Category: Wine News

Great Italian Wines [Master Class] Understanding Indigenous Grape Varieties – Montepulciano & Aglianico

I attended the online Masterclass Series “Great Italian Wines – Understanding Indigenous Grape Varieties” –  Montepulciano & Aglianico on Thursday, April 15th,  Part 3 in the series, and here is what I found out.

Montepulciano
Vines in Montepulciano have been cultivated since the late 1700s. Currently, Montepulciano is the second most widely planted varietal in Italy, just after Sangiovese, and is planted mainly in central Italy, predominantly in Abruzzo, as well as the regions of Marche, Molise. and Puglia.

The most famous Montepulciano wines come from Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC. It is a high-yielding grape that thrives in the area of Abruzzo. Winemaking traditions in Abruzzo date back to the 6th century BC. Montepulciano is produced in each of Abruzzo’s provinces – L’Aquila (Capital), Chieti, Pescara, and Teramo – and over half of the 32,000 hectares of vines are planted to this varietal. This variety has a blue-purple skin colour; is late-ripening and thick-skinned yet produces wines with softer tannins and lower acidity.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo was designated a DOC in 1968 and requires at least 85% of the wine to be made with Montepulciano varietal and no more than 15% of Sangiovese.

Important to note – This is Montepulciano “The Indigenous Variety” NOT Vino Nobile di Montepulciano MONTEPULCIANO

Aglianico
Aglianico is considered to be the “Barolo of the South”, with the finest examples found in Basilicata and Campania. Basilicata is a region located in the instep of the “boot of Italy” which borders Campania, Puglia, and Calabria between the Adriatic, Ionian and Tyrrhenian coasts.

Aglianico del Vulture DOC was established in 1971; 2,400 hectares are cultivated on volcanic soils from Mount Vulture.  Aglianico is the only permitted grape within this DOC. The best examples of Aglianico del Vulture DOC wines are grown between 350 to 500 metres above sea level.

The Aglianico varietal has a dark blue-black colour and is thick-skinned; is a late-ripening variety that can be harvested into November and is also low-yielding. This varietal also requires abundant sunshine and dry weather; thrives on steep slopes, high altitudes, and volcanic soils. These wines tend to be full-bodied, have good structure, firm tannins, and are age-worthy.

Wines Tasted

Torre Dei Beati Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2018
Varietal: 100% Montepulciano (organic)

Deep, violet-ruby red in colour; elegant nose with complex blackberry fruit, hints of spice and mint; on the palate ripe red berries and earthy notes; well-structured with refined tannins through to a long finish. This is an elegant interpretation of Montepulciano.
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Score: 90 points

Grifalco Aglianico Del Vulture 2018
Varietal: 100% Aglianico

Ruby red in colour; the nose is generous and elegant; fresh and preserved red berries, enriched with balsamic note and mineral notes; the palate is bold and full-bodied with lovely red and black cherry and earthy flavours; structured tannins; good acidity lengthens the deep defined finish.
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Score: 91 points

@italchambers @trueitaliantaste @cavinonawine #trueitaliantaste #extraordinaryitaliantaste #iffoodcouldtalk #indigenousgrapevarieties #greatitalianwines #aglianico #BarolooftheSouth #Montepulciano #winetasting #instawine #winelovers #Italianwinelovers

Nebbiolo, a milestone for exploring the magnificent wines of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero wine destinations [Part 1] – Filippo Magnani

Nebbiolo Prima 2021 is an important tasting that embraces the wine areas of Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero, the champions of Piedmont. Considering this particular period, I have been very fortunate to participate in the 25th edition, by Albeisa, end of March.

Albeisa, Unione Produttori Vini Albesi, is a consortium, founded to promote the great wines of the Alba area to the world. The history of this consortium is linked in a twofold way to the same-named and unmistakable Albeisa bottle. For Nebbiolo Prima this year, they have majestically organized a limited tasting, setting restricted policies to be able us to review the wines in total security.

