Author Archives: VinoeStile

Col d’Orcia wine estate #wine #montalcino #tuscany

Surrounded by a beautiful natural scenery, Col d’Orcia winery is situatedCOL6near the fabulous medieval village of Montalcino, in Siena province of Tuscany. It offers fantastic views with its Montalcino hills, Monte Amiata and Brunello vineyards. In this scenic location you will have the opportunity to taste delicious products like wines, organic extra virgin olive oil and grappa.

The wine estate is considered as the largest organic wine farm in Tuscany, it obtained organic certification in 2010. Col d’Orcia literary means “windy hill”, that is the amazing place where you can find Poggio al Vento vineyard.  The company is owned by Cinzano family since 1973.

DOCG wines produced have a very high quality and the most important are wide range of fine Montalcino red wines, Chianti DOCG and Pinot Grigio. Moreover Col d’Orcia is well-known for its unique patrimony of more than 50,000 bottles of vintages Brunello di Montalcino.

Col d’Orcia regularly opens its cellars to all wine lovers and connoisseurs, you can take part of a tour discovering the estate and tasting wines.

We have been charmed by the taste of Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, that we really liked it. It is a deep and dense ruby red wine made from a rigorous selection of best bunches of Sangiovese grape, locally called “Brunello”.  It requires a long maturation of more than four years in steel tanks first and then in Slavonian oak barrels.

This pure Sangiovese variety has an elegant body and a firm acidity, slightly attenuated by fruit fragrances. A full-bodied, powerful wine with a long and memorable aftertaste.

Col d’Orcia estate website: http://www.coldorcia.com/

Valentina Gagliano

 

Champagne Taittinger moves across England #france #england #wine

comp-taittingetr

 

French champagne house is about to make history by producing sparkling wine in England.

Taittinger estate will be the first to invest in the UK, in particular in Kent, whose chalk soil is considered ideal for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vines. Recently, climate change has led to effects of rising temperatures in England and it can create favorable conditions for rich growing vines.

“We believe we can produce a high quality English sparkling wine, drawing on our 80 years of wine-making expertise,” stated the president Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger.

TheTaittinger-English-sparkling-wine deal between Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger and Patrick McGrath of British winemaker Hatch Mansfield shows a sincere friendship between the two countries.

The French estate, one of the largest and oldest in France, has bought 69 hectares in the English village Chilham, and the wine is supposed to be ready in five years. It will be significantly named Domaine Evremond, a famous diplomat very esteemed in England, who worked to abolish frontiers between UK and France.

Taittinger wine house has already gained a considerable success planting sparkling wine vineyards in USA, now it hopes to obtain the same results in England.

The main aim is to create a wine which has its own personality and singular characteristics, completely different from the others, a real expression of British terroir and tradition.

Valentina Gagliano

 

 

Weingut Herbert Pazen wine estate #germany #moselleriver #wine

Zeltingen-Rachtig-Schleuse

 

Weingut Herbert Pazen winery is placed in Zeltingen-Rachtig, a small town in Germany. Its vineyards are settled along the famous Moselle river.

The beautiful Moselle valley region extends in north eastern France, south western Germany and eastern Luxembourg. The surrounding area has developed a strong tourist industry, thanks to its exceptional natural landscape.

 All wines produced are multifaceted and have various fruity and spicy flavors. Riesling grape is the most important variety of the region.

The wide range of wines includes:

  • Herbert Pazen, Riesling Kabinett, exotic fruity tones,
  • Herbert Pazen Secco, semi sparkling and dry wine
  • Feinster Apfelbrand, pure apple brandy.

 

Weingut Herbert Pazen winery website: http://www.herbert-pazen.de/index.php?p=1000

Valentina Gagliano

In the heart of Chianti: la Castellina winery #chianti #tuscany #wine

La castellina Rugiada

If you are looking for an enjoyable and relaxing holiday, immerse yourself in the peaceful and uncontaminated nature of “La Ferrozzola” guest house, in the heart of Chianti, in Tuscany. Not too far from that, in the historic centre of the medieval village of Castellina, there are the wonderful Hotel “Palazzo Squarcialupi”, full of elegant rooms and old paintings, and the family farm, excellent synthesis of history and nature.

