Latest news with #ItalianWine
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
There's more to Italian sparkling wine than prosecco
When I was at university, whenever I partook in that most sacred of further educational rituals (that is, pre-drinks), my tipple of choice was an entire bottle of prosecco. More times a week than I feel comfortable disclosing here, I'd trundle down to the Tesco Express in Durham to score a bottle of Plaza Centro prosecco for the sublime price of £5.50 (it's now a princely £7). While many other wine writers' careers begin with a unicorn bottle from a relative's cellar, I'm proud to say that mine started here. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Why am I telling you this? Well, not only did I feel cool sipping my fizz from a plastic flute while my friends drank rum and orange juice mixed and swigged direct from the carton, but I also loved prosecco. Today, however, I'm more indifferent, which is not to say that prosecco has got any worse or changed in any way over time. But I have. When I was an 18-year-old concerned with getting as trollied as possible in the least amount of time and at little cost, I was drawn to sweetness, as many of us are when we're younger, and most supermarket prosecco is rather sweet – even the confusingly named 'extra dry' category allows for 12-17g sugar per litre. Nowadays, however, I crave acidity, salinity and all the punchy savoury flavours I can get. And, fortunately, there is so much Italian sparkling wine out there that isn't prosecco. Nigh on every region in Italy has its own take. The Trento DOC, which, like prosecco, is in the north-east, produces metodo classico wines from chardonnay and pinot nero (pinot noir), which are made using the champagne method with a secondary fermentation in the bottle (prosecco, on the other hand, is produced using the charmat, or tank, method). They can command fairly high prices, but they can still be had in your local supermercato for far less than champers. Then there's moscato d'Asti, an off-dry, frizzante wine with a low ABV and a nose that leans towards bouquets of flowers and gentle stone fruit such as peach and apricot. I especially like it in cocktails for which you'd normally use prosecco: pornstar martini, bellini, any spritz you fancy. Franciacorta, meanwhile, is becoming increasingly popular, and also employs the metodo classico makeup of pinot nero and chardonnay. Moving down to Emilia-Romagna, you'll find the previously-out-of-vogue-but-now-really-quite-cool lambrusco, which takes many forms and colours; the one you're most likely to find in the UK is a deep currant colour with a vibrant effervescence. There are also many producers who feel inspired by certain vintages or regional styles and choose to make their own declassified sparkling wines. All that said, if prosecco is your bag, have at it. It's an eternal crowdpleaser, widely available and suited to most palates – there's a reason the UK is the drink's biggest consumer outside Italy. Prosecco: it's not you, it's me. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Pignoletto Brut £8, 11%. A fun, fresh sparkling wine from Emilia-Romagna. Like biting into a granny smith. Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina Brut £13.79 Decàntlo, 12.5%. A charmat-method wine from a favourite Campania winery. All white flowers and peach. Ca'D'Gal Lumine Moscato d'Asti Lumine £16.80 Les Caves de Pyrene, 5%. All the classic flavours of peach and orchard fruit with a pleasing, palate-cleansing sweetness. Ferrari Maximum Blanc de Blancs NV £26.50 VINVM, 12.5%. A fancy wine from one of Italy's most iconic sparkling producers. Pastry, nuts and razor-sharp acidity.
