The unique climates of Sicily and Sardinia make for wines that are quite unlike those from mainland Italy. Paul Pettengale samples a selection of Italian Island white wines… My first experience of a white wine from one of the Italian islands was while sat (really) on the dock of a bay with my wife (then girlfriend) […]
The red wines of Tuscany are many and varied – it’s not all about the Big Three. Paul Pettengale explores deeper into the region and picks some gems from off the beaten track… Although Tuscany is as well-known for its wines as for its rolling landscape and incredible sunlight, it’s actually a relatively small producer […]
SOAVE When the Soave zone was mapped out in 1927 it was a slim strip between Soave and Monteforte d’Alene. This is old volcanic land, with mineral-rich but poor soil, perfect to challenge vines and produce nuanced grapes, and an aromatically full Soave. The area is now known as the Soave Classico zone, because in […]
If not the most famous, Barolo is the most venerated Italian red wine, with prices to match. Hannah Bellis explores the bottles that deserve their kingly reputation Like many of us, I suspect, I discovered the unique pleasures of Barolo late in the course of my wine-drinking. This is due to the sheer […]
Italian red wine: Dolcetto D’Alba Hannah Bellis goes beyond the famous and expensive Barolo and Barbaresco wines to discover Dolcetto, a great value, easy drinking red wine from Piedmont Piedmont was the first region I visited when I was old enough to appreciate wine. I was still too young to afford the legendary Barolos of […]
Italian white wine production is dominated by the north, and the northeast in particular. But what else is on offer? Paul Pettengale heads south and to Italy’s islands… Are you bored of Pinot Grigio yet? No, we’re not either, but it does become somewhat tiresome when – if you like your Italian white wines – […]
It is often mistaken for being from Abruzzo, but this lesser-known Italian red wine from a village in Tuscany is an absolute gem, as Paul Pettengale discovers… Tuscany is, as any wine lover will attest, one of the most important of Italy’s wine-producing zones, especially when it comes to the reds. The various Chianti wines […]
Known for its majestic red wines, Piedmont is often overlooked when it comes to Italian white wines. But why? Paul Pettengale introduces you to the surprise hit of Gavi… The people of Piedmont are fiercely passionate about their region. And with good reason. Even though the north western area is cooler than the country?s southern […]
Although it?s been around for a little more than 150 years, Brunello is a famous and expensive Italian wine. Paul Pettengale discovers why? Here ou?ll read about some of the best Italian wines, but no doubt the first thing you?ll clock will be the prices. These are not typos. The sad fact is, if you?re […]
From supermarket dross to the go-to white in the wine bars, how did Pinot Grigio?s transformation come about? Paul Pettengale explains that it?s all about quality… Though it?s rather hard to believe it, it wasn?t that long ago when any wine with Pinot Grigio on the label would be parked firmly at the bottom of […]