The winery has its origins from the past properties of the noble Squarcialupi family. Today, the farm belongs to the Bojola-Targioni, Monica Targioni and her husband Tommaso Bojola have been restored the property and took care of vineyards with great passion and devotion over the years. The farm is exactly settled in the amazing Palazzo Squarcialupi, with its cellars and shop, where family organizes wine tours to discover cellars and taste wine, as well as workshops about family and farm history.

The farm produces red, white and rosé wines, grappa, extra virgin olive oil and the traditional Vinsanto, typical Italian dessert wine. These wines are multifaceted, with particular blend of flavors, wild fruit scents and nuances of spices.

The most sought wine is the Chianti Classico, with its intense ruby color.

We were very pleased to taste the white wine called “Rugiada”. It is made up of 50% of Chardonnay grape and 50% of Malvasia del Chianti. All grapes are hand harvested. With its characteristic intense straw-yellow hue, this wine is lightly aromatic of powerful tropical fruits notes and fresh white flowers nose.

A balanced wine with a lovely almond aftertaste. It needs to be seasoned for six/eight months, poured into appropriate French oak barrels.

Fine accompaniments: pasta, risotto, fish, poultry.

La Castellina website: http://www.lacastellina.it/index_en.asp

Valentina Gagliano

Lanius-Knab wine estate #wine #rhine #germany

Lanius-Knab

We are in Oberwesel, a small town on the left bank of Rhine river, in Rhineland-Palatinate State, in Germany. Lanius-Knab is located in this fantastic landscape. The propriety belongs to VDP, the national German association of top quality wine production.

Winemakers themselves affirmed that their high quality wines are made thanks to excellent production process in their cellars and to the quality of their grapes as well, coming from vineyards of the middle Rhine valley.

All the wines of this region are, indeed, well-known for the variety of their splendid nuances, essentially influenced by the different “terroirs” where grapes grow, so weather and territory morphology are the two main elements that made wines singular in their style.Lanius

Modernity and tradition are combined together to produce the wines of the company. First of all, wine is poured into big steel tanks of great value, and then it is refined in traditional seasoned oak barrels.

Engehöller Bernstein vineyard represents more than half of total vineyards of the firm. The basic soil component, the slate, enriches wine of unique peach and apricot aromas. Wines produced in Engehöller Goldmund vineyard have peculiar lemon and apple notes.

Whereas Oberweseler Oelsberg vine has a soil composed of humus, sandstone and slate, which gives special flavors to wines.

We have greatly enjoyed Riesling, all wines are under VDP quality certification:

Riesling 2014, a superb wine.  We can define it as a light, fresh, fruity and mineral wine. Citrus notes strengthen its freshness and make the wine a pleasure for the palate.

Riesling GG (Gewächs lordi) Engehöller Bernstein is an extraordinary wine variety. It has the same particular characteristics of classic Riesling, but it stands out for its strong fragrances. This is more mineral and softer body then others, and very intense too. We really appreciated its lemon aroma and we have been charmed by the production of Riesling carried out in a classic and traditional way, that we didn’t find in other German winemakers instead.

A wonderful winery that we really recommend to visit.

Lanius-Knab company website: http://www.lanius-knab.de/en/

Valentina Gagliano (translation)

Scheiblhofer collection #wine #austria #burgenland

Scheiblhofer wein

The Scheiblhofer is one the largest wineries in Andau village in Burgenland, the easternmost State of Austria. In this exclusive area, where the sun shines bright, a wide range of excellent wines are produced. High temperature and rich soil are the ideal conditions for an abundant growth of exceptional ripe grapes.

The Scheiblhofer collection is very unique. They are full-bodied wines, characterized by high aroma and splendid tasting. The three most representative collections of the company are: Big John, Perfection and Jois, a singular trilogy in Burgenland.

