come and see us in Sydney
18/04/12 21:13
We’re heading back to Australia in a couple of weeks and holding some great “Taste of Piemonte” events so head along and see why here in Piemonte we are in food and wine heaven! Check out the delicious menu!
Taste of Piemonte dinner
Taste of Piemonte dinner
The mighty Barolo rests for the winter
30/01/12 13:59
Winter has finally hit here in Barolo! After a very mild December and January with nothing but blue skies and very mild temperatures everyone was beginning to think that nature had forgotten winter. But Saturday it arrived! A huge snow storm brought half a metre of snow and now all the vines are resting under a gentle blanket of snow. For the vines this is great news, it finally gives them the moisture that they need as well as a sign that they can turn off, rest for awhile and build strength for the busy Spring ahead. So whilst it means fun in the snow for us, for the vines its a well deserved rest
Cascina Saria- a wine tasting with the family!
17/11/11 09:26
Wine tasting here in Piemonte is more often than not a very intimate affair. Nothing like the huge wineries in other parts of the world where you fight to get a place at the bar for a tasting , talk to someone who is not directly involved with the wine making process and then pay for the “pleasure’. No here in Piemonte it is as far away from this scenario that you could imagine! And yesterday we had a great tasting at Cascina Saria that was like many other tastings here a family affair. Greeted by Maura, her brother and wine maker and of course their father, we had a great chat and then went to their tasting room with the most amazing views over the famed Barbaresco region to get down to business!. Starting with their very light but fruity Dolcetto moving through to their 2 very different Barbera d’Asti’s. Firstly the unwooded Convento which presented a lovely bouquet of fruit without being overpowered by too much acidity then moving on to the San Lorenzo, 12 months in barrique, a lovely complex nose with aniseed and menthol hints and fruity, spicy palate. Finally we arrived at the famed Barbaresco. It’s alway a great thing when you can line a series of vintages to taste together to compare and understand the climatic effect on the wine. We moved through from the 2006 with it’s complex spicy nose but persistent tannins through to the remarkably ready to drink 2008 which presented with softer tannins, a less complex bouquet compared to the 2006 but still an amazing mix of fruits and spice. After a couple of very pleasant hours chatting, tasting wine and munching on the odd piece of pecorino and parmigiano it was time to head off home, light the fire and roast some chestnuts……of course accompanied by a great Saria Barbaresco!
Barbera Degustation
16/11/11 09:41
On a very wet Autumn day my wine buddy Darryl Baldwin (author of the great wine blog www.piemontemio.com) and I decided it was perfect weather for wine tasting. So we headed to Costigliole d’Asti for the annual Barbera degustation. The cantina communal was hosting the tasting, 8 euros enabled us to try over 100 Barbera’s both Asti and Alba style. Ranging from those made only in stainless steel to the big woody Barberas there was lots to choose from. We started out quite ambitiously thinking that we could alternate” you take the odds, I’ll take the evens” we agreed. Starting in the less complex area of the unwooded Barberas we found ourselves progressing quickly and not being totally “blown away”. A few stand outs and some to come back and try at another time but really the serious tasting started as we moved to the more complex Barberas. Whilst there were the classic standouts La Spinetta, Roberto Voerzio, Marchesi Alfieri and Enzo Boglietti there were also some great new discoveries such as La Gironda Le Nicche and Raineri from Farigliano. Whilst some in the party went on to taste a few of the grappas I chose to leave the Barbera taste lingering in my mouth long enough to get home and crack another bottle!
English aristocracy here in Italy..that's Gavi!
16/11/11 09:31
Heading to the Gavi region here in Piemonte is about as close as you'll get to english gentry here in the "bel Paese!" Whilst Gavi is officially in Piemonte it is in fact closely aligned with Genova and was and continues to be a place where the Genovese aristocrats had their country manors. So a short drive from Genova inland to the rolling hill of Gavi you come across vine filled hillsides dotted with lovely, HUGE country houses.
We headed to Broglia as I had heard that the Gavi from this producer was very good and it had recently been featured high in the Wine Spectator. Greeted in the "drawing room" of this stately manor we observed photographs of the owners hunting collection as we waited to be met by the current owner Dr Gian Piero Broglia. Dressed in his hunting cloths of tweeds and corduroy he seemed more english than Italian...until he spoke of course. yes hunting was a passion up there with his wine he told us. He went on to give us a detailed and incredibly interesting history of the area and explaining the close association to the Genvoese and thus the development of a wine that suited the Mediterranean diet of seafood instead of the hearty meat dishes of Piemonte. We went on to taste the range of wines from the the sparkling spumante to the Gavi Bruno Broglia made from vines planted in 1953. We were incredibly impressed by the freshness and palate of these wines and happily discussed heading back to the winery again on our tours as well as collaborating by importing some of the wines into Oz with Experienceit wines. As we made our way to lunch in our rear vision micro we saw Dr Gian Piero driving off to his lunch appointment..in what car??...A range rover of course!
We headed to Broglia as I had heard that the Gavi from this producer was very good and it had recently been featured high in the Wine Spectator. Greeted in the "drawing room" of this stately manor we observed photographs of the owners hunting collection as we waited to be met by the current owner Dr Gian Piero Broglia. Dressed in his hunting cloths of tweeds and corduroy he seemed more english than Italian...until he spoke of course. yes hunting was a passion up there with his wine he told us. He went on to give us a detailed and incredibly interesting history of the area and explaining the close association to the Genvoese and thus the development of a wine that suited the Mediterranean diet of seafood instead of the hearty meat dishes of Piemonte. We went on to taste the range of wines from the the sparkling spumante to the Gavi Bruno Broglia made from vines planted in 1953. We were incredibly impressed by the freshness and palate of these wines and happily discussed heading back to the winery again on our tours as well as collaborating by importing some of the wines into Oz with Experienceit wines. As we made our way to lunch in our rear vision micro we saw Dr Gian Piero driving off to his lunch appointment..in what car??...A range rover of course!
