Category Archives: HOT NEWS

AT THE DISCOVERY OF RUCHE’

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Described as “a wine of character,” the Ruché of winemaker Montalbera of Castagnole Monferrato (AT) is one of the pleasantest surprises encountered in “Gusto in Scena”, the food and wine festival held last March 17 to 19 at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista in Venice.

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Produced in a territory that includes seven municipalities of Monferrato, Piemont territory famous for the quality of its wines, the Ruché – DOC and DOCG  is a wine of exceptional softness, with a particular aroma of rose and violet and a fruity taste reminiscent of the flavor of apricot. All unusual features in a red Piedmont, which led him to be loved especially by women.

The origin is obscure, the best hypothesis is that it comes from old vines by the Alta Savoia while the name thought come from “San Rocco”. A community of monks devoted to this saint, in fact, would probably have introduced the cultivation in the area. But the link with the religious of this variety does not stop there: forgotten for a number of years and at risk of extinction, has been rediscovered in the ’70s by the pastor of Castagnole Monferrato, Don Giacomo Cauda, ​​which he found ten rows between the properties of the parish and decided to enhance it. “She has a perfect body – as he described it – and a balance of aromas, flavors and scents. Tasted with moderation frees the spirit and opens the mind …”

The Ruché is a red grape, with medium-small leaf, three-lobed (rarely lobed), pale green and hairless. The

Ruchè LACCENTO

Ruchè LACCENTO

cluster has cylindrical shape – pyramidal, elongated and compact. The ripening period coincides with the end of September – beginning of October, greatly anticipating the ripening compared with other varieties typical of the area. Despite remarkable characteristics of adaptability, it prefers calcareous and argillaceous land, giving a bouquet of particular intensity and characterization.

The designation of origin includes the towns of Castagnole Monferrato, Grana, Montemagno,

Portacomaro Refrancore, Scurzolengo and Viarigi, all in the province of Asti. The regulations impose a 90% Ruché grapes, while the remaining 10% may also include Brachetto or Barbera grapes.

There are three interpretations of Ruché: La Tradizione, Laccento e Limpronta each with specific characteristics, result of a long trial. Just one of them, Laccento was recently winner of the Prize for the Best Italian Red Wine  at eighth edition of the event SensofWine, held in Rome last January 2013.


Massimo Paccagnella

GREAT SUCCESS FOR THE FIFTH EDITION OF “GUSTO IN SCENA”

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Great success for the fifth edition of Gusto in Scena, an event conceived and edited by the journalist Marcello Coronini, which has shown to have no limits.

gustoinscena1The success was due to the high number of visitors, around 3.400, 70% professionals, which have reached the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista in Venice from 17 to 19 March. Waiting for “I Magnifici Vini”, a great tasting table with a selection of 71 Italian and international wines and two rooms devoted to the wines from vulcanic soil origin. In the Hall of Columns “Seduzioni di Gola” a selection of 30 manufacturers of culinary whims with rare and valuable products.

At Chef in Concerto, the Congress of haute cuisine, protagonists the big pastry like Gino Fabbri, Ernst Knam, Iginio Massari and chefs such as Andrea Aprea, Fabio Baldassarre, Gian Nicola Colucci with the Indian Chef Santosh Jori, Riccardo De Pra, Herbert Hintner , Nicola Portinari.

Next to them were up on stage nutritionist Evelina Flachi, known television personality and Shigemi Hikino Japanese colleague who further increased the level of interventions.

Over the past three years Gusto in Scena brought world-class chefs to offer, through studies of new dishes, tasty food and nice but health conscious, replacing through research and creative ingredients that generally abused in the kitchen. For 2013, Marcello Coronini has chosen the theme “Cooking dishes” salty “… Cooking with dessert without … Sugar “thus taking a further step in the study of a new kitchen.

Confectioners and chefs have felt very involved and have submitted reports of considerable thickness confronting each other after the speeches and launching an interesting comparison.

It was an incredible opportunity to see world-class chefs to test to make dessert without sugar. This has attracted many professionals and gourmets everywhere.

“These three themes have focused on the need for a new Italian cuisine that reconciles the pleasure of eating with health. We gave the course, for a large project with a cuisine based on natural, on the quality, freshness of ingredients, – explains Marcello Coronini –essential elements for the natural taste of the raw materials by reducing the need to enhance the flavors with added useless.”

