RED, Red, red wine | Tagged barbaresco, Barbaresco DOCG, Figli Luigi Oddero, Italian red wine, Italy, nebbiolo, red wine | 1 Comment

Lambrusco Reggiano, Frizzante Secco, Arte e Concerto, Lambrusco DOC, Reggio Emilia, Italy, 2019, 11.5% abv., C$23

Posted on April 7, 2022 by winellama

I was looking for something interesting to serve friends with some charcuterie, and realized I had a few bottles of Lambrusco hanging around, so decided to put them to work. The wine that is, not the friends. Lambrusco is both … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Lambrusco, OTHER, RED | Tagged bubbles, DOC Lambrusco, Emilia Romagna, frizzante, Lambrusco, red wine, Reggio Emilia, traditional method | Leave a comment

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Avignonesi, Montepulciano DOCG, Italia, 13.5% abv, C$42

Posted on September 28, 2019 by winellama

Avignonesi is Italy’s largest biodynamic winery, located in tiny Valiano, Tuscany between Cortona and Montepulciano. Its owner, Virginie Saverys, a former lawyer from Belgium, purchased it in 2009 from the original owners, the Avignonesi family, and has spent the last … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, RED, Sangiovese | Tagged Avignonesi, italia, Italian wine, Italy, red wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Virginie Saverys, wine | 3 Comments

Turbiana and the White Wines of Lugana DOC, Italy

Posted on March 18, 2019 by winellama

I met Ambra Berardi of the Consorzio Tutela Lugana at the 2018 Wine Writer’s Conference in Walla Walla, Washington when I was looking for light and delicate white wines at the opening tasting reception. I was hooked instantly by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Turbiana, WHITE | Tagged Consorzio Lugana, italia, Italy, Lake Garda, Late Harvest, Lugana, Lugana DOC, Marangona Cantina, Ottella, Tenuta Roveglia, Terra Cotta Amphorae, Turbiana, Visit Lugana, white wine, wine | 4 Comments

Barolo, Ferdinando Principiano, Serralunga, Ravera di Montfort, Barolo DOCG, Italy, 2011, 15% abv. C$45

Posted on February 25, 2019 by winellama

We enjoyed this just inside the recommended drinking window – I’m not patient when it comes to holding wine. I was very nervous when I removed the capsule to find what looked to be a moldy cork. It was dry … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Nebbiolo, RED | Tagged 2011, barolo, Barolo DOCG, Ferdinando Principiano, Italy, nebbiolo, Ravera di Montfort, Serralunga | Leave a comment

Le Cupole, Tenuta del Trinoro,Toscana IGT, Italia, 2005, 14.5% abv.

Posted on August 9, 2017 by winellama

The Cupole Super Tuscan wines are usually made of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon which didn’t get into their top tier bottles. They are also regularly reviewed and rated by Antonio Galloni and Stephen Tanzer which speaks volumes about … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, cesanese, Italy, Merlot, OTHER, Petit Verdot, RED, Uva di Troia | Tagged 2005, cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, cesanese, italia, Le Cupole, merlot, Petit Verdot, red wine, Super Tuscan, Tenuta Trinoro, Toscana IGT, uva di troja | Leave a comment

Sangiovese, Pian Dell’Orino, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Italia, 2009, 14.5% abv.

Posted on July 7, 2017 by winellama

Risotto was on the dinner menu and I decided it needed an Italian red. Did I ever hit the goldmine. This wine came to me out of pure luck; I purchased a case of random, sight unseen bottles from an … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, OTHER, RED, Sangiovese Grosso (Biondi-Santi) | Tagged 2009, biodynamic, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Caroline Pobitzer, Demeter, demeter-certified, italia, Italy, Jan Hendrik Erbach, organic, Pian Dell'Orino, red wine, Sangiovese | Leave a comment

Barolo, Riserva, Bel Colle Montvigliero, Barolo DOCG, Italia, 2004, 14% abv

Posted on December 6, 2016 by winellama

We opened this wine at 12 years old on November 2016, at the end of its recommended drinking window (2010-2016). Although initially worried we’d missed the boat, we were relieved to find an elegantly developed drink. Winner of a bronze … Continue reading →

Posted in Barolo, Italy, Nebbiolo, OTHER, RED, red wine | Tagged 2004, barolo, Barolo DOCG, Belcolle Aziendo, italia, Italian wine, Montvigliero, red wine, Riserva | Leave a comment

Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC, Superiore, Stefano Mancinelli, Morro d’Alba, Italy, 2013, 13% abv. C$35

Posted on April 8, 2016 by winellama

To say this wine is intriguing would be an understatement. Producer, Stefano Mancinelli is widely acknowledged as one of the best producers of Lacrima di Morro d’Alba wines. Made from the Lacrima grape, I had to search hard for information … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Lacrima, OTHER, RED | Tagged Ancona, italia, Italy, Lacrima di Morro d'Alba DOC, Lacrima grape, Morro d'Alba, red wine, Stefano Mancinelli, Superiore | Leave a comment