A Wider Look at the Wine Industry
In The Vineyards With…
Natural Wine Fairs in Italy 2026 (Jan-Jun)
I was reading Aaron Ayscough’s round-up of natural wine fairs when I realised that there were many natural wine fairs in Italy which weren’t getting through to him. Given how many fairs there are in France that he has to keep the pulse of, it can’t be easy. So, with his blessing, I decided to…
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Preparing for Vinitaly 2025 and the natural wine fairs
As Vinitaly approaches, with the influx of 30,000 foreign buyers in Verona, preparation is key. Strategies include avoiding crowded venues, considering alternate accommodations outside the city, and attending natural wine fairs like VinNatur and Vini Veri. Traffic issues may arise, so anticipate challenges when navigating the city. New developments for 2025 include changes in fair…
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The Moment When This Wine Girl Met That Wine Girl
This past weekend I was in NYC for the first VinNatur fair outside Europe. I had pretty much single-handedly organised the event (everything from signing up the exhibitors, finding the venue, shipping the samples, renting spittoons, to promoting the event locally…) all from the “comfort” of my computer in Europe, 6 hours behind. It was…
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When it comes to mouse, you can’t call a cat a cat.
“Still only half the room raised their hand to say that they tasted mouse. Half?! And let me tell you, this was a mouse bomb!”
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Why opt for organic winemakers?
Let’s go for a walk though the vineyard. It’s something I do every day. As you may know, I married into the La Biancara family. The house where we live backs onto the vineyard that becomes the Sassaia wine. These vineyards are farmed organically (and are certified as such) and we make wine only with grapes…
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“To Fall In Love, Drink This” by Alice Feiring
At this time of year, I see people in literary circles writing a round up of the most enjoyable books they’ve read over the past 12 months. I always prefer those to the similar articles that are published a month or so earlier, but which largely serve the purpose of a holiday gift guide. No,…
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A Drop Of Italian History
The article recounts an extraordinary tasting event in Italy, dedicated to three interlinked natural winemakers – Josko Gravner, Angiolino Maule, and Daniele Piccinin. Each winemaker shared their professional journey, how they benefitted from each other’s philosophies and techniques, and the challenges they faced personally and professionally. The event, hosted by Alberto Mori at Al Callianino,…
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Does Natural Wine Need Protection?
A debate hosted at restaurant Noma in Copenhagen, organized by non-profit organization MAD, focused on the necessity of protection for natural wines. Key speakers argued that natural wines need certification, a universally-accepted definition, and protection. They emphasized that such measures aren’t for winemakers, but for consumers who may struggle with the ambiguity surrounding what constitutes…
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In The Vineyards With…
6 Italian red wines to try if you like the French glou-glou style
Andrew prefers French red wines due to their lightness compared to the tannic nature of many Italian wines. Tannins, derived from grape components and winemaking processes, can create a drying feeling in the mouth. The wine writer Emma Bentley highlights several lighter Italian reds that defy the stereotype of being overly tannic, including Oliviero Pastoris,…
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Daniele Favaro 20.20 vino bianco
I sometimes wonder what my cleaning lady thinks of me and then I realise I might inadvertently be holding onto some minor trauma. You see, many many years ago, when I was starting my career in Paris, I rented a room from another business school student called Géraldine, who was going to spend the semester…
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Jean-Pierre Frick’s Auxerrois “Pur Vin” 2018
We visited Jean-Pierre in Pfaffenheim during a trip to Alsace in the summer of 2021. You may well know that the 2021 was a washout for most of the region, with yields decimated because of mildiou. Not only that, but our visit came only days after JP’s son Thomas decided to split from the family business…
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Not Your Average “10 Wines for Christmas”
With Christmas just a week away, the author shares wine suggestions for various festive occasions. From breakfast bubbles to turkey and goose pairings, they offer options for different palates and budgets. They also recommend sweet wines for Christmas pudding and share personal experiences with specific vintages. Overall, it’s a comprehensive guide for holiday wine choices.
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Rocca Rondinaria Monferrato Bianco DOC “Gagá” 2020
Most people associate Piedmont with red wines, but the timorasso grape also pair well with earthy flavors. Timorasso is experiencing a resurgence, thanks to big-name Barolo wineries investing in the Colli Tortonesi region. While its numbers may seem impressive, it’s still a small fraction compared to other white wines in northern Italy. Nevertheless, there is…
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