Category Archives: adventures in wine

An Invite to Write about the Wines of Lombardy plus a visit to Valtellina, sightseeing at Sirmione, and Avansi Lugana di Sirmione DOC #ItalianFWT

Late September Sirmione at sunset on a drizzly day in Lombardy, Italy during WMC 2022; the remains of a Roman Villa built 2000 years ago: the so-called Grottoes of Catullus, the biggest villa in northern Italy and the town are a must visit should you go to Lombardy.

Lugana, Franciacorta, Oltrepo’ Pavese, Valtellina, Lambrusco, Chiaretto– these are just a few of the many wines from Lombardy, located in the northern part of Italy, and home to Milan, the second largest city in Italy after Rome. Archaeological research shows fossilized records from the third millennium which indicate ancient tribes cultivated grapes there. Bronze Age fossils from the region show Vinifera, the Latin name for the family of grapes we make wine with today.  

In Lombardy, home to numerous castles like Sirmione’s Rocca Scaliger Castle and 90 UNESCO cultural sites, grapes grow in steep hillsides in the Alps in Valtellina, around the glacier lakes, and in the hills. On fertile flat plains along the Po, rice abounds. 

Located between Piedmonte to the the west, Trento to the east, and Veneto to the southeast, Lombardy has several key appellations you should get to know like Valtellina’s Nebbiolo.

Valtellina’s Nebbiolo  during harvest early October 2022; one side of the valley is in complete shade for months of the year!

In December, I’m hosting the Italian FWT group who will introduce you to a few of them! This year, we’ve worked our way up from Sicily and for the final month of the year, we’re in Lombardy! You’re invited to join us on our journey with an article of your own– Continue reading →

An Intro to Mexico’s Wine, Dia de Los Muertos in Ensenada at OIV, and a toast to the ancestors with Mezcal from Hedonistas de la Fe

Santo Tomas ofrenda

Did you know that grape growing and wine making in Mexico has a 400 year long history? While I visited the Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California a few times over 20 years ago, I really knew very little until I went to Baja last year to attend the 43° World Congress of Vine and Wine (OIV). The event coincided with Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, typically held today Nov. 1 but also on Nov 2 and on into the weekend. Continue reading →

Not Just Malbec: Argentina’s Trapiche Cab Blend and Syrah Paired with Burgers 2 Ways #WorldWineTravel

2 Trapiche Wines

When you think Malbec, you likely think Argentina. And when you think Argentina, you think Malbec. After all, Malbec is the flagship wine of Argentina, and the Malbec of Argentina is a shining example of what this grape can do in the new world. But there’s more to the wines of Argentina Continue reading →

Celebrating Women in Wine on Champagne Day with Champagne Tarlant “Zero” Brut Nature

Champagne Tarlant “Zero” Brut Nature

Today, Friday October 27, marks the 14th annual global Champagne Day with events around the world in person (Champagne Day website listing events here) and on social media with the hashtag #ChampagneDay– and you’re invited! 

Many consider Champagne the ultimate sparking wine for celebrations, and with harvest pretty much over in the northern hemisphere, there’s plenty to toast! We’d like to raise a glass of Champagne Tarlant “Zero” Brut Nature to honor the women of wine — in Champagne and elsewhere– and recognize Continue reading →

For Carignan Day, Consider Domaine Bomary “Absolutely” Carignan and Tian, a Provençal Vegan Casserole

Domaine Bomary “Absolutely” Carignan and Tian

If you, like me, like to carry-on with Carignan, for Carignan Day held on the final Thursday of October, consider Domaine Bomary “Absolutely” Carignan! paired with a tomato Tian for a vegetarian celebration! Not familiar with this ancient grape? You may know the Spanish version, Carinena, best known from Aragon where the grape likely originated. And you may be surprised to find out that not long ago it was the most planted grape in California, and in 1988, the most planted grape in France! But with its prolific nature, it was popular: when it’s hot and happy, it can produce grapes like crazy.

It’s a rare wine to find these days on its own in California but Carignan has its fans.  Ridge’s David Gates says “It’s the Continue reading →

$20 Merlot from Bordeaux: 2015 Château Bardoulet Saint-Émilion Grand Cru paired with beef stew stuffed squash #winophiles

2015 Château Bardoulet Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is 85% merlot

In Rex Pickett’s book Sideways, the wine that Miles is saving for a special occasion is Château Petrus Pomerol, a rare and expensive Bordeaux made with Merlot– a grape that he dismisses and downplays in both the movie and the book while elevating thin skinned Pinot Noir, a grape which metaphorically represents him. The book explains his disdain more clearly than in the movie: Merlot is the favorite wine of his ex, and the Petrus was a bottle they were saving together for an occasion that never occurred. Feeling rejected himself, he rejects her via her favored wine, and when he finds out she’s not only happily married but pregnant, he finally opens the bottle at a fast food restaurant and drinks it out of a paper cup. When Sideways producers weren’t allowed to use Petrus, they went with Château Cheval Blanc, also a Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend.

Most people miss these points, just as many people miss that a lot of Bordeaux wine is made from Merlot–and can be had for $20 or less! Continue reading →

Romania Beats Netherlands 108-107 in RVF’s 2023 World Tasting Championship; Team USA 9, 10 or 25?

“We have rarely seen such a close final, except for one point!” reports Philippe De Cantenac, founder of the RVF World Tasting Championship aka Championnat du monde de dégustation which was held today, Saturday October 14 at Château Sainte Roseline in Provence. As a competing member of Team USA in 2019, I was curious to see who won and what the wines were. Continue reading →