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...

Top Wine and Spirits Books of 2018 ~ Belonging in Any Great Wine (Book) Library

Each year I enjoy putting a list together of the best wine books I read through the year. This year is no exception, and these books are each fabulous. Here are my 2018 Wine and Spirits Books, in alphabetical order. Happy shopping for your wine lovers. Regardless of...

Colonnara Viticultori in Cupramontana ~ In the Castelli di Jesi region of Le Marche

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz – Cupramontana Headquarters] To understand wine, first we need understand its culture and people. The first time I wrote that was in 2009, just prior to a trip to Portugal. This thought was just reaffirmed, as I’m newly returned from an...

Welcome to Hungary with Count Karolyi’s Grüner Veltliner 2016 ~ Wine of the Week

Sample wines provided by Quintessential Wines ~ Count Karolyi Grüner Veltliner 2016 PREFACE – PART 2 ~ WHITE WINES My structure: World Regions ~ FIRST HEART ~ THE WINERY: info is coming from the company’s own statements I can’t make up their history...