Piedmont (Piemonte) holds an unrivalled place among the world's finest wine regions. Located in northwestern Italy, it is home to more DOCG wines than any other Italian region, including such well-known and respected names as Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera d'Asti. Though famous for its Austere, Tannic, Floral">floral reds made from Nebbiolo, Piedmont's biggest success story in the past decade has been Moscato d'Asti, a Sweet, Sparkling white wine. Piedmont Lies, as its name suggests, at the foot of the Western Alps, which encircle its northern and western sides and form its naturally formidable border with Provence, France.
To the southeast are the Apennines, the most northerly. These low coastal hills separate Piedmont from its Long, thin neighbour, Liguria, and from the Mediterranean beyond. The Alps and the Apennines are important here in many ways. They are largely responsible for the region's favourable climate and for many centuries they provided a degree of protection against invasion.
A very old vine cultivated in the northwest of Italy, in Piedmont to be precise (provinces of Asti and Allessandria). For a long time it was confused with a large number of other Italian grape varieties, which explains why the latter still bear the synonym "brachetto". It is said to be related to the Muscat à petits grains blancs, to be continued! Note that Brachet, known in the Nice region (Alpes maritimes), is not related to Brachetto. Brachetto can be found in Argentina, Italy, etc. It is virtually unknown in France.
Since February 24th 2022 the world has quickly learned a great deal more about Europe’s second-largest country, Ukraine. Most notably will be our profound admiration for the Ukrainians’ continued resistance to the invading Russian Army. This is but one item on a long list that includes such things as Ukraine being one of the world’s top exporters of wheat, barley and sunflower seeds. However, many people are also now learning that Ukraine not only has a thriving winemaking sect ...
The De Marchi family established the 56ha estate back in 1956, and it is now firmly established as one of the region’s leading producers. Isole e Olena played a key role in reviving the quality of Chianti in the 1970s, and its flagship wine – Cepparello, a barrique-aged Sangiovese from old vines – is regarded as one of the original Super Tuscans. A Piedmont lawyer called Francesco De Marchi founded the business, but his visionary son – Paulo De Marchi – has driven its rise to prominence. He is r ...
On 28 October 2022, the second edition of Barolo en primeur will take place. A collaboration between the Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo Foundation, CRC Donare Foundation, and the Consorzio di tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani, it’s an auction of unique Barolo wines with social responsibility at it’s heart, aiding local not-for-profit organisations and charities, as well as those further afield. As with last year’s auction, 14 barriques will be auctioned by Christie’s simul ...