Big Joh is the legendary pioneer red wine. It is a dense ruby red, famous for the mixture of fruit scents and delicious aroma of caramel, powerful tannin and with oak roasted flavor. Its label is inimitable; there is a great bustard in it, a representative image for Andau community, as it is the only place in the world where great bustards are native. We tasted Big John, a blend of zweigelt, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir it and loved it immediately for its strong nose, its bold character and its long aftertaste.

Perfection collection includes Shiraz, Legends, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, all dark ruby reds, full-bodied varieties perfect to be paired with red meat.

Jois is a 30 year old vine. The typical cherry fruit with the combination of strong acidity makes the wine refreshing and explosive at the same time.

You can send an online request to visit the winery and have the opportunity to taste its sumptuous wines. Moreover, if you are a wine lover and want to stay more, the newly built guest house will be ready to give you a very warm welcome.

Scheiblhofer winery website:  https://www.scheiblhofer.at/en/startseite.html

Valentina Gagliano

Wonderful white wines at Aigner winery #wine #aigner #krems #austria

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Sauvignon Blanc 2014 is produced by the well-known Weingut Aigner wine estate, placed in the Austrian city Krems. Today Wolfgang Aigner manages the company, whose tradition and values have been passed on nine generations, since the beginning of the 18th century. The company produces around 60,000 bottles of wine every year.

The winery also offers a guesthouse opened in 1999, where you can use leisure facilities, take part to winery tours, wine tastings and even watch or participate in the grape harvest.

Sauvignon Blanc 2014 is a really high quality white wine, made by the typical Aigner style. Aigner wines are strong in aroma, but also fresh and fruity, as Sauvignon Blanc. A crispy, zesty, medium-bodied white wine.

We really have appreciated its exceptional charming characteristic, flower aroma, and herbaceous tones. Its savory taste is made of medium acidity, very profound at the same time, with a great aftertaste.

Due to the wine herbal fragrances, it is ideal to join with similar green herbs, as parsley, rosemary, basil, coriander or mint. Perfect food pairings are white meats, seafood, cheese and vegetables too.

Riesling Kremstal DAC Weinzierlberg 2014 trocken is a fantastic white riesling with lemon notes, long, persistent with body and elegance. The way how this winemaker goes at work for this riesling is fantastic. You’ll be experiencing an exceptional moment while tasting this riesling.

Weingut Aigner website: http://aigner-wein.at/index.php/en/

Valentina Gagliano

Musico Montalcino winery #tuscany #wine #montalcino #italy

 

Musico montalcino

Martini family is one of the most renowned and oldest family in Montalcino city, in Tuscany. Love and passion for winery and wine production have been passed down from one generation to another.

Most of the family members were farmer and they worked in their vineyards and in Maremma region too. One of the most esteemed farmer was Renato Martini, whose abilities and manual skills were really appreciated by land owners.

In 1980, the business man Giovanni Martini, deeply interested in viniculture decided to buy some vineyards, becoming a major producer of wine. His son, Guido Martini, inherited the enterprise from the father and he tried to keep family tradition in his production.

The annual production it’s around 5,000 bottles of Brunello, 3,000 of  Rosso di Montalcino and 2,000 of IGT. In addiction the winery also produces 1,000 bottles of olive oil and the Brunello Grappa.

The wines produced are of excellent quality, labels of bottles are made of a personalized design, very attractive for buyers. Wines are mainly created thanks to fermentation of Sangiovese grape, the most widely planted grape variety in Italy.

We have been charmed by the Brunello di Montalcino which is a very balanced wine, not too strong, with a fantastic expression of the san giovese. A wine, first of all very elegant with silk tannins, a perfect acidity and a lovely aftertaste.

Musico Montalcino winery website: http://musico.pro/en

Valentina Gagliano

Miguel Damien Desnerck

Rosato del Varo Irpinia DOC #pinkwine #irpinia #cavalierpepe

rosato del varo

Rosato del Varo is produced by Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, located in the heart of Campania, in Avellino province.

This is a soft pink wine obtained from fermentation of the special grape of Aglianico, a really good quality grape grown in the vineyards of the company. It is characterized by special aroma, a wide array of intense fruit flavors such as cherries and wild strawberries, enriched by a strong fragrance of red flowers.

