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The International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), the intergovernmental body that tracks wine and grape production worldwide, has released its initial estimates of the 2020 harvest. It calculates that global production will amount to 258 million hectoliters (give or take 4 million). There had been speculation that 2020 would see disastrously low volumes, primarily […]
Though officially disregarded by the European Union, Italy’s top quality level—the DOCG—still commands attention in the wider wine world and certainly within Italy itself. Achieving DOCG status is something many denominations dream of and quite a few are actively working toward. The most recent one to achieve that goal is Terre Alfieri DOCG, a relatively […]
Math question: If you’re feeling like having some Prosecco and your friend wants a rosé, how many different wines do you need? This is one of those happy instances where 1 + 1 = 1. Introducing Prosecco Rosé—though not soon enough for this past summer, unfortunately. If you’re not shocked by this development, maybe it’s because […]
“Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.” —UNESCO The terrain of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene hills is one of Italy’s key areas noted for “heroic viticulture” due to the challenges […]
Second DOCG for Abruzzo Posted July 10, 2019 The Abruzzese denomination Tullum, aka Terre Tollesi, has become the first Italian DOC to be elevated to DOCG status in 8 years, raising the count of DOCGs to 75. Tullum DOCG will primarily feature varietal wines made from red Montepulciano and whites Passerina and Pecorino. An obscure […]
The 51st annual Vinitaly trade fair, the world’s largest wine event (by at least some measures) and an unparalleled showcase for Italian wine, took place (as always) in Verona, Italy, April 9–12. Vinitaly is part spectacle, part family reunion, part madhouse, part study hall, and entirely worth the price of admission. The scale of this […]
Posted August 19, 2016 In Friuli–Venezia Giulia, for years there have been six denominations that include the word “Friuli” in their name. There is now one more. Friuli–Venezia Giulia, the small region in Italy’s far northeast bordering Austria and Slovenia, is beloved by cognoscenti for its native grapes—varieties such as Friulano, Verduzzo, Ribolla Gialla, […]
For the 50th year in a row, Vinitaly, the world’s largest wine trade fair, convened in Verona, Italy, last month. What did you miss, and why should you consider going next year? Vinitaly is no longer merely a gathering of 4,100 exhibitors, spread out over a million square feet of floor space, showing their wines […]
Posted November 2, 2015 Brunello & Rosso di Montalcino Tighten Their Regulations Brunello di Montalcino, already among the highest-quality wine denominations in Italy, is updating its disciplinare (the rules governing wine production) to ensure that quality in the production zone remains at a level that will continue to justify its lofty reputation and price. New […]