Four days of intensive work, all dedicated to one of the protagonists of the Italian wine scene and a milestone to discover Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero territories: Nebbiolo grape, the noble of Italian native grape varieties. The name Nebbiolo derives from the Italian word “Nebbia” which translates to fog or mist. A challenging and sensitive grape that, in the right hillside spot (south-facing), expresses itself in a unique and beautiful complexity. It prefers rich calcareous tufa-based soil – such as the ones in Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero.

At the tasting, all the Nebbiolos were presented blind, in five glasses at a time. We reviewed 336 wine of different denominations: DOCG Roero 2018 and Riserva 2017, DOCG Barbaresco 2018 and Riserva 2016, DOCG Barolo 2017 and Riserva 2015.

Tasting report of Nebbiolo Prima 2021 

Roero
Roero is that section of land located to the north of Alba town, in the province of Cuneo, on the left bank of the river Tanaro, between the plain of Carmagnola and the low hills of Asti.

Wine denomination DOCG

(controlled and guaranteed designation of origin)

Grape Minimum aging Released on the market 
Roero Docg95% Nebbiolo

5% other

non-aromatic red grape

20 months, of which 6 in woodfrom the 1st July  of second year after the harvest
Roero Docg Reserve95% Nebbiolo

5% other

non-aromatic red grape

32 months, of which in 6 woodfrom the 1st July  of third year after the harvest

Tastings Roero DOCG 2018  (15 wines reviewed)

Most of the Roero 2018 that I tasted were fresh, harmonious with good fruit and quite long finish.

On my radar:

Winery: Bric Castelvej – Canale
Wine:    Roero Docg 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pale ruby core with light purple hue towards the edge. The nose is fruity and dynamic with a hint of pepper. Well structured body with medium alcohol and soft tannins, a bit light at the end. Good wine.

 

Winery: Lorenzo Negro – Monteu Roero
Wine: Roero Docg 2018 Prachiosso

 

 

 

 

 

Medium ruby-red. Intense flavour of red plum and notes of violet. Medium acidity with discreet alcohol level. Fruity and spicy. Quite a long aftertaste.  I like it.

 

My pick:

Winery: Deltetto – Santo Stefano Roero
Wine: Roero Docg  2018 Gorrini

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brilliant red ruby colour.  Distinctly rose floral nose mixed with hints of dark cherry and fresh coffee. Full-bodied with pleasant red notes developing on the palate. Medium tannic structure. Light toasty finish. Charming wine.

 

Tastings Roero DOCG 2017 Riserva  (16 wines reviewed)

Across the tasting of the riservas, I noted some wines with slight dominant alcohol content although in general, the wines preserved ripe fruit and good acidity.

On my radar:

Winery: Malvirà – Canale
Wine:  Roero Docg Riserva 2017 S.S. Trinità 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colour ranging from ruby core to light garnet rim. Intense flavour  of ripe plum with balsamic notes of mint. Hint of vanilla. Fresh with lively red cherry. Good structured with quite delicate tannins. Lovely wine.

 

Winery: Cascina Chicco  – Vezza d’Alba
Wine: Roero Docg Riserva Valmaggiore 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep ruby colour. Rich bouquet of blackcherry with hints of violet. Round, full body and warm. Quite powerful tannins and long length. Lovely nebbiolo.

 

My pick:

Winery: Cascina Ca’ Rossa –  Canale
Wine:  Roero Docg Riserva Mompissano 2017 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The colour is medium ruby with a compact rim. Pronounced intensity of ripe red fruit mixed with notes of chocolate and tobacco. Full body wine with good freshness. Present delicate tannins and quite long aftertaste.  Great wine.

Filippo Magnani
Wine Writer, DipWset, Wine travel expert in Italy

I want to thank Liz Palmer, who
kindly proposed for me to participate and report on the
Nebbiolo Prima 2021, to represent her website
See you in Piedmont !

#Nebbiolo #winewriter #winetravel #Italy #italianwine #Barolo, #Barbaresco #Roero #FilippoMagnani #NebbioloPrima2021 #Piedmont #Italianwinelovers #winelovers #instawine #winetasting #NebbioloPrima @filippomagnaniwine @albeisawines

Happy Malbec World Day – Here are Some Fun Facts to Help you Celebrate

Wines of Argentina has been paying tribute to Malbec on April 17th since 2011.

