Even after more than forty years as a winegrower, Stuart (Stu) Smith still finds his happiness in the vineyards. “There is just something to playing with a product in the dirt, and then having it at dinner,” he gushes Read More
An interview with winemaker Anne Hubatch of Helioterra Wines. The 2009 Helioterra Columbia Valley Syrah was awarded to Palate Press Readers' Choice Red Wine of the Year. Read More
An interview with winemaker Rebecca Shouldis, from Ghost Hill Cellars. The 2010 Ghost Hill Cellars Pinot Noir Blanc was awarded to Palate Press Readers' Choice White Wine of the Year. Read More
Oh, I’m sorry, now it is impossible to meet him, he is busy…” she said. Thus, I missed the only opportunity to met Giuseppe Quintarelli in person. I did not recognize in the humble worker the famous producer… and his too bashful to come forward and submit himself to a group of foreigners. Read More
At the third annual Palate Press Grand Tasting, last November, several reader-voted Palate Press Wines of the Week were included in a blind-tasting Palate Press Wine of the Year competition. The scoring was done by a group of wine professionals, and the winner was the 2007 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Read More
Valpolicella, the territory close Verona (Italy) where renowed wines like Amarone and Ripasso are produced, is a lucky land: it has a myth and a legend of wine world. The myth is Giuseppe Quintarelli. The legend is Romano Dal Forno. Read More
“Soave is like the color blue for clothes: a classic. You can pair it with almost everything.” An old winemaker told me this years ago, and I never forgot it. However, in spite of this belief, Soave wine was out of fashion for many years in America. In its place, consumers preferred Pinot Grigio. From the 1960s on, Pinot Grigio was considered synonymous with "Italian white wine." Easy to pronounce, easy to remember, easy to drink. But pinot grigio is not a true native Italian white grape. Its origins are French. And now, even if Pinot Grigio still leads the pack, our old friend Soave is making a comeback. Read More
Elisabetta “Lizzy” Tosi visits legendary Amarone winery Quintarelli, founded by octogenarian Giuseppe Quintarelli. There, wine is made the same way it has been since Giuseppe’s father moved to this land in 1924. And the Amarone wines are still released only after many years of ageing in the Quintarelli cellars. Read More