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Italian Wine Scholar

Monte Amiata: Tuscany's Best Kept Secret

Summary: The wines of Toscana’s Montalcino are revered the world over and the price of vineyard land within the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG reflects that renown. However, just a short 30 minute drive from Montalcino lies the largely undiscovered world of Monte Amiata. Previously primarily known, in wine circles, for the important role it plays in sheltering the vineyards of Montalcino from intense summer storms that can develop on the sun-soaked Tuscan coastline, today Monte
Looking toward the Sibillini Mountains from the town of Offida, Andrea Eby
Looking toward the Sibillini Mountains from the town of Offida, Andrea Eby

Movin’ On Up: Marche’s Vinous March Toward World-Wide Respect and Recognition

“Andreeeeea! There is no plane from Napoli to Ancona!” This was the incredulous cry that I heard from my Campanian friends when I told them how I was leaving their beautiful region to visit Marche. They were sure that when I arrived at the terminal, that what I thought was going to be a plane would, in fact, turn out to be a bus. They were so adamant that no such flight existed that even I began to doubt the authenticity of the travel itinerary I had received. My relief was therefore clearly visible when I was able to check in for my evening flight to Ancona. 

Puglia

Summary: 'The Heel of the Boot', and one of Italy's warmest wine regions, Puglia often flies under the radar compared to its illustrious Northern counterparts. But it's home to an array of really interesting indigenous varieties and unique wine styles that imbue a wonderful sense of place and individuality to the wines. Join us for this session, hosted by Master of Wine and Italian expert Michelle Cherutti-Kowal to explore: History of

Reinventing Abruzzo: Rising Stars

For much of the wine history of Abruzzo, large cooperatives established a perception that the region’s wines were pleasant and technically correct, but offered little in the way of excellence. Today, the image of Abruzzese wine has taken on a new light, as dozens of smaller producers are crafting more sophisticated offerings that not only display superior complexity, but also offer greater elegance and aging potential as compared with the typical wines of the past.

Ruché: Sweet Wine, Parish Priests and an Unforeseen Comeback Story

The Etruscans were the first to produce wine in northern Italy; beginning with wild varieties, they cultivated vines in Piedmont centuries before the Romans arrived. Nevertheless, it was the Romans who advanced commercial winemaking, significantly increasing the area under vine and using props, trellises and ‘Greek presses’ to dependably supply the empire’s domestic and trading needs.

Saroda Kyung, IWS

Congratulations to Saroda Kyung, IWS, for achieving highest honors in the Italian Wine Scholar exam with WSA Wine Academy, Seoul. About Saroda: Hello, I’m Saroda, but please call me “Salad”!My job is a brand manager, and I love wine as much
Tasting at Istituto Grandi Marchi

Savoring Excellence: Exploring Italy's Top Wine Estates through the 2004 Vintage with Istituto Grandi Marchi

On June 25th, London played host to a prestigious gathering of Italy's top wine producers, unveiling their flagship wines to the UK trade and press.
Mount Etna, Sicily
A View of Vineyards and Mount Etna, Sicily

Sensational Sicily

Sicily captivates wine enthusiasts and travellers around the world, an island that in recent years has become famous not just as a holiday destination (White Lotus fans can attest) but also for the growing production of high-quality wines.
Consorzio di Tutela Vini Sicilia DOC 
Scenic view from a vineyard in Sicily. Consorzio di Tutela Vini Sicilia DOC 

Sicily’s Most Important Denomination 

Not all geographical indications (GIs) are created equal. Small ones are often associated with higher-quality wines, while broader, region-wide designations are generally reserved for more regular bottlings. Take Veneto, for instance. Names like Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico, and Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore are more often than not found on more prestigious labels than the region-wide Veneto IGT, generally destined for more unassuming liquids.
Super Tuscans

Super Tuscans: Genesis, pillars and evolution of an innovation that became a classic

Summary: From their genesis in the late 1960s to their most modern iterations, Super Tuscans have enjoyed an uninterrupted reign on the international scene. Initially, production style trumped terroir, but now, thanks to viticultural improvements combined with the effects of climate change, we see the evolution of one winemaker’s initial hunch into a family of world-class wines. Characterised by their Bordeaux influences and divergence from traditional Italian

The New Wines of Mount Etna

Summary:  By examining Mount Etna's peculiarities, history, and modern practices we are able to learn why these inimitable volcanic wines have everyone talking about Sicily.  Presenter: Benjamin Spencer DipWSET  Benjamin Spencer is an award-winning American author, journalist, and the founder of the Etna Wine School, a wine consulting company on Mount Etna, in Sicily. After making

The Renaissance of Taurasi

Taurasi, Southern Italy’s greatest red wine, has enjoyed a spectacular and highly distinctive history. The wine is capable of extremely lengthy cellaring, as examples from the 1940s and 1950s prove even today; in fact versions from the 1928 and 1934 vintages are still

The Value of Wine Education and the Rise of Online Learning for French, Italian and Spanish Wines

In a world where wine has evolved from a drink to a culture, understanding what’s in your glass goes beyond mere taste—it’s about appreciating the stories, landscapes and craftsmanship behind each label.

To Graft or Not to Graft: The Value of Ungrafted Vitis Viniferas

Without Joker, could Batman ever be a real superhero? Or Sherlock Holmes the world’s greatest detective, if criminal mastermind Professor James Moriarty wasn’t a threat to his very own life? All heroes have nemeses, and vitis vinifera – certainly a real hero to many a wine lover – has one too: phylloxera. 
bolgheri vineyard

Top Ten Italian Red Wines

Italian reds have become famous all over the world, characterized by their intense structures, rich perfumes and distinctive personalities, often derived from the peninsula’s characterful native grape varieties.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia vineyard

Top Ten Italian White Wines

In a country famous for red wine, Italy’s white wines are often overlooked. Although the country has gone global with a range of crisp, well-priced and crowd-pleasing whites, there’s plenty of seriously impressive Italian white wine waiting to be discovered.

Trezzo Tinella: Roman foundations, cool slopes and budding prospects

The Romans arrived in Piedmont during the 2nd century BC, establishing colonies in Eporedia, Derthona, and Augusta Taurinorum (Ivrea, Tortona, and Turin, respectively). These territories were strategically important—their locality to the Alps helped the Romans control northerly invaders. As was customary, the Romans settled and built roads, aqueducts, amphitheatres, bridges, and established towns and cities. They also planted vines but were not the first to do so here...

Vittoria Mariani, IWS

Congratulations to Vittoria Mariani, IWS, for passing the Italian Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Vittoria:  Born and raised in Napoli, in the sunny southwest coast of Italy, Vittoria moved to Amsterdam 9 years ago to complete her
Wines of Campania

Wines of Campania

Summary From the chaotic streets of beautiful baroque Napoli to the stunning vistas of the famous Mediterranean coastline, Campania offers something for everyone. It apologizes for nothing, proudly promoting the landscapes, culture, and gastronomic traditions that the entire world has come to envy. Add to this already incomparable reputation its ability to produce some of the world’s best, and most underrated wines and you have something

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