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
There's more to Italian sparkling wine than prosecco
When I was at university, whenever I partook in that most sacred of further educational rituals (that is, pre-drinks), my tipple of choice was an entire bottle of prosecco. More times a week than I feel comfortable disclosing here, I'd trundle down to the Tesco Express in Durham to score a bottle of Plaza Centro prosecco for the sublime price of £5.50 (it's now a princely £7). While many other wine writers' careers begin with a unicorn bottle from a relative's cellar, I'm proud to say that mine started here. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Why am I telling you this? Well, not only did I feel cool sipping my fizz from a plastic flute while my friends drank rum and orange juice mixed and swigged direct from the carton, but I also loved prosecco. Today, however, I'm more indifferent, which is not to say that prosecco has got any worse or changed in any way over time. But I have. When I was an 18-year-old concerned with getting as trollied as possible in the least amount of time and at little cost, I was drawn to sweetness, as many of us are when we're younger, and most supermarket prosecco is rather sweet – even the confusingly named 'extra dry' category allows for 12-17g sugar per litre. Nowadays, however, I crave acidity, salinity and all the punchy savoury flavours I can get. And, fortunately, there is so much Italian sparkling wine out there that isn't prosecco. Nigh on every region in Italy has its own take. The Trento DOC, which, like prosecco, is in the north-east, produces metodo classico wines from chardonnay and pinot nero (pinot noir), which are made using the champagne method with a secondary fermentation in the bottle (prosecco, on the other hand, is produced using the charmat, or tank, method). They can command fairly high prices, but they can still be had in your local supermercato for far less than champers. Then there's moscato d'Asti, an off-dry, frizzante wine with a low ABV and a nose that leans towards bouquets of flowers and gentle stone fruit such as peach and apricot. I especially like it in cocktails for which you'd normally use prosecco: pornstar martini, bellini, any spritz you fancy. Franciacorta, meanwhile, is becoming increasingly popular, and also employs the metodo classico makeup of pinot nero and chardonnay. Moving down to Emilia-Romagna, you'll find the previously-out-of-vogue-but-now-really-quite-cool lambrusco, which takes many forms and colours; the one you're most likely to find in the UK is a deep currant colour with a vibrant effervescence. There are also many producers who feel inspired by certain vintages or regional styles and choose to make their own declassified sparkling wines. All that said, if prosecco is your bag, have at it. It's an eternal crowdpleaser, widely available and suited to most palates – there's a reason the UK is the drink's biggest consumer outside Italy. Prosecco: it's not you, it's me. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Pignoletto Brut £8, 11%. A fun, fresh sparkling wine from Emilia-Romagna. Like biting into a granny smith. Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina Brut £13.79 Decàntlo, 12.5%. A charmat-method wine from a favourite Campania winery. All white flowers and peach. Ca'D'Gal Lumine Moscato d'Asti Lumine £16.80 Les Caves de Pyrene, 5%. All the classic flavours of peach and orchard fruit with a pleasing, palate-cleansing sweetness. Ferrari Maximum Blanc de Blancs NV £26.50 VINVM, 12.5%. A fancy wine from one of Italy's most iconic sparkling producers. Pastry, nuts and razor-sharp acidity.
Forbes
28-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
Sip Into Summer: Discover Italy's Classic Pinot Grigio Wines
Tasting of Pinot Grigio wine on winery terrace in Veneto, Italy. Glasses of cold dry wine are ideal served outdoor in sunny day getty Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for Pinot Gris. The varietal is widely grown in Northeastern Italy. It's one of Italy's most popular wine exports and a mainstay of summer entertaining. Here is a brief background on the varietal and tasting notes on some of its most popular expressions. Pinot Grigio is a mutation of Pinot Noir that developed a grayish-blue skin color, giving the grape its name. Grigio means 'gray' in Italian. It's genetically the same grape as France's Pinot Gris, but the Italian version has evolved into a distinct style known for its crispness and easy drinkability. The varietal arrived in Italy from Burgundy and Switzerland centuries ago. Although grown throughout Italy, it blossomed in Northeastern Italy, particularly in the regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto. This cool, Alpine-influenced area offers an ideal climate for Pinot Grigio. The warm days help ripen the grapes, while cool nights preserve acidity and freshness. Over