Exploring Italian Wine One Grape at a Time
In June, I returned to Puglia after a year to see friends, explore the current wine scene, and taste the latest vintages of wines from the southern Italian regions. I started in San Severo, where I visited my friends at D’Araprì winery, whom I had not visited for some years. I got to spend some … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. We are in the midst of the Christmas holidays. Wednesday was Christmas Eve, the most important day in Sweden; yesterday was the 25th, which is celebrated in many other countries, and today is the Feast of Saint Stephen. I have always loved Christmas, and I still do. … Read more
Valle d’Itria is a historical viticultural area in Puglia that has been revitalised in recent years thanks to the work of local vintners and wineries. This has also brought attention to local native grapes such as Bianco d’Alessano, Minutolo, Verdeca, and Maruggiu (or Maresco). These are the grapes used as a blend in the Locorotondo … Read more
The Daunia area in Northern Puglia, from around Barletta to Castel del Monte and the Gargano, is the land of Nero di Troia. This is a grape that has had an important development during the last 20-30 years in Puglia. It was historically mainly used in blends but has since the early 2000s become a … Read more
Discover more about Beniamino, Alberto D’Agostino, and Botromagno Winery Botromagno winery is situated in Gravina in the Murgie area in Puglia. The Murgie area is actually the only part of Puglia with rolling hills at an altitude of 400 to 600 meters above sea level. Gravina is a small town with a long history to … Read more
The Tuccanese grape from Puglia has been on my mind for quite some time, and as you know by now I am a sucker for lesser-known and somewhat obscure grapes and wines. When the topic in the Italian Food, Wine, and Travel group was decided to be about Sangiovese Wines Around Italy…I just knew I … Read more
Puglia and Radici del Sud was one of my first destinations for wine in southern Italy earlier in the summer when things started to open up again, allowing for events to be organized. This was my fourth Radici del Sud event, and I also had a small hand in the selection of some of the … Read more
Wine is all about friendship, online as well as in real life. When my friend Gina Martino Zarcadoolas won the blog competition for American wine writers organized by the consortium of Salice Salentino, she told me she would get the award in Lecce at the Rosexpo. I told her I would come down so we … Read more
Puglia is THE place to be every year in early June! Well, not only in June but all year round. LOL Why you might wonder? Because it is the time of year when Radici del sud takes place. This year I am back at Radici del Sud and even appearing a bit behind the scenes. … Read more
Easter is all around us. It has been some very busy months lately with a lot of traveling for wine and my article writing has been suffering. I apologize for that. I have so much to tell you, and I cannot wait to get a bit of calm to sit down and write about it. … Read more