To the chefs were asked to replace sugar with natural alternative ingredients, equally tasty in quantities less than 50%. And the great names of Italian cooking that took part in the festival responded with originality and creativity in proposing alternatives rice syrup, agave juice, chopped dates, honey, dried pineapple and smoothie, coconut oil, isomalt, fructose , stelvia, fruit concentrates, and much more.

“ The objective of Gusto in Scena has been to build a new concept of dessert in function of conscious diet at the time when the dessert is eaten. – continues Mr Coronini – At breakfast, a cake with sugar can be positive because your body needs fuel immediately and quickly. On the contrary, the same dessert taken at the end of a dinner, gives considerable problems especially to digest it because the contents are added to the rest of the meal. Let us, therefore, make a distinction between the morning cake and the sweet dessert after a meal. “

The goal of Gusto in Scena was very ambitious: make Venice, for the days of the event, the world capital of gastronomy and it was really succesfull.

Henry BORZI

CHATEAU LA TUILERIE DES COMBES

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Chateau la Tuilerie des CombesDuring the BRAFA in Brussels, we met Count Vincent le Grelle, owner of Chateau La Tuilerie des Combes, on both appellations Montagne Saint-Emilion and Lussac Saint-Emilion, near Saint-Emilion in Aquitaine. This is a belgian family which is already for more than 30 years in the region.

Count le Grelle is a partner of the BRAFA. He accepted to give us an exclusive and exceptional interview to present his wines.

The website of Château La Tuilerie des Combes

Miguel D. DESNERCK

NEW FRONTIERS OF ITALIAN CUISINE AT “GUSTO IN SCENA”

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“Gusto in scena” the annual meeting of italian taste performed in the splendid frame of the Venice Lagoon will be held from 17th to 19th march.

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This year at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista in Venice, an architectural complex of incredible beauty founded in 1261, more than 20 internationally renowned chefs will attend the event. Thanks to the collaboration of the Fondazione Italia-Cina, the event will also examine strategies to open new paths to the Asian market and it will enhance the heroic viticulture.

Sugar will be a key issue of the 5th edition of Gusto in Scena. For the appointment of 2013, in fact, Marcello Coronini, journalist and critic of food and wine, launches a new original idea: “Cooking with … Cooking without … Sugar.” This will be really challenging for the big names of Italian cuisine attending the event.  The festival has further renewed its formula of three principal events in one and also side-happenings: the Congress of haute cuisine, Chefs in Concert, The Magnificent Wines, a big tasting with Italian and international wines, Gourmet Seductions, a series of culinary whims.

More information and updates on the official website: www.gustoinscena.it

Henry Borzi

PROSECCO, STOP THE IMITATIONS IN GERMANY

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Germany stop for the first time the use of the term “secco” as imitation of Prosecco.

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Hard times in Germany for wines that show the label misrepresentations of the word Prosecco. An important ruling came in these days by the Deutsche Patent-und Markenamt (the German Patent and Trademark Office), which welcomed the suggestion by the Consorzi Prosecco DOC and Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore docg, to put an end to many imitations of the name of this wine.

In fact , the Prosecco wine since 2009 can only be produced in the north-east of Italy. A first result of great importance, which shows that the route taken by the Consorzio is the right one. Earlier this year, the two main consorzi – with the support of Mipaaf (Ministero delle politiche agricole alimentare e forestali) – have teamed up to protect and defend the image of Prosecco and Prosecco Superiore.

An important result

The result obtained in Germany is particularly important. It is, in fact, the first market for the three denominations DOC Prosecco, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG and Asolo DOCG. Until 2009 this country could bottle Prosecco, but ability failed with the introduction of Doc. This ban has led to the proliferation of phenomena of counterfeit of DO Prosecco, such as the tendency to label sparkling wines using the ending “secco”, an  obvious mispronunciation of the name Prosecco or the brand Neosecco. Monitoring activities carried out by the Legal Consortium, took a first important result: it led to the decision of the office German trademark to declare “non-recordable the brand Neosecco as the word “dry” is a mere abbreviation of the word Prosecco “.

The sentence, according to Innocente Nardi president of the Consorzio DOCG Conegliano Valdobbiadene:  “ In Germany this is an epic result, which is important not only for the German market but also to deter all the imitators. In recent years, we were committed to protect our name and record the brand of the  DOCG,  and to support  lobbying with other consortia and institutions, in order to prevent the marketing of products which imitate and misuse of the name Prosecco.”

