The 2012 Pizzolato Moscato Dolce (sweet) is sourced from organic Estate vineyards near the town of Treviso in the Veneto region of Italy, not far from the area that produces the Glera grape used in Prosecco. This Sparkling wine uses indigenous yeasts to induce fermentation, thats the yeast that is floating in the air and…
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The 2009 Mazzoni Toscana Rosso is a Super Tuscan blend of 72% Sangiovese and 28% Merlot grown on the Francechi Estate in the Brunello region of Montalcino in Tuscany, Italy. The Brunello region is the prime growing region for the Sangiovese grape and Brunello’s are among the best of Italian wines. Super Tuscan wines came…
Read MoreThe 2010 Frescobaldi Remole Toscana is a blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from several vineyards of Tuscany in Central Italy. Frescobaldi is a family owned winery that has been operating for 700 years and 30 generations. This is a Super Tuscan wine, which is Sangiovese blended with French varietal grapes. Super…
Read MoreWhen I saw this wine for $8.99 at Evolution Wines & Spirits, I had to try it – the blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Corvina was too intriguing to pass up. I enjoy Merlot because it is typically a soft easy going wine, and my familiarity with Corvina was from a brief love affair…
Read MoreThe 2009 Masseria Altemura Sasseo Primitivo is sourced from Estate vineyards located in the Salento district of Puglia in the bootheel of Italy. The vineyards are located near the cooling breezes of the Mediterranean and grapes have been grown in this area from before Roman times. Masseria Altemura has been part of Zonin’s family of…
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The 2010 Rocca di Montemassi Lefocie Sangiovese is sourced from Estate vineyards located in the Maremma district of southern Tuscany. This is a young wine and is aged in 1,500 gallon French oak barrels for a few months to mature. In the past, some Sangiovese and Chianti were aged in oak barrels for so long…
Read MoreThe Carpene Malvolti Prosecco DOCG Extra Dry is produced from Prosecco/Glera grapes grown in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG (DOCG is the highest classification of Italian wines) inside the Veneto District in eastern Italy. Carpene Malvolti has been producing Prosecco since 1868 and they perfected the Charmat Method (second fermentation occurs in large pressurized vats, whereas…
Read MoreThis 100% Pinot Noir out of Piedmont, Italy- yes, Italy – is an absolute steal for $9.99 at Evolution Wines and Spirits. Pinot Noir is not a typical grape for Italy or its “foot of the mountain” Piedmont region. However, this region shares a border with Burgundy, and the similar continental climate of Piedmont suggests…
Read MoreThis is a very smooth, medium bodied, and traditional Tuscan wine. I say traditional because Chianti Classico falls within the original Chianti designation they drew up back in the 1700s. This small sub-region of Chianti has more restrictive wine laws and more traditional winemaking practices than the rest of Chianti. Il Tarocco bears the black…
Read MoreThe wine gets its name Neprica from the estate grapes blended together to make it – 40% Negroamaro, 30% Primitivo, and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Negroamaro is an Italian grape native to Puglia, which is at the heel of the boot. You likely know Primitivo by its more popular name, Zinfandel – though it is often…
Read MoreI have been on an Italian wine kick recently, and Trader Joe’s has a fantasic selection of good but inexpensive wines. In my latest haul, I picked up a 2007 Arcante for $14.99 – I’d been looking for a balanced Super Tuscan, so I was pleased to have found this wine. Super Tuscans are wines…
Read MoreThe Mionetto Prosecco Brut D.O.C is a non-vintage (they blend wine from different vintages together to get a more consistent flavor profile) Sparkling wine made from Glera grapes grown in near the town of Treviso in the Prosecco DOC of Italy. The Glera grape used to be known as the Prosecco grape, but since the…
Read MoreA last taste of summer… As the seasons change, and summer’s fleeting promise falls away in the rearview mirror, here is a chance to allow our gaze to linger a bit on Summer’s retreating form. It’s color evokes the soft, red glow of sunsets viewed from over the top of the grill. Light, soothing and…
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