“Have you ever tried holding back a 300 pound pig from eating a 500 Euro truffle when he’s hungry? Good luck with that.” Gianni Vaira, a master Alba truffle hunter, is enlightening us on the finer points of hunting Tuber magnatum. “Dogs are much better. And mutts have the best noses. They simply want to […]
The mornings are crisp. Daylight bestows a warm glow on everything, and shadows now have soft edges. We’re past the point of equal day and night, and the evening sunset seems to come all too soon. The vendemmia (grape harvest) has finished for most wineries, and the grape juice is busy transforming itself into youthful […]
I had the good fortune of meeting Robbin Gheesling on Twitter last year while searching for fellow enthusiasts of Italian wines. Robbin, it turns out, is much more than just an enthusiast – she is making it her life’s pursuit, having spent years living in Florence while pursuing her Master’s degree in Italian Studies after […]
Gianluca Telloli is a wine maker with a passion for apples. Gianluca was on a scouting trip one bright, crisp fall day in 2011, high in the Valle d’Aosta mountains along the northwest Italian border with France. He was looking for new land to plant grapes and expand his vineyard, when he unexpectedly ran across […]
How do you pronounce Prosecco Valdobbiadene? How about Amarone della Valpolicella? Italian wine names can sometimes befuddle wine lovers. Even I have to slow-down-and-sound-it-out when I come across new regional wine names that don’t just roll off the tongue. Take heart, learning how to pronounce the most common Italian wine names is pretty straightforward if […]
Ciao from bustling London! I’m smack dab in the middle of my busy Fall travel season, in-transit and taking a break to write to you about changes I’m making to my Wine Journal updates. These are good changes. I think you’ll like them. Please read on. Passion with a purpose. This last July while tooling […]
Labor Day has come and gone, the kids are back in school and now everyone is lamenting the passing of Summer. *sigh* But wait! The first day of Fall doesn’t officially start until 1:44 PM on Sunday, September 22! Time to fire up the barbie and break out the rosé vino! I may be in […]
“Come quickly, the rains will arrive on Sunday,” explains Lidia with a sense of urgency in her voice. “We are harvesting the last olives and will complete the pressing in the next few days.” And so goes the rush of the olive harvest in late-Autumn all across Italy. After lovingly pruning the trees in late […]
3 Glasses. That’s the grand award bestowed upon some of Italy’s best wines, as judged by the tasting team at renowned Gambero Rosso. Welcome to the Tre Bicchieri 2013 award season It’s a difficult and meticulous process tasting over 20,000 Italian wines from thousands of producers, narrowing it down to just a handful (well, 399 […]
Ever wonder how to safely and legally bring home prized wines from your trip to Italy? It’s easy – if you know a few helpful tricks. Our vino road warrior and Sommelier Michael Horne shares his secrets. FULLY UPDATED FOR 2023 TRAVELERS Hmm… That’s a lot of wine “We’ve bought all this wine, how are […]
Welcome to our second episode of the Dall’Uva “Tasting Notes” Podcast! Today’s Podcast is the first in a 3-part series where Sommelier Michael Horne unlocks the secret to selecting good Vino Italiano, with an opinionated (but thoughtful) tour of the most popular Italian regional wines, from top to bottom along the Italian peninsula. Pour a […]
Here’s a quick review of a Chianti Classico worthy of your dinner table. I’ll post these short tasting notes as I run across interesting wines from time to time. Be sure to subscribe for the latest updates. — Michael Savignola Paolina Chianti Classico Riserva 2005 | $20 It was serendipity when I ran across this […]
Whatever you call them — biodynamic wines, natural wines, extreme wines – they’re being produced in growing numbers by progressive wine producers everywhere. Vino biodinamico and vino naturale is booming in Italy, and for good reason: Wine drinkers are increasingly interested in producers that use green methods of production. Don’t confuse today’s green wines with […]
Many of our fans love Italian travel, and we’re often asked for recommendations on wine-tasting venues, the best time of year to visit the wine-making regions, and which regional food & wine sagra and festa are the must-see Italian festivals. I’ve traveled to Bella Italia over a hundred times since I first visited this passionate […]
Welcome to our first episode of the Dall’Uva “Tasting Notes” Podcast! Michael kicks it off by demystifying Italian wine classifications, helping you understand where your wine budget is best spent when you’re shopping for your next bottle of Italy’s finest wines Pour yourself a glass of Vino Italiano, pull up an easy chair, and join […]
Here’s the go-to list of the best Italian wines for under $20, all winners of the prestigious Gambero Rosso 2012 Vini d’Italia 3 Bicchieri award.
UPDATED: Read my latest, updated article on selecting wines for Thanksgiving and other Holidays by clicking here. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and many of you have been asking for wine recommendations for this glorious, all-American feast. I tend to lean toward Italian wine selections for Thanksgiving, as they can be the perfect companion […]
Ciao! We’re getting the word out about Dall’Uva and our Wine Journal for lovers of Italian wine, food, culture and travel. Yes, I know, it’s shameless self-promotion — but I think that you and your friends will enjoy our entertaining and informative postings on Italian wines, and we’d love to have you follow us here […]
Summer is just around the corner, and if you’re like me you’ll be looking for an excuse (any will do) for a get-together with friends and family. Grilling steaks with the neighbors for the 4th of July? Having a clam bake or a fish fry for Labor Day? No matter what summer festivities you have […]
So you want to be a Sommelier? After 250 hours of training at the French Culinary Institute by Master Sommeliers Alan Murray and David Glancy, hundreds more hours fighting eye strain while studying the Sommelier’s wine bible Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia, and swishing 500+ wines across my palate from nearly every wine producing region on the […]