A single legal entity

“ Time is ripe – adds Mr. Stefano Zanette president of Prosecco DOC, – so that our consortia are pursuing vigorously the actions of protection needed to ensure a future for our denominations. It is clear that much also depends of our companies, which must include a proper and consistent communication, and contribute to this activity. Despite the fact that the spirit of the rule of community law arises to protect the good faith of consumers, we can’t  ensure guarantees for  the entire production of the DOCG“.

This new year, the three consorzi involved in Prosecco DO, will constitute a single legal entity, capable of defending a genuine Italian heritage on  international markets and block imitation of the denomination in Europe and in the world. The actions that will be undertaken by the new structure will cover all major countries. It will aim to the contrast of imitations and the trademark registration of the denominations and a strong lobbying by the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions, the Ministry and the EU, which aims to make understand the importance of protecting this iconic product of Italy.

Henry Borzi

A GREAT WINE EVENING TO PRESENT FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA

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The italian autonomous region FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA is a land of exceptional flavors at the crossroad of Italy, Slovenia (then the former Austro-Hungarian Empire), Austria, the Mediterranean see and the Adriatic). It has nice cities like Trieste and Udine and a huge historical heritage.

On 19 November, in Brussels the Friuli Venezia Giulia  showed its best assets to a selected audience. A great masterclass was led by two experts: Walter Filiputti, a famous italian journalist and the belgian wine journalist Marc Vanhellemont  (In Vino Veritas). They  presented  traditional grape sorts of the region as Ribolla gialla, Pignolo, Refosco, Malvasia istriana,  Schiopettino, Friulano, Ramandolo and others. 5 wines were tasted (1 spumante, 1 white, 1 red, 2 sweet wines), first alone and then in the middle of a beautiful wine-food pairing with prosciutto San Daniele hams DOC and delicious cheeses.

Then the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce of Udine and ICE have received a wider audience for a walking dinner which allowed everyone to discover the specialties of Friuli-Venezia Giulia prepared by four chefs::

– From VITELLO D`ORO restaurant, slice of swordfish, fresh tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella from     Friuli.

– From COSTANTINI restaurant, traditional agnolotti from Carnia.

– From LA PRIMULA restaurant, typical  Frico cheese with mushrooms and polenta molle.

– From LA TAVERNA restaurant, risotto with late red chicory.

What a succesfull evening !

Miguel D DESNERCK

pictures: Henry BORZI

Wine production declining in the world

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France, wine country, lost its lustre in the last report of the OIV, which is overcome by Italy.

The conclusion of the Organisation mondiale du vignoble et du vin (OIV) confirm that the surfaces of vineyards continue to decline worldwide only with exception of South America.

This phenomenon combined with bad weather, led to the production of wine at “very low levels,” said the OIV.

Italy is ahead of France

Italy is ahead of France OIV estimated, this week, that the wine production this year will reach 248.2 million hectoliters, a “net decrease of 16 million hectoliters compared to 2011.” In this classification, the European Union remains far ahead, but surprisingly, Italy rose largest producer with 40.8 million hectoliters – despite a 3% decline compared to 2011 – ahead of France. France has a sharp decline to 40.7 million hectoliters (-9.3 Mhl compared to 2011). Spanish production amount at 31.5 million hectoliters. United States is the fourth largest wine producer in the world.

In Europe, where the EU has lost 270,000 hectares of wines due to the grubbing-up premiums granted for three consecutive years, only Portugal and Greece saw their surfaces grow.

Growth slowed almost everywhere

The situation is no better in the world: the growth rate of planted areas in the southern hemisphere and the United States has slowed since several campaigns against the movement of expansion observed around the year 2000. The North American production remains up in 2012 (20.5 million Mhl, 7%), but this is small compared to its level of 2011 emphasizes the OIV.
Only South America continues its development in particular Argentina (2000 ha), Brazil and Chile. This one even reaches a record of level production of 10.6 million hectoliters (up 15.5% compared to 2010).
Finally, OIV finds that the growth of Chinese vineyards tends to diminish and erosion observed since 2006 continued in South Africa and particularly Australia (12,000 hectares lost in 2012, 162 million).

Henry borzi

LEVOLUZIONE: a new star is born in the cantine Montalbera

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A new product signed by cantine Montalbera is born: Levoluzione, Barolo DOCG.

The constant development of Montalbera wine estate began over thirty years ago with the purchase of the property in Castagnole Monferrato and continues unabated today with the acquisition of the best land plots, which have always suited to the wine production.

Back in the 2007 the purchase of certain parcels of vineyard in Castiglione Falletto (Cannubi side) and La Morra, in the famous Langa known in the world for the production of Barolo. This acquisition made the birth possible of a new quality product, a Barolo DOCG.