the last 50 years, Pinot Grigio has become Italy's most widely exported white wine, renowned worldwide for its light, crisp style. It's now a flagship variety of Northeastern Italy's white wine production. Pinot Grigio from this region is crafted in a fresh, unoaked style, intended for immediate enjoyment. It's light to medium-bodied, crisp, and refreshing. Typical aromas include green apple, pear, white peach, melon, and hints of citrus zest. Many expressions also exhibit delicate floral notes, reminiscent of white blossoms, and occasionally a faint almond or herbal edge. On the palate, it's crisp and dry, with bright acidity and subtle flavors of fresh orchard fruits and citrus. Some styles, especially those from higher altitudes, such as Alto Adige, exhibit a slight touch of mineral or wet stone character. The finish is typically fresh and brisk, making it a popular pairing for seafood and light dishes. Soils of Northeastern Italy The region's soils play a key role in shaping Pinot Grigio's style, imparting these wines with a distinct terroir character. In Friuli Venezia Giulia, the soils are rich in marl and sandstone, locally referred to as ponca. These well-drained, mineral-rich layers give Pinot Grigio from Friuli more aromatic depth and a slightly richer texture. In Trentino-Alto Adige, Pinot Grigio grows on alluvial fans, glacial deposits, limestone-rich foothills, and dolomitic rock. These soils, combined with cooler Alpine air, produce Pinot Grigio with pronounced freshness, vibrant acidity, and a distinct minerality. In the Veneto region, vineyards stretch across gravelly river plains and fertile plains near the Adriatic Sea. These soils favor higher yields and a lighter, more straightforward fruit profile. They're perfect for the crisp, easy-drinking style that made Pinot Grigio famous globally. Below is a brief background and tasting notes on a representative sample of inexpensive Pinot Grigio wines from Northeastern Italy. Piccini, Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC, 2024, 12% ABV, 750 ml. $11 Piccini, a well-known Tuscan family producer, crafts this fresh Pinot Grigio from select vineyards in the Delle Venezie DOC, Italy's heartland for crisp, approachable whites. The wine is a pale straw with green reflections, featuring aromas of crisp pear, green apple, and white flowers. It's light-bodied on the palate, showcasing citrus notes, hints of peach, and a hint of almond. A brisk acidity and a clean, refreshing finish make this a perfect aperitivo. Pinot Grigio hanging on the vine few days before the harvest getty Domenica, Pinot Grigio, Trentino DOC, 2024, 12.5% ABV, 750 ml. $16 Domenica highlights the alpine freshness of Trentino's cooler, high-altitude vineyards, producing a more aromatic and mineral-driven Pinot Grigio. The wine is pale yellow, featuring delicate aromas of white peach, wild herbs, and a hint of mountain wildflowers. The palate showcases fresh pear and melon, with a subtle mineral edge. Crisp acidity carries a dry, elegant finish with a whisper of citrus zest. Mezzacorona, Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC, 2024, 12.5% ABV, 750 ml. $9 Mezzacorona is one of Northern Italy's largest cooperatives, known for its clean, reliable, and fruit-forward Pinot Grigio wines. The grapes come mainly from the cool foothills of the Dolomites. The wine is a light straw, featuring notes of green apple, lemon peel, and honeysuckle. It's brisk and zesty on the palate with flavors of pear, citrus, and a hint of mineral salinity. The finish is light, crisp, tangy, and easy-drinking, with lingering notes of apple and citrus. Livio Felluga, Pinot Grigio, 2023, 13% ABV, 750 ml $30 Livio Felluga, a benchmark producer in Friuli Venezia Giulia, crafts one of Italy's most refined Pinot Grigios, renowned for complexity and depth. The wine is a deep straw yellow with golden hints, featuring aromas of ripe pear, apple blossom, and delicate spice. It's smooth and textured on the palate with layers of orchard fruit, subtle herbs, and a creamy mouthfeel balanced by lively acidity. The finish is long and polished with a lingering touch of saline minerality. Jermann, Pinot Grigio, Friuli, 2023, 13% ABV, 750 ml. $26 Jermann is one of Friuli's most iconic wineries, renowned for its expressive whites that combine precision and character. Their Pinot Grigio is a standout for its purity and nuanced complexity. The wine is pale yellow, featuring aromas of pear, white peach, and a faint hint of almond. It's brisk on the palate with crisp apple, stone fruit, and a gentle floral note. A balanced acidity and silky texture result in a refined, lingering finish. Pasqua, Pinot Grigio DOC, 2023, 12% ABV, 750 ml. $11 Pasqua is a historic Verona-based winery that produces accessible, fresh wines, capturing the easy-drinking side of Pinot Grigio from the Veneto region. The wine is a pale straw with greenish highlights, featuring