It is a dry style and full-bodied wine. Its fresh taste is quite persistent in mouth, a real pleasure for your palate.

Rosato del Varo is a very delightful wine, perfect to combine with Asian and Indian food; it can also be served with tapas, salmon, and sardines, red and white meat.

 

 

 

 

 

Valentina Gagliano

 

 

http://www.tenutapepe.it/en/

 

Bisol, excellence from ground to glass

filosofia02The Bisol family has a wine growing tradition in the prestigious area of the Hill “Cartizze”.
The year 1542 is an important historical landmark that marks the emergence of viticulture and winemaking family Bisol: Eliseo Bisol gives life to a small and flourishing trade.
But was DesiderioJeio” to his friends, who after World War II sets the company to experiment new techniques on their own vineyards, a prerequisite to produce wines of the highest level. As recalled Antonio Bisol, current president of the company, “My father Desiderio was always trying to buy the best plots, the most expensive and steep, so difficult to work with, but whose slope and composition were ideal for the breeding of Glera, demonstrating extreme sensitivity to product quality. “

Forefront of tradition

The vineyards of the farm Bisol are spread over 20 farms nestled among the steep hills to go to Coneglianostoria05 Valdobbiadene, the best areas of the Denomination.
A highly fragmented territory studded with small and possessions, so that the average extent of each property is just over one hectare.

Bisol is one of the few companies that directly manage the entire production chain, the careful choice of the land until bottling. This helps ensure the utmost quality performance, since each stage determines the final quality of the product, and requires a constant and strict control.
To note the farm run on the summit area of ​​Cartizze hill: an area that winds up a steep hilly ridge, at an altitude of 300 meters above sea level, and enjoys wonderful sun exposure, as well as continuous ventilation that together with the sandy nature of the soil makes it an area of ​​rare value.

The territory, its added value

Even today, as before, the company does the quality of the territory his greatest pride and its added value.
So effectively summarizes Gianluca Bisol, general manager: “We work with passion to Conegliano have the same prestige as Reims, Valdobbiadene the same charm as Epernay and Prosecco the same fame of Champagne”. A care that we find in the vineyards, where Bisol governs carefully each stage of the production chain, from breeding to the sale of the vine, from grape to the glass.
But why choose Prosecco? First, because it is a very pleasant wine, which refers to Italy: fresh, light and not too much alcohol. In addition it comes from a native grape variety, one that can not be in other countries. Moreover, in the international market bubbles – historically dominated by champagne – the most affordable price combined with high quality, represent a very interesting alternative.

phpthumb_generated_thumbnailWe tasted

  • Crede Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG brut, a brut sparkling wine composed of Glera grapes, Verdiso and Pinot Blanc. “Crede”, comes from the name of the clay soils with subsurface sandstone that give fruity. It has a bright color, yellow with light green highlights. The sparkle is made up of a myriad of minute and persistent bubbles. The nose gives off all the scents of the countryside, hay, grass, fruity. The mouth has hints of apple and pear and a good degree of flavor. Ideal for cocktail receptions and in particular the Bellini (famous cocktail made up of peach pulp and prosecco).phpthumb_generated_thumbnailpng

  • Jeio Valdobbiadene Brut, It is produced with selected grapes from the hills of Conegliano, terroir hence its mineralogist and dry, and those of Valdobbiadene, which give crispness, acidity and freshness. It composed of Glera and parts Verdiso and, to a lesser extent, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. It has a pale yellow color and a perlage of extraordinarily fine. The nose is fresh and fruity. Ideal for all meals and cocktails.

  • belstarBelstar prosecco DOC, “Belstar” is a way to call a vineyard, just outside of the production area of historic Prosecco. It ‘a sparkling wine from fruity and floral bouquet, enhanced during production in the cellar from the soft pressing and the protection of the must by the action of oxygen. A Prosecco of extreme finesse and elegance, thanks to the extreme care during maceration and pressing and slow fermentation.
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