A wine that is meant to represent a modern vision of this extraordinary and ancient piedmontese wine, as modern are all wine “realities” signed Montalbera.

Levoluzione, the name of the latest creation Montalbera, was in fact created by the desire to offer a wine of absolute and unique tradition. Careful viticultural practices, meticulous selection of grapes and a maniacal pursuit of quality in wine, helped maintain perfectly intact the heritage the vineyard had created. Ageing in French oak barrels and traditional barrels for a period of three years, they finally allowed us to get to a result of rare and precious quality.

Levoluzione Barolo is perhaps less flamboyant but more powerful than other products, such as vigorous as the millennial history of this wine estate. Matured and designed to amaze and fascinate, Levoluzione will appeal to all lovers, fans and followers of this authoritative wine, but will be appreciated by those who approach for the first time a real noble and great wine.

This is an elegant wine that is convincing to enhance the exceptional product line emblem of the company.

Henry Borzi

PROSECCO, A DECISIVE STEP TOWARDS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE RECOGNITION

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4 partners launch a committee to promote the application of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore to obtain the recognition as World Heritage Site.

The meeting with the different partners.
picture: Henry BORZI

The official inauguration of the Committee for the nomination hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore as site of world heritage at UNESCO took place on wednesday july 25th at Villa Brandolini in Solighetto (Treviso). The presentation was made by by the Consorzio for the Protection of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, the Province of Treviso, IPA and the Chamber of Commerce. The common objective of the project is to get the Unesco World Heritage recognition and, more generally, to give greater visibility to the hills of Prosecco Superiore and its vineyards, places that have inspired the poet of the countryside Andrea Zanzotto in his writings, and those in which walked and meditated Toniolo, an eminent sociologist recently beatified by Pope Benedict XVI.

A decisive step

During the press conference, the four organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the constitution of the committee which will now take a strategic role. A decisive step will now be made as the committee is established: the preparation of the technical file including the documentation that will give strong arguments for the application to obtain the listing of the hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene as part of World Heritage Sites.

 The technical file will explain in detail the reasons for the nomination which reside primarily in the ancient history of the area and which shows a stunning landscape where the man with his own work has embroidered with vineyards, creating a real unique and hilly landscape.  We can’t forget the presence on the territory of renowned artists as GianBattista Cima, one of the great Venetian painters of Landscape. In these hills the ancient tradition of viticulture has been married to the culture of the sparkling wine, thanks to the foundation in 1876 of the first italian enologic school in Conegliano . A perfect combination that gave rise to one of the wines that represent the pride of Italy: the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, today certainly among the most famous sparkling wines in the world. The UNESCO project, not only represents an extraordinary opportunity to promote tourism in the area but also an opportunity to preserve the hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene through a sustainable land use, protecting the environment from degradation and promoting its enhancement.

Video realized by Davide Borzi

Henry BORZI

 

 

 

A GREAT PARTY TO PRESENT CZECH WINES

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The Ambassador of the Czech republic made a great event yesterday in Brussels to present Czech republic as a great wine country.

Different wines were there to be tasted and doucmentation was given about czech winemaking.

Winemaking in Czech republic is very old, since the middle ages and, although wine production decreased due to the phylloxera crisis in the 19th century, winemaking in Czech republic is now expanding due to the help of the czech state to independant wine growers.

There are two principal wine regions: Bohemia and Moravia.

In Bohemia, there are two subregions: the Melnicka wine region  and the Litomericka wine region In Moravia, there are four subregions: the Znojemska subregion, the Mikuovska wine subregion, the Velkopavlovicka subregion and the Slovacka subregion.

The main producted wines are white. They are more adapted to this continental climate but red grape sorts are also present.

Rivers, hills and valleys compose most of the czech wine regions and the climate has an average temperature of about 10° over the whole year. Grapesorts are, from a long time, adapted to this climate and there are autochtonous grape sorts as more general grape sorts.

The white grape sorts are: müller thurgau, grüner veltliner, welschriesling, rielsing italico, pinot blanc, sauvignon blanc, traminer, pinot gris, traminer, neubruske, moravian muscat, palava, muscat ottonel, sylvaner. The red grape sorts are: saint-laurent, pinot noir, dornfelder, blauer portugieser, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet moravia, merlot, neronet, rubinet.

We were pleased by the fineness and high quality of these czech wines.

Miguel D. DESNERCK

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