I first visited Montalcino in the summer of 1982. It was scorchingly hot when I arrived at the Fattoria dei Barbi, and upon entry to the cellar, there was a unique calmness—ok coolness as well—it was a serene silence among barrels of a size I’d never seen before. The 1982 vintage turned out to be a great year for Brunello di Montalcino and marked the beginning of Brunello di Montalcino’s entrance on the world stage as a wine to be reckoned with.
Read MoreThough we may think of red-checkered tablecloths, spaghetti and meatballs, and wicker-basket Chianti when we think of Italian food, there is in fact a rich tradition of coastal cuisine based on seafood and dynamic, acid-driven whites. Italian Buyer Greg St. Clair has all that and more for you in these pages. From sparkling, dry, food-friendly Lambrusco to elegant and affordable Valpolicella from our new Direct Import producer, our maestro has the wine that’ll transport you to your own Italian daydream.
Read MoreWith its Mediterranean climate and 4722 miles of coastline, Italy is a mecca for white wines. From north to south, there’s a vibrant seafood-based cuisine, and a litany of whites to accompany it. And now that we’re in peak summer, it’s a great time to branch out beyond Pinot Grigio (though we have a killer Pinot Grigio on this list, too!).
Read MoreEleonora and her sister, Gloria, represent the fifth generation to take the reins at Barale Fratelli, a Piedmontese winery whose history in the Barolo region runs 150+-years deep. The fact that they are not fratelli at all, but sorelle (sisters), is as important as the fact that they are still making exceptional, traditionally styled Barolo. They uniquely represent the new generation in Barolo: proud women holding leadership roles in what was once a very male-dominated context, but with ties to the past and great respect for tradition. If they are indeed the future of Barolo, then there’s a beautiful symbiosis of past and present in store.
Read More
