Excited to announce my partnership with the University of Gastronomic Sciences - Pollenzo for their "Master in Wine & Spirits" to teach the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 3 Award in Wines to students enrolling in this most comprehensive program to help participants expand their careers in Europe and abroad.

For study purposes, I created various MindMaps (dropbox folder) showing essential information for 175 Italian grape varieties. Click on an icon below to see my study notes...

These are based on the book by Ian d'Agata, Native Wines Grapes of Italy and reinforced with added information (organoleptic properties only) from Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, and Jose Vouillamoz.

It gives me great satisfaction to have had an active role in influencing and guiding this initial stage. For me, the work of an “Ambassador” was always so much more than conducting a few masterclasses here and there. It was to be involved from the get-go with establishing an effective strategy to favour long-term success. Most of all, however, I feel privileged to have worked under the leadership of Silvano Brescianini, the President of the Consorzio.

In the context of “Amarone Opera Prima” held last June in Verona, I had a chance to present my case for the Amarone of the future. Focusing on six emblematic producers, my aim was to convince an audience of more than 100 journalists from around the world that the region is going through a generational change and seek to produce an Amarone both as an expression of place and a symbol of excellence.

In this post, I publish my notes of a Webinar I presented to the members of the Wine Scholar Guild on Sardinia on 20 April 2022. You can join their membership here.

It was a fantastic opportunity for me to share my discoveries on a most fascinating territory. A place with a rich history and culture, another world altogether.

At a vertical tasting going back to 1997 hosted by the Hong Kong Wine Society, participants discovered not only the tremendous quality potential of this legendary wine but also how beautifully the grapes of Sardinia can age.  The 12 wines tasted impressed most by how consistent their quality was throughout, especially since each vintage showed apparent stylistic differences.  This last discovery was another finding we did not expect and we removed from our minds the long-lasting belief that Italian vintages do not mark wines as much as they do in more northern wine regions of Europe. We learned this lesson with wines from a Mediterranean island even more surprising. Overall, the wines showed a delightful freshness of acidity with exquisite balance and proportion.  Each vintage intriguingly expressed a different personality and was equally enjoyed by all.

It was tasting a wine that is even older than yourself is a magical feeling. Madeira’s unparalleled ageing potential earns a special place in the arena of aged wines, and it is undoubtedly a sensational experience to enjoy this legendary wine.

The occasion for such a time-travelling experience was a unique tasting hosted by the Hong Kong Wine Society and organized by a long-standing member Edward Smith.  As usual in these proceedings, we were presented with 12 wines to taste blind so that we could record our notes, give each wine a score, and reflect upon them without the influence of their label or their year of birth. The scores were then tabulated to establish a group ranking, followed by a thorough discussion of each wine among the members present.

The first thing you notice when meeting the Nonino family is its incredible energy.  An energy so powerful that it feels like being drawn into a whirlwind.  After a few minutes, you realize that it is not energy that animates them, it is ideas.  Ideas so advanced that you cannot help feeling a step behind, always trying to catch up.  People will tell you that meeting the Noninos changed their lives forever, that encountering this legendary family is a transformational experience.

Remaining true to artisanal methods of production, the family has fundamentally transformed Grappa and made it a symbol of the Italian art of living.

That Maurizio Zanella is considered a visionary when it comes to Italy’s Franciacorta is conventional wisdom. That his vision also extends to Japan is fascinating.

Visionary and uncompromising, determined and focused, Maurizio Zanella, the founder of Ca’ del Bosco, created one of Italy's most respected wine brands today. Over two days of extensive tastings in Tokyo, Spirito diVino Asia had close contact with this Icon of Italian wine and an exclusive and personal look at the secret of his success.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that, from January 2022, I will fully dedicate myself to pursuing my passion, that of Wine Education, through my own school Grande Passione which was just approved as a programme provider of the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) in Italy!

I am not shy to admit that, until last April, my love affair with Nebbiolo, the grape responsible for the wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, was not on solid grounds. But, a meeting with ArPePe's Isabella Pelizzatti Perego at Vinitaly in Verona changed that forever...

I was struck by their elegance and restraint, purity, and finesse through a tasting of 9 of her wines, all made with 100% Nebbiolo. Everything about the feminine side of Nebbiolo I had so often heard about came alive in a magnificent way that I had never experienced before.

However, after more than 5 years on the program, after countless hours of tastings and study, after a great deal of investment, both financial and emotional, I now see myself analyzing more than my strengths and weaknesses.  I see myself digging deep inside my soul to confront the brutal truth: do I have the personality to pass this exam and if so, am I still willing to focus on what needs to be focused on to achieve this goal?  More brutal still, why should I do so?  

This wine's natural beauty is in its spirit; it is a wine about a family, land, and the circle of life. When he created “Dino”, Giovanni Manetti did not only create a new wine for Fontondi, he made a tribute. Named in honour of his father, who passed away in early 2000, it links the winery back to its roots, where it all began.

Whenever I join a tasting organised by Nigel and hosted by the HK Wine Society, I count my blessings. And much I have to count! Especially last month when we experienced quite a few "Old Madeiras".

On the flight, we had wines from 1875, 1900, 1920, and 1968 and some younger wines.

The memories of a once in a lifetime tasting at Vinitaly 2011

Although China has had a high profile for several years already, it can be argued as to whether her true impact is yet to be felt in the world of wine. With a population of 1.3 billion and a super charged economy that has grown, and is expected to continue growing, at an extremely fast pace, it is no wonder that those with a product to sell have already thought of her as a potential buyer. Beyond demographics and economics, we will review key wine related factors to demonstrate that China has only begun to make itself felt and she is indeed the next big thing in the world of wine.