Lunch with Francesca Vaira at Terroni DTLA . . . best lunch ever!

Francesca Vaira 

2010 Langhe Freisa Kye` Library 

2006 Langhe Freisa Kye` Library

2014 Luigi Baudana Serralunga d'Alba

Barolo Chinato

N.S. Della Neve Spumante (50% Nebbiolo- 50% Pinot Nero)

2014 GD Vajra Ravera, Luigi Baudana Cerretta and Baudana and GD Vajra Bricco delle Viole

2006, 2010, 2014 (current vintage) GD Vajra Langhe Freisa

GD Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

G.D. Vajra

White Wine

2013 Langhe DOC, Riesling

2015 Langhe DOC, Riesling

Sparkling Wine

NV Metodo Classico Rosé, N.S. Della Neve

2017 Langhe Nebbiolo DOC , Claret JC

Red Wine

2014 Barolo, Ravera

2014 Langhe Freisa DOC, Kye`

2014 Barolo, Bricco delle Viole

NV Barolo Chinato

Luigi Baudana (familia di G.D. Vajra)

Red Wine

2014 Barolo, Baudana DOCG

2014 Barolo, Cerretta DOCG

Library Wines

G.D. Vajra

MYSTERY WINE 

2007 Dolcetto d'Alba Classico

2004 Barolo, Bricco delle Viole

2005 Barolo, Bricco delle Viole

2006 Barolo, Bricco delle Viole

2007 Barolo, Bricco delle Viole

2006 Langhe Freisa Kye` 

2010 Langhe Freisa Kye`

Many thanks to Max Stefanelli and his lovely wife Francesca for being the best hosts ever at Terroni DTLA.  Best lunch ever!

Italian Rosato for Summer!

​As the title says, this 100 Sangiovese saw just a "few hours" maceration on the skins.  It is fresh and bright and made from certified organic grapes by Vittorio Navacchia and family.  Vittorio is here in town this week so ask me if you want us to come by and taste it with you.  And it is so inexpensive!

This has rapidly become our best selling rosato in just its second vintage back on the market after a long hiatus.  Crunchy is the new word for this type of ultr-light but flavorful rose`.  Or as the Italians say, "Crispy!".  The GD Vajra wines are still getting better every year and we are so happy that they are part of our family.

​

​The Rosacherosanonsei Rosato from Favaro is a perennial favorite.  This one is no exception.  Nebbiolo rosato with a few other grapes thrown in, this is a rose` de saignee that is produced in miniscule quantities.  So little in fact that you can't find it anywhere else in the United States but through Rinascimento Wine Company.

Out and about yesterday and these were some of the wines that were tasting amazing . . .

Domaine Courbet Cotes de Jura Chardonnay 2015, Paul Chapelle Santenay "Gravieres" 1er Cru 2007,
Davide Carlone Boca 2012

Harvest 2017 at Praesidium in the Abruzzo . . . captions by Antonia Pasquale

6th October 2017 Cases ready for hosting the grapes still on the vines - the Sirente chain of mountains on the bottom 

Grapes in the cases on the tractor - The Morrone chain of mountains at the bottom

Harvest 2017 cases ready to be filled up with the Montepulciano  grapes 

Harvest in the old vineyard planted in 1973

Montepulciano grapes 2017 - the harvest occurred from the 2th to the 6th of October 

Ottaviano and Enzo in the Trebbiano vineyard

Our town Prezza on the right and the homonimous mountain- Sabrina with the hat

The crush-destemmer Michele- Massimo and Ottaviano

The grapes in the cases on the tractor- The Mountain San Cosimo 

The harvest in the old vineyard planted in 1973

2018 Slow Wine "Snail" producers . . .

Every year, the Slow Wine Guide awards the symbol of the snail to wineries that are aligned with Slow Food values and that manage their vineyards without any herbicides or pesticides while also maintaining exceptional quality at affordable prices.  Here are the awardees for 2018 in the new guide from my portfolio of wines.  Congratulations to all of them for their hard work and dedication and for making great wine.

Abruzzo

Cirelli

Praesidium

Friuli Venezia Giulia e Slovenia

Ronco Severo

Piemonte

G.D. Vajra

Trentino

Pojer & Sandri

Veneto

Montesantoccio – Nicola Ferrari

 

Fighting fire on Mt. Etna with Filippo from Ayunta . . . all was well in the end . . .

There is an abandoned railroad right behind one of his vineyards.

Spooky nighttime firefighting.

An extreme form of weed control!

Lots of old abandoned houses in these little towns on Etna.

But the vineyards are fine!

Some old olives trees didn't make it.

Over 100 years old this vine.

Grapes are fine.  White and red interplanted in this old vineyard.

Looking good!

Filippo in the vineyard.  Should I tell him trucker hats are so early 2000's?

Harvest 2017 begins at Tenuta dell'Ugolino - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi in the Marche . . .

 Harvest is really early this year in all parts of Italy.  Here are some pictures from Tenuta dell'Ugolino.