Women’s Day cocktail

Prosecco and fruit juice

This is Mario Matassa’s variation on the classic Mimosa cocktail (champagne and orange juice), though of course we are using prosecco instead of champagne… Serves 4-6 Preparation time 5 minutes Ingredients: • ½ a bottle of Prosecco • 500ml apricot juice • 250ml freshly squeezed orange juice Instructions: 1 Mix the apricot and orange juices together in […]

Super Tuscany

Sassicaia barrels tenuta san guido, Maremma, Tuscany

Tuscany’s Alta Maremma – once a malaria-infested swamp – has become a mecca for hedonists the world over. Anna Blomefield finds out why… Photos by Anna Blomefield unless otherwise stated   I’m leafing back through my wine-tasting notes. “Perfumed, black fruits, baked, liquorice. Great length… amazing!” The page is stained with purple drips. I remember this […]

Drink Italia! Prosecco

Drinking prosecco

The past few years have seen Prosecco become the go-to party fizz, but don’t let the lighthearted bubbles fool you: premium Prosecco is in a class of its own. We take a look… Glera, the Prosecco grape variety, has been grown in the area north of Treviso for hundreds of years, in particular around Conegliano […]

Drink Italia! Nebbiolo wines

Barolo vineyard Piedmont italy

We celebrate the sophistication of northern Italy’s splendid Nebbiolo grape, from world-renowned Barolo to the more accessible and wallet-friendly Nebbiolo wines of the region   The Nebbiolo grape is a versatile one, of that there can be no doubt – from the majestic and powerful Barolo and Barbaresco wines of southern Piedmont to the elegant, […]

Drink Italia! The best wines for Christmas

Wine at Christmas

Here’s our round up of really special Italian drinks to take you through the rest of the festive season and all its celebrations! Information correct at time of publishing. Please check for current availability and prices   A well-chosen drinks menu is essential for an exceptional Christmas celebration, so we asked our experts to suggest fine […]

Time to sparkle

Mionetto

Mionetto. More than just a Prosecco. Here we explain why… In the heart of the Veneto Valley, where Prosecco originated, is Valdobbiadene, the home of premium Prosecco brand Mionetto. Founded in 1887 by master winemaker Francesco Mionetto, Mionetto Prosecco is still produced on the original site. The company tells a story of heritage and authenticity, […]

Drink Italia! Montepulciano d’Abruzzo reds

Abruzzo is perhaps an overlooked region, and the same could be said (unfairly) about its wines. We see what the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grape has to offer The standing of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wines has become more significant on the international stage over the past decade, but they are still seriously underrated outside Italy. It is a […]

Drink Italia! White Wines of Tuscany

White wine

Though famous for its fine red wines, from Chianti to the Super Tuscans, this region also produces excellent but lesser-known white wines. We take a look… Tuscany is famous for so many reasons. It’s the region that boasts Florence as its capital; its verdant, rolling hills have inspired painters and poets alike; and its culinary […]

Fizz in Franciacorta

Franciacorta vineyards Italy

Sarah Rodrigues has a sparkling time on the southern shores of Lake Iseo, where they produce champagne-method wines to rival the best… Images by Sarah Rodrigues unless otherwise stated   “Why wasn’t I born the daughter of an Italian winemaker?” This green-tinged thought ripples through my mind as I stand in the cavernous space below […]

Drink Italia: red wines of the islands

italian red wine

Italy’s two largest islands produce sumptuous red wines of great quality and international renown, with prices to suit any budget. Our experts have chosen six examples to try… Sardinia and Sicily have a proud and long-lived history of wine production, dating from colonisation by the Greeks, whose presence dominated the islands from around 800 to […]