This date was chosen because on the same day in 1853 the first agricultural school in Argentina was founded, becoming a symbol of the transformation of Argentina’s wine industry.

Malbec in Argentina

  1. There are 112,823 acres of Malbec planted in Argentina;
  2. There were 129 million litres of Malbec exported by Argentina in 2020; and
  3. Argentinian Malbec is grown at some of the highest altitudes in the world. In Mendoza, the average height of vineyards is 900 meters above sea level, but some of the highest vineyards in the world are found in the north of Argentina, in Salta, Catamarca, and Tucumán – the Calchaquí Valleys – In Salta some vineyards are as high as 3,000 meters above sea level.

Fun Facts

  1. Did you know that Malbec was originally associated with South-West France?

A grape variety Magdeleine Noire des Charentes (which is also a parent to Merlot) was once the most commonly planted grape variety in South-West France. It was then known as Côt?

  1. Did you know that that Malbec was grown in Bordeaux until the harsh winter in 1956 which killed off most of the vineyards?
  2. Did you know that Malbec is a challenging grape to grow? It has a poor resistance to bad weather, frost and pests and requires substantial sunlight and heat to become fully mature. It is particularly prone to coulure and mildew?
  3. Did you know that Argentina reinvigorated Malbec?

Argentina is the biggest Malbec exporter in the world, but it is also the fifth biggest major wine producer in the world with 14.5mhl of wine produced in 2018 alone. Exporting 128,828,560 litres of Malbec in 2020, and exporting wine to 119 countries, Argentina has seen a 52% increase in production of wines made from the grape since 2010.

  1. Malbec is also produced around the world in the USA, Chile, South Africa and Australia.

#malbecworldday # malbec #winesofargentina #redwine #winelovers #instawine #MalbecArgentino #Malbecnosgusta #argentina

The Consejo Regulador DOCa of Rioja unveils strategic five-year plan

The Consejo Regulador DOCa of Rioja has unveiled a five-year strategic plan aimed at boosting the region’s sustainability credentials, driving wine tourism and increasing exports.

The aim is to boost total sales from 230 million litres in 2020 to 312 million litres by 2025, with export to account for 44% at 137 million litres, in addition to increased turnover of the Rioja brand by 23%, said the regional body.

White Rioja is set to grow to a total of 12% of volume and rosado to 5% of volume, a projection which aligns with current trends in the UK – still the most important export market for Rioja, the DOCa added.

Referred to as “a blueprint” for Rioja to establish itself as a global leader in wine production, the new strategy was developed following a year-long review carried out in collaboration with all key regional stakeholders, and in consultation with experts from each of the region’s 12 key export markets.

Central to the DOCa’s plans will be a focus on establishing Rioja as a leader in sustainability to help safeguard the future of the region, with key metrics having been developed to measure progress in this area, including the reduction of pesticide use by 50% and carbon footprint by 10%.

Another key pillar of the new strategy will be a focus on increasing wine tourism, with a target of reaching 1.3 million visitors by 2025, compared to the 343,000 visitors counted in 2020. The DOCa said it expected the number of wineries able to offer visitor experiences to rise to 250, just over a third of the region’s total.

Moreover, it said that digitalization would also play a prominent role in driving sales from the region with a target to quadruple online sales.

“The new strategic plan exemplifies Rioja’s pioneering character and aims to increase the value of the region and raise awareness of our wines, particularly in key export markets,” said President Fernando Salamero.

#RiojaWine #Rioja #WineLovers #Wine #winetasting #Vineyard #tempranillo #instawine #redwine #vinotinto #winetime #winestagram #spain #spanishwine #winery #enoturismo #vinos #vinho #winenews #winetourism

Liv-ex 1000 shows that interest in wines from Burgundy, Champagne, the Rhône, Italy, and US has grown rapidly and unexpectedly

New categories of wine are entering the secondary wine market for the first time, with trading up by 70% from 2019.

