It’s always a nice job to share impressions, emotions and evaluations about typical wines of a specific Italian region (in this case: Romagna, on the North of Italy), comfortably in my city: Rome. I Like too much the idea of ​​focusing on the Albana di Romagna vine, suggested in dry version (introducing by sommelier Monica Coluccia) proposed  which is the most true and perhaps the most natural way. Let's be honest: when we speak about Albana di Romagna DOCG, we think to the most famous kind: the straw wine (Passito) or even the one beneficially shaped by noble rot. But – in my opinion - this kind of Albana dry vinification is the real test for each good wine-grower in Romagna.

The “natural woman” Angela Fronti is the real “fresh face” of a wonderful Chianti Classico Riserva that thrilled me at last FIVI Market. FIVI is Italian Federation of Indipendent Winegrowers. FIVI winemakers in Italy are a clear sample of artisans winemakers, the classic vigneron, who follow in first person all the steps from vine to wine, up to the marketing and communication of their products. Wines that almost always are the result of organic or natural agriculture, without (or almost) use of chemical treatments in the vineyard and in the cellar.

Few years ago I had the pleasure to meet winegrower Andrea Cortonesi, the Uccelliera owner: I saw in him a strong determination and desire to improve his viticulture and his wines always and continuously. Currently can confirm it: he has achieved great results and never stops. Andrea Cortonesi is a forward-thinking and ambitious man.
"l became a farmer by deliberate personal choice – says -. Although I come from an agricultural family, I could have chosen a different path--until, in 1986, I purchased the Uccelliera farm”. Uccelliera means bird house.

Roberto Ceraudo really loves his land. If the jewel called Dattilo is his creature, built in his own likeness, his sons Susy, Caterina and Giuseppe are his pearls. Roberto gave his best for this land that slopes slightly from the hills of Strongoli, creating a natural terrace towards the Ionian Sea. We are in Calabria, in the province of Crotone. In 1973, Roberto started his adventure among fields, sowing, harvesting, up and down on his tractor.

I met Chiara Lungarotti during some interviews, when she was the national president of the Italian Wine Tourism Movement. She isn't even that appointment but - actually - that role has sure got under her skin. The Lungarotti wineries (of which Chiara is the CEO) are a shining sample of how the hospitality of wine tourists and of all types of visitors should be managed. How do you do it? Proving availability, professionalism, passion, ability to tell their own story. 

Usually the name of a wine to make it clear immediately what the company's intentions are towards that specific label, especially if you want to focus strongly on a product to enhance. Call a label "Epokale" with "k" reinforcing the concept, the intention become very clear. Cantina Tramin (Tramin Winey) at Termeno (Bolzano), has given a wine as "Epokale" because wants to be more than historical: even "epochal". 

I'm sure you don't believe that Calabria (region of South Italy) is really rich in fine wines! Among these are excellent wines, born and handed down by ancient traditions. Such as the Moscato Passito di Saracena, produced with an unchanged method over time, since the Arab times.

Luigi Viola, now retired teacher, has introduced this wine, a intense nectar, to the whole world.

From cinema to wine: what an exciting story! In my opinion, very briefly defines the saga of Rocca delle Macìe, the Chianti Classico winery belonging to the Roman family Zingarelli. It's been more than 40 years (1973) since Italo Zingarelli bought Rocca delle Macìe at Castellina in Chianti, near Siena. He was producer of some important movies got famous in cinema history, such as "spaghetti western" genre performed by unforgettable Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. In  70s, Italo crowned his dream of creating a holding in the heart of Chianti Classico.