When you meet Elisa Venturi, within moments it will be 100% clear why she named her business Elisa Cuore (heart), Cucina (kitchen), and Chiacchiere (chat). Ten American women recently descended on Elisa’s home kitchen in Pesaro, Italy, for a cooking class. She was admittedly nervous. So were we! It was our first evening together as…
Category: Italy
Mt. Etna’s Benanti Winery: Va Bene!
Explore a brief history of Sicilian wine and the pioneering work of Dr. Giuseppe Benanti to produce wine made from outstanding white and red indigenous grapes.
A Conversation About Wine
This blog post was a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Originally written for April publication in an Italian magazine, other matters (understandably) took priority. In the spirit of better-late-than-never, please enjoy this conversation about Tuscany’s exceptional wines with Marco Molesini, co-owner of Cortona’s Enoteca Molesini. Brunello di Montalcino ● Chianti Classico ● Vernaccia…
Tuscan wines: the best of the best!
The results of Anteprime di Toscano 2020 are in!! Enjoy this summary of the “best of the best” from Tuscany’s fine wine regions.
Iconic Italian Wine Regions
A short guide to the top wines of Tuscany and Piedmont, plus help navigating Italian wine labels!
Barolo and Barbaresco
The “big B” wines of Piedmont — Barolo and Barbaresco — are among the world’s finest wines.
Tuscan Food and Wine Pairings
What to pair with the Sangiovese-based wines of Montalcino, Montepulciano (and don’t forget Chianti!).
Barbaresco vs. Barolo: What’s the Difference?
Learn how to compare similarities and differences between the Nebbiolo-based premium wines of Barolo and Barbaresco.
Italian Wine Labels
What’s actually in the bottle? Does the wine label tell you the place, the grape, or both? Demystify the various ways Italian wine labels explain the product within.
What Makes a Super Tuscan?
There were “Super Tuscans” even before the term was coined in the 1970s to explain and classify the blending of native with international varieties. Bolgheri is best known as home to Ornellaia (featured here), Sassicaia, and other big-name brands.