Italy

Triade Rosso IGT Puglia

Italy, Reviews, Waitrose

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By

Simon Judge

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29 October 2023

Triade Rosso is a interesting red wine from Puglia in Italy. This blend combines three grape varieties: Primitivo, Negroamaro, and Nero di Troia. The result is a wine that is deep red in colour, offering a different type of complexity. On the nose, the wine greets you with a bouquet of blueberries, dark cherries, cinnamon…
Super Tuscan

Glossary, Italy

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By

Simon Judge

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23 October 2023

A Super Tuscan wine refers to red wines produced in Tuscany, Italy, that don’t adhere to the traditional wine-making rules of the region. In the 1970s, some Tuscan wine producers began to feel constrained by the strict wine-making regulations of the region. These rules dictated which grape varieties could be used, the methods of production…
Specially Selected Toscana Rosso

Aldi, Italy, Reviews

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By

Simon Judge

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17 October 2023

The Specially Selected Toscana Rosso 2021 is a red, 14% alcohol, wine that’s medium to full-bodied. Its origins are somewhat shrouded in mystery, with the bottle labels being coy about the wine producer. Despite the lack of provenance, there’s a clue of its origin on the back label – a mention of bottled for Buontalenti…
Corte Lenguin Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore

Italy, Reviews, Ripasso, Valpolicella

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By

Simon Judge

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14 October 2023

I recently had the pleasure of dining at the excellent Mercato Italiano in Bridport, Dorset. It was here that I discovered the Corte Lenguin Valpolicella Ripasso, DOC certified and medium to full-bodied. The blend of Corvina Veronese, Corvinone and Rondinella grapes blends beautifully to create a great flavour. A high rating of 4.0 on Vivino…
Italy’s Wine Classifications

Articles, DOC, DOCG, IGT, Italy

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By

Simon Judge

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4 October 2023

The top of Italian wine classification is the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). Wines under this category have undergone the most stringent regulations. They come from precisely delineated regions and have passed a meticulous taste examination and chemical tests. The regulations encompass aspects ranging from grape varieties and wine production methods to specific…
Fantini Italian Wine Tasting

Italy, Liberty Wines, Past Tastings

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By

Simon Judge

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29 September 2023

On the 29th September I had the pleasure of attending an Italian wine tasting at Morrish & Banham‘s shop in Bridport, Dorset. It was hosted by Illaria Zenaro of Fantini in Italy who are represented in the UK by Liberty Wines. Fantini are unusual for an Italian producer in that the majority, 95%, of their…
Pazzia Primitivo di Manduria

Italy, Primitivo, Reviews, Waitrose

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By

Simon Judge

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22 September 2023

This Primitivo di Manduria has gained a reputation, not just for its 4.2 rating on Vivino but also for being among Vivino’s the top 25 Southern Italy Primitivo wines in the United Kingdom at the time of writing this review. A previous 2019 vintage was a Bronze IWC winner. Decanter’s review of previous vintages, which…
Pontarelli Toscana Rosso

IGT, Italy, Reviews

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By

Simon Judge

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19 September 2023

This wine, IGT classified, is a blend of 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and a dominant 70% Sangiovese produced exclusively for Marks & Spencer. It undergoes a mixed fermentation process, utilising a combination of concrete, stainless steel tanks and large oak casks. This method is designed to enhance the wine’s fruit characters. Critics seem to…
Italy Loses Wine-making Leadership to France

Italy, News

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By

Simon Judge

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14 September 2023

Reuters is reporting on the decline in wine production in Italy. The wine output in Italy is expected to decrease by 12% this year (2023), falling below 44 million hectolitres. This significant drop is attributed to extreme weather conditions and fungal diseases that have adversely affected the vineyards. As a result of this decline, Italy…
Climate Change Threatens Prosecco

Climate Change, Italy, News, Prosecco

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By

Simon Judge

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8 September 2023

Climate change is posing a severe threat to Prosecco, according to recent research published in the iScience journal. Originating from Italy’s mountainous vineyards, Prosecco has seen a decline in grape yields due to extreme weather conditions and soil degradation. The risk extends beyond losing an agricultural product as it also threatens entire communities’ history and…
Ripasso

Glossary, Italy, Ripasso

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By

Simon Judge

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4 September 2023

The word “Ripasso” literally means ‘re-passed’ in Italian. This term is used to describe a specific winemaking technique that involves a second fermentation process. Originally, this method was developed in the Veneto region of Italy, and it is most commonly associated with Valpolicella wines. After the initial fermentation of the wine, the young wine is…
Passo del Cardinale Primitivo di Manduria

Italy, Primitivo, Reviews, The Wine Society

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By

Simon Judge

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31 August 2023

I recently had the pleasure of trying a Primitivo that has been given an award by Gambero Rosso magazine, a global authority on Italian food, wine and travel. With a rating of 4.1 on Vivino and an impressive 4.3 for its latest 2022 vintage, this wine piqued my interest. Upon tasting, I found it to…
ASDA Extra Special Soave Classico

Asda, Italy, Reviews, Soave

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By

Simon Judge

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18 August 2023

This nutty, white wine is from Italy’s Veneto region. Soave is renowned for its delicate smoothness and freshness and it is made primarily with Garganega grapes forming a minimum of 70% of the blend. There are two Soave classifications – Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). The DOC…
Wines of Vesevo & Fantini Tasting – Campania & Puglia, Italy

Events, Italy

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By

Simon Judge

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16 August 2023

The Vesevo & Fantini wine tasting events at Morrish & Banham (M&B) will showcase Italian wines created by Valentine Sciotto. The events will be hosted at M&B’s Dorchester and Bridport locations on 28th and 29th September 2023. The evenings will include an aperitif, canapés and a guided tasting of six wines. Tickets are £25 and…
Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Italy, Majestic, Montepulciano, Reviews

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By

Simon Judge

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10 August 2023

With a medium body, this wine has flavours of ripe cherries, accompanied by sweet spices and an enticing whisper of smoke. Under Italian wine regulations, a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine must contain at least 85% Montepulciano with Sangiovese permitted to make up to 15% of the remaining blend. The wine is required to be aged for…
Italy’s 2023 Wine Harvest in Jeopardy

Italy, News

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By

Simon Judge

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4 August 2023

Italy’s 2023 wine harvest is projected to decrease by up to 14% due to extreme weather conditions associated with climate change, including intense heat, storms and wildfires, according to agricultural group Coldiretti. An initial forecast predicts a national production of around 43 million hectolitres, down from 50 million in 2022, potentially marking one of the…
La Masseria Del Borgo Primitivo Manduria

Italy, Primitivo, Reviews

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By

Simon Judge

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31 July 2023

This wine, 2021 vintage, originates from Puglia, Italy and tastes of ripe dark berry fruits, including blackcurrants and black cherries, culminating in a long, satisfying finish. The Primitivo grape expresses itself differently based on the region in which it’s cultivated, with noticeable variations across the key Primitivo DOC areas of Manduria, Gioia del Colle and…

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