"These are my girls," smiles Susanna, stroking the belly of one of them with great kindness and affection. “She” replies with a quick, happy gurgle. Susanna Crociani. Photo: Max Cocchetti Susanna's Girls live all together, in a not-very-large room; on tiptoe, a feeble beam of light slips inside, careful not to
The color is very pretty and bright, ruby with a fizz of bubbles. The nose is rose petals and sweet strawberries. This is definitely a sweet sparkler, a fizzy blend of raspberry and strawberry sherbert, with a little rosewater making a floral appearance on the mid-palate. There is a surprising
The months toward the end of winter and beginning of spring are Amarone della Valpolicella time. In this period, in fact, two important events are hosted in Verona, Italy -- two different series of tastings of this renowned Italian red wine. “Amarone in Villa” (“Amarone in the Manor”) is organized
After I realized that this was a screwcap that looked like a metal capsule covering a cork, I twisted off the cap and found that this Alois Legeder wine is much more than clever marketing for the bottle. When the wine is cold it has delicate aromas: florals, minerals, chalk,
Roses and cedar aromas, nice mouth-filling classic Chianti flavors on palate. Fruity but balanced. Nicely integrated tannins with fruit in a moderate finish. Drink with plain grilled meat. Recommended. BSE WHO: Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi Castello di Nippozzano WHAT: Sangiovese WHERE: Chianti, Tuscany, Italy WHEN: 2008 HOW MUCH: around $20 (media
For Mormoretto’s 25th anniversary, the Frescobaldi family has created a vivid super-Tuscan style blend. Beginning with violets, tobacco and wild herbs in the aroma. On the palate, nice targeted tannins are curled around the blended flavors of fruit and leather. This wine is just beginning to come into its own,
by Becky Sue Epstein Cherry and orange aromas, toasted sugar on palate, along with bright fruit, and a big, longish finish. Pair with plain meat, poultry and other light dishes. Recommended. WHO: Angelini WHAT: Sangiovese WHERE: Colli Pesaresi, Marche, Italy WHEN: 2007 HOW MUCH: around $22 (media sample)
Sangiovese, barbera, primitivo…the classic Italian grape varieties most cultivated across Italy. But grown in Sonoma, California? They are and have been dating back to the late 1800’s and thriving today. The arrival of Italian grape varieties in Sonoma can be traced to 1881 and the founding of the Italian Swiss