This blog became 20 years old, in December 2025. That’s 20 years of writing about wine, and having fun. I’ve been documenting thoughts, experiences, and knowledge about wine for a quarter of my life. That’s an amazing achievement of evolving tastes and the wines I’ve encountered, along the way. I pinch myself, when I think about the places and people I’ve met. Sometimes I ask myself how anyone could hope for more, with what I’ve tangibly created?

By February 2006, I took on a big one, knowing my palate didn’t match the wine reviewer, because I knew my palate was definitely different than theirs. This made me want to change a landscape to expand it’s outreach and encourage people to make their own decisions. Everyone has a palate. It was dangerous I knew at the time, but the wines samples I had professionally submitted to media in early 2000s didn’t match what I was tasting at all. So, telling like it was became important to me and other people “not getting it.” My own history is daring and entertaining.

The magic of wine

Two Extraordinary Wines

I highly recommend both of these wines mentioned below. I won’t presume to tell you what’s on your palate, because we’re all different. I report, you decide, as my husband likes to say, as he also presents ideas, rather than opinions.

Now, Onto Two Delicious Italian Wines

The 2022 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva brings all that Tuscan history and structure, while Veneto Bianco 2023 Pasqua heads in a completely different direction. An interesting contrast: a structured Tuscan red and a fresh Italian white. Not a typical pairing for a single post, but they’re both singing, so why not? I’m writing about the Veneto white first, then the Tuscan red.

What To Know About Pasqua Wine

The flavors graduate, with this wine. The Veneto Bianco 2023 Pasqua tends to have that clean, mineral-driven profile with stone fruit, you might even pick up a bit of an almond flavors. This young and bright 2023 Veneto is the kind of white that doesn’t overwhelm in flavors, but has a delicious presence. I’ve also written about other Pasqua Italian wines, for instance.

What To Know About The Veneto Region

Verona is located in northern Italy, and it’s in the Veneto region. This is a place between the Adige River and the Lessini Mountains. What makes this place really unique and what has inspired this brand is it’s magic, art, history, and culture combine that combine in Romeo and Juliet. It’s similar to Venice, but it doesn’t have the canals, or the decay, nor the huge numbers of tourists. A must see highlight is Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta). It features the famous balcony and courtyard. Visitors leave love notes and touch the statue of Juliet for good luck. It make perfect sense to connect the two dots, between being a winery in the region and creating that romantic wine.

Next ~ Frescobaldi

Chianti Frescobaldi

What to Know About the 2022 Chianti Frescobaldi Riserva

I haven’t enjoyed a Frescobaldi wine before, although I’ve written about and visited their region of Tuscany, at Castello di Meleto. This 2022 Chianti Riserva is generous and unabashed, full-throttled in its uber delicious flavors. This is one of their historic properties, which is located in the Chianti Rufina region, which is east of Florence, and in the hills of the Arno Valley. This wine is extraordinary and worth your time and attention, if you’re looking for something delicious.

The Frescobaldi family has been producing wine since 1300. It operates estates across several of Tuscany’s most prestigious wine regions. This includes Chianti Rufina, Montalcino, Pomino, and the Maremma Coast, and is located in the heart of Chianti. It is between Florence and Siena, which represents the classic Chianti landscape.

They also have estate properties in the Maremma area. This is along Tuscany’s coastline, which has a really different microclimate than the inland regions. Ergo, this produces totally different wine flavors. The family has been based in Florence for over 700 years, so their winemaking heritage is deeply connected to the greater Florence area.

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Written by Jo Diaz, a partner of Diaz Communications, who is helping to make stars realize their dreams. Edited by partner Jose Diaz. To reprint, please contact Jo Diaz: jo@diaz-communications.com