aromas of green apple, lemon, and spring flowers. It's light and crisp on the palate with notes of pear, citrus zest, and a fresh, brisk acidity. It's refreshing and straightforward, perfect for casual sipping. Ventessea by Mezzacorona, Pinot Grigio IGT, 2023, 9% ABV, 750 ml. $15 Ventessea is a new label by Mezzacorona, focusing on youthful, fruit-driven, low-alcohol Pinot Grigio crafted for modern palates. The color is a light straw, featuring aromas of ripe pear, melon, and a touch of citrus blossom. It's smooth and lively on the palate, showcasing ripe orchard fruits and a crisp, dry finish. The finish is brisk with balanced acidity and a soft texture. Autumn landscape in Collio Wine region, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy getty Kettmeir, Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige, 2023, 13.5% ABV, 750 ml. $22 Kettmeir, nestled in Alto Adige's cool, high-altitude alpine climate, produces elegant, minerally Pinot Grigio that reflects the region's distinctive terroir. The wine is a pale yellow, featuring a fragrant nose of pear, white peach, and mountain herbs. It's tangy and crisp on the palate, showcasing green apple, citrus, and a flinty mineral edge. Bright acidity and a refreshing minerality result in a lingering, dry finish. Pinot Grigio from Northeastern Italy is defined by cool-climate freshness, clean orchard fruit, and the region's diverse mineral soils, which add subtle finesse. Its light, dry style makes it one of the world's favorite whites — approachable, versatile, and reliably refreshing. These wines exemplify the immense diversity that Pinot Grigio from Northeastern Italy offers, ranging from the minerally edged wines of Alto Adige to the tangy, zesty, and fruit-forward wines of the Veneto. These are easy-drinking wines that pair well with a variety of foods and make excellent aperitifs. They are also extremely economical and well worth exploring. More From Forbes Forbes The Best White Wines Under $10, According To The Top Wine Competitions By Joseph V Micallef Forbes The Best White Wines, According To The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers Of America By Joseph V Micallef Forbes Riesling Wine's 590th Anniversary: Toasting Purity, Precision And Passion By Joseph V Micallef
Forbes
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
In Times Square, Buchette Del Vino NYC Unveils A Florentine Tradition
Buchette del Vino NYC, a replica of a Tuscan piazza with a historic Florentine wine window, has ... More opened in Times Square. New Yorkers who get frustrated while passing through Times Square can now find a reason to stop and linger—and perhaps savor a glass of Italian wine. That was the message behind the grand opening for Buchette del Vino NYC, a trattoria replicating a Tuscan piazza graced with a Florentine wine window along Broadway between 43rd and 44th streets. This Italian F&B concept is from partners Jack Logue and Chris Miller, the duo behind the resurgence of The Lambs Club, a modern American restaurant within The Chatwal, New York. This circa 1905 hotel, belonging to The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, is located nearby this Tuscan-inspired concept. It is situated within the center of Times Square Pedestrian Plaza. From left, Chris Miller, managing partner of The Lambs Club, looks on as the restaurant's executive ... More chef and partner Jack Logue cuts a ribbon to open Buchette del Vino NYC. Behind Logue is Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance. 'For those New Yorkers who like to whine about Times Square, you can come to Times Square and have some wine,' said Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance, at the opening ceremony. Also at the opening, Logue, a native New Yorker who is The Lambs Club's executive chef and partner, shared the enthusiasm. The food and drink menu at Buchette del Vino NYC will feature many Italian specialties. 'We could not be more excited to be here,' said Logue. 'We wanted to bring some joy and some fun to New York City and Times Square. I was one of those born and raised New Yorkers who whined about Times Square and now will be drinking wine in Times Square.' Alongside wines, customers at Buchette del Vino NYC can order espresso, gelato and draft beer. The food portion of the menu will feature salads, paninis and tramezzini (Italian triangular sandwiches) as well as a pasta of the month. Orders will be made onsite amid a culinary team with 40 combined years of Michelin star experience. Logue, who lived in Italy for two years, said that Antonelli Wines in Florence will handle the wine selection at Buchette del Vino NYC. 'For me, Italy is always going to be part of my heart and soul. We decided to put one in New York City and once we committed to do it, we just said we're going to do it.' The Buchette del Vino NYC will be open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight daily.
