Journal
Stories and reflections on wine, the people who make it, the places we gather, and the ideas that connect them. A journal of curiosity, discovery and the pleasures of the table.
Practice (L3) makes perfect…
A good friend asked me for recommendations of wines to exercise for the practical exam of the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines. In this post, I propose an exercise.
Fundamental is to taste as per the Systematic Approach to Tasting, which was demonstrated using at least 70 wines during class time.
However, the critical point to pass with a high level is to be crystal clear with the skills required to demonstrate to the examiner.
Grande Passione Partners with UNISG for the WSET L3 Awards in Wine
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.
Study Guides for Major Italian Wine Grapes
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.
Franciacorta in China, a long-term vision…
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.
Amarone… The Boom Generation, a Masterclass & a Paradigm Shift
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.
Sardinia, Italy's Best Kept Secret?
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.
A most helpful Wine Grape Profile Table - fully revised & updated
An invaluable tasting assistant... in its 5th edition. It lists the major grape varieties and shows typical structural levels, aromatic categories, ageing potential, and possible aromas. A practical tool for WSET students to memorise and use alongside tastings to help imprint the distinctive character of each grape.
Building a Market for Italian Wine: Lessons from Hong Kong
The experience of France and Australia in the Hong Kong market has demonstrated that a focus on consumer-centric events and a high level of support for importers are critical to their outstanding success.
Amarone 1997, The year that was
A one of a kind historical tasting of 1997 Amarone and Recioto wines from Italy’s Valpolicella gathered a group of erudite and passionate wine lovers to discover their aging potential.
Taste Like a Pro, a Framework
This column is the last of twenty-three instalments which aim to shed light on the various factors that influence the style and quality of a wine. With this issue, I want to share my approach to tasting wine and hopefully embolden wine lovers and students, even those pursuing the Master of Wine title, to approach the task with confidence and a sure strategy.
Nonino, 120 Years of Innovation…
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.
A Wine in Honor of a Goddess…
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.
Lamole di Lamole, winemaking at the door of paradise
A fascinating historical tasting of Lamole di Lamole Vigneto di Campolungo stemming from a hidden corner of the Chianti Classico region.
Ca del Bosco Goes to Japan…
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.
Travelling Through Time with Madeira…
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.
Defining Style & Quality, a Framework…
In this post, I want to propose an approach, focusing on understanding and defining Style and Quality. A way of thinking that lays solid foundations upon which to rest the building blocks of wine knowledge and help to connect the dots more effectively when tackling a deductive tasting exercise.
ARPEPE, Finally, I fell in Love with Nebbiolo!
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.
Should I Stay or Should I Go…
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?
Fortified Wines, A Most Helpful Table
During our tasting of various sherries last week, it became clear quite quickly that knowledge of other fortified wines would be necessary to identify them promptly in a blind tasting. And so, I created a profile table (here) for fortified wines to help me study.
This table was created with the help of various source. In particular, the official websites of sherry and port. Invaluable was The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia by Tom Stevenson as was The Oxford Companion To Wine by Jancis Robinson.
Winemaking & Style, a Table on its Causes & Effects…
In a deductive tasting exercise, winemaking techniques can yield helpful, sometimes essential, clues to identify the origin of a wine, even its quality status in the hierarchy of an Appellation.
Here is a helpful table outlining the effects of these techniques on style and quality. To be used alongside the tasting notes, of course…