When It’s Traditional and It’s in Tuscany ~ Day 2
I was the guest of Castello di Meleto in Gaiole ~ In the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany. Hosted by Antonia Caserta (sales manager), their winemaker Matteo Menicacci, and their agronomist Giovanni Maria Farina. Antonia translated, and I was also in the company of Michael Yurch (Bluest Sky Group) and Michael Apstein from Apstein On […]
Pairing Tuscan Wines with Tuscan Cuisine ~ Day 1
GUEST: I was a guest at Castello di Meleto, in Gaiole (the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany), as orchestrated by Michael Yurch, of The Bluest Sky Group. When we, as Americans, think of Italian cuisine, pasta immediately comes to mind, right? In a word association game, I say Italian food, and most people respond with […]
Wines from the Italian Alps, what a rare region and delicious occurrence
When I was asked to taste PETER ZEMMER wines from the Italian Alps, as samples, “What a rare opportunity; wines from the Italian Alps are so unfamiliar for many. Mr. Zemmer’s terroir and wines are a real treat!” I thought. And, do you know what? We’re a curious lot, right? It’s rare enough, tasty enough, […]
St. Valentine’s Day to Sparkle and Shine
Valentine’s Day is a very special day, dedicated to love. As my husband once told me, though, “Everyday is Valentine’s Day.” I thought it was his excuse for not caring about the assigned day for “lovers.” His saying of “Every day is Valentines Day,” as I came to learn, is that it’s an infinity commitment, […]
A Tasting Like No Other In Cupramontana Italy ~ Well Known For Its Native Varieties
Imagine having flown into a new country, and adding that to one’s wine educational repertoire. Now imaging becoming part of a team for a week, meeting everyone for the first time. Then, all the new foods; and lastly, tasting indigenous varietal wines, mostly for the first time… You have to navigate it all, and you […]
It All Begins in The Vineyard with “Root Cause”
[PHOTO: Steven Laine with his new novel Root Cause, borrowed from his Facebook page. ADVANCE COPY] If you love wine, love to read, and love to occasionally embark on a fantasy wine journey based on actual wine facts, Steven Laine is going to deliver an impactful novel, of epic proportions. This story begins in the […]
Le Sincette, Chiaretto DOC, Italy; Where Have you Been All of My Life?
UPDATE: Thanks to Jane Nichols, a reader of this blog, she sent an update to me, regarding La Sincette’s appellation: I was so interested in the wine you wrote about that I did a bit of research and happened to find out….the appellation of the wine is actually the Valtènesi DOC…which (amazingly/confusedly) has been discontinued […]
When Opportunity Knocked ~ Siena Italy Was at the Door
[ALL PHOTO: Jo Diaz, unless noted otherwise. Shop in Sienna, Italy] PART 1 ~ CULTURE LEADS TO WINE AND FOOD In October of 2018, a door was opened for me by Bluest Sky Group, when I was invited to join a group of wine professionals traveling in Italy. We would be exploring the central wine regions of […]
Do You Know About This Tuscan Fail Safe Practice?
[PHOTO of Castello di Meleto, Tuscany: Jo Diaz. All photos were taken by Jo Diaz, unless otherwise noted.] This practice is one that I had no idea existed, until I was the guest of Castello di Meleto. Located in Gaiole in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, this past October. I was travelling with Michael […]
Do You Know Verdicchio and Le Marche, Italy Are Quietly Famous?
[PHOTO: Autumn at Colonnara Viticultori] Some might even say it’s a best kept secret, but I don’t mind letting this secret out of the bag… Not to worry if you don’t know either Verdicchio or Marche. I didn’t know anything about the alluring Verdicchio grape, either, before my trip to the land where it reigns […]