Bordeaux, which once dominated the secondary market, now has a share of trade less than half of what it was a decade ago. But it hasn’t fallen out of favour – rather, its share has shrunk as the overall market has surged and interest in wines from Burgundy, Champagne, the Rhône, Italy and the US has grown rapidly.

“Last year was a positive year for the wine market, with all major Liv-ex indices showing gains,” said Liv-ex Director and Co-Founder, Justin Gibbs.

Liv-ex (the London International Vintners Exchange) is the London-based global marketplace for the wine trade, where fine wine merchants from around the world buy and sell wine. What happens on the exchange is a reliable indicator of the health of the secondary wine market.

And what it shows is that the secondary wine market is not just booming, it’s broadening.

Fast Market Growth

The number of distinct wine brands traded on Liv-ex last year was up 70%, from 996 in 2019 to 1,420. The total number of wines – including different vintages of the same wine brands – was 8,735, up 72% from the 2019’s 6,367.

The surge has continued into 2021, with March 2021 closing on the biggest month of trade in Liv-ex’s 21-year history – 1,250 distinct wine brands were traded, of which 130 were newcomers to the secondary market. More than £80 million ($109 million) of live bids and offers, are currently available on the market.

The Liv-ex 1000 index was established in 2014 to capture this broadening. As with all Liv-ex indices, it reflects the activity of e Liv-ex membership – a pool of over 500 of the world’s leading wine merchants, who between them represent the biggest and deepest pool of liquidity anywhere in the world.

Most importantly, as a trading and data resource, it is completely independent. And it shows stark changes in the fine wine market, as new wines enter the secondary market.

One Index Alone Is Up 87%

The most striking example of the changing dynamics of the market is the Burgundy 150. It has risen 87% over the last five years, the beneficiary of collectors putting their capital into a new category.

The Champagne 50 has risen 58% over the last five years, driven by the brand power and prestige of the grandes marques Champagnes, widely available stock, global distribution and accessible price points.

The Italy 100 has risen 45% over the past five years, as merchants and collectors discover the relative value to be found in the great wines of Piedmont and Tuscany.

The Rest of the World 60 – which includes the top wines of California, as well as Australian, Spanish and Portuguese wines – has risen 31% over five years. US wines, in particular, are attracting attention; in 2019, US wines represented just 2% of trade by value on the market. That shot up to 7% of total trade last year.

What’s Driving the Trading?

As elsewhere in the economy, technological innovations have swept through the wine industry, transforming the behaviour of both wine businesses and buyers. This past year has seen the launch of new wine tech start-ups, digital wine apps, soaring online sales and virtual tastings, ensuring that people are no longer anxious about buying or trading online.

“These innovations in technology have had a significant impact on buying patterns,” said Gibbs. “As more of the wine trade go digital – with many enabling their customers to access the market using our Automation services – we are seeing increasing diversity in what is traded as collectors are put in the driving seat.”

As a result, the wines brought through Liv-ex in 2020 not only came from the more traditional fine wine regions like Bordeaux and Burgundy, but also from China, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Chile, Argentina and more. Prices per bottle also ranged from £4 to £21,000. As the wine world becomes increasingly digital, this broadening trend is likely continue.

The Market Set to Expand Further

Since 2019, US collectors and merchants have been constrained by the US government’s tariffs on the wines of France, including Bordeaux and Burgundy.

“The tariffs have had a singular effect on the fine wine market over the last 18 months, not least for Italy and Champagne whose wines were excluded from the extra 25% levy,” said Gibbs.

But the recent lifting of the tariffs has had a marked effect on activity – leading to a strong kick in demand for wines of all regions.

There are also other reasons to believe the fine wine market will both grow and diversify further.

“The combination of low interest rates and massive fiscal spending suggests that asset inflation will not be confined to equity, commodity and property markets,” said Gibbs. “The fundamentals of fine wine will also be an attractive option to those with cash to spare.”

#livex1000 #livex #finewine #burgundy #champagne #bordeaux #Rhone #USwine #winenews #instawine #winelovers #winecollectors #wineinvestment #digitalmarketing #finewineregions