We recently tasted two beautiful reds: Hammeken Cellars Tosalet Carignan Vinyes Velles 2017, and Oráculo Tinto del Pais Tempranillo 2019. Their amazing bottle labels foreshadowed the stunning wines inside. This Spanish winery is an exporter of about 1.8 million cases each year to more than 37 countries. Overall, their goal is to create and commercialize modern, high-quality and luxurious Spanish wines. Read on for details.
Monthly Archives: December 2022
Tuscany of the North
Oltrepò Pavese is 25 miles south of Milan and frequently called Tuscany of the North. It is the largest wine-producing area of Lombardy and one of the largest in Italy. Consorzio Tutela Vini Oltrepò Pavese both promotes and protects this wine region. Thanks to Susannah Gold, founder of Vigneto Communications, for guiding us on the journey to learn more about these wines. As you can see in this photo of samples we received, the industry does not use a specific bottle size.
Avignonesi
If you love Sangiovese, you will want to know more about Avignonesi. Avignonesi is in the Montepulciano region of Tuscany, home to Italy’s first DOCG red wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Vino Nobile — the noble wine from Montepulciano — was one of Italy’s most esteemed wines for centuries. However, in recent years, interest has waned. But vineyards like Avignonesi are trying to restore the wine’s reputation, while working to build a more sustainable and safer environment for wine production in Italy.
Avignonesi is a member of the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which is dedicated to promoting the image of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano throughout Italy and the world. We recently tasted four small samples of Avignonesi Sangiovese, which are all available in the U.S. Read on for details.
Holiday Wines
Above all, make your season fabulous with stellar holiday wines. To help you out, 20 sparkling, rosé and white wines, plus 20 red wines, comprise our top 40 recommendations of wine for the holidays. Certainly, many of these holiday wines are special because of their high quality (and high price point). On the other hand, others are simply special good-value wines. Moreover, their prices range from an unbelievable $11 to $162. Most importantly, we suggest opening them during a quiet evening at home, pouring them for dinner guests, taking them to small holiday parties, or giving them as gifts. To sum up, read on for details. Continue reading