It appears, in the short term, that decisions made by the men and women working at the White House have been made in favor of business. The Decider-in-Chief thinks that by encouraging (bribing) businesses to open, people will leave the safety of their homes, and rush to shop at their local department store to purchase – what? […]
The Answer is Brunello: The Grape Is?
Sangiovese in the Vineyard? Brunello (brown one) in the Glass Sangiovese is considered one of the most widely planted grape varieties in Italy (one in every 10 vines). You will find these grapes in 67 percent of Tuscan, Italy vineyards and it is the main grape in 25 DOC(G)s. The total Brunello production of Brunello? 750,000 cases […]
Wine from Kosovo – Not Costco
Searching for a WOW to pour into your wine glass? My suggestion: Wine from Kosovo, especially the 2018 Stone Castle, Rose, Pinot Noir, Rahoveci Valley. Don’t Get Puzzled Some people confuse Costco with Kosovo. Recently, as I was pouring wine into a glass, and brought attention to the beautiful coral hue, I mentioned that the wine was from […]
South African Wine Adventures
Initial Quest The 17th century marks the beginning of the wine industry in South Africa. The year was 1655 when the first grapes were planted by a Dutch settler. The first bottle was produced in Cape Town by Jan van Riebeeck, the Dutch station manager for the Dutch East India Company who arrived in 1652 to establish a […]
No more International Flights on South African Airways
Travel to South Africa may be impossible at this time. The COVID-19 pandemic and attendant travel restrictions resulted in a substantial decline in demand for air travel. The situation caused many airlines across the world to ground aircraft, release their employees, and to cancel flights. In the case of SAA, this decision means that SAA […]
You are Elegant and Sophisticated? Pour Bordeaux into Your Glass!
Bordeaux Winemakers Started Early Bordeaux, formerly known as Burdigala, dates back to the 3rd century when the Celtic tribes decided to settle in a beautiful spot, located on the western coast of the Baronne River. Latin Poet, Ausonius, first recorded mention of wine production in Bordeaux in AD 350 and a château still bears his name, […]
Lugana, Italy: Wines Waiting in the Wings
Lugana, located in the vinicultural region of northern Italy, sits at the southern end of Lake Garda. Lugana, derived from the Latin Lacus Lucanus (lake in the woods) is noted for its wines, and the region also offers incredible tourism opportunities as the religious influences from the Middle Ages especially in the towns of San Benedetto […]
Italy Prime Minister announces closure of all commercial activities
New measures against the COVID-19 coronavirus were announced by Italy Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte entailing the closure of all commercial activities. This new measure will be in force from March 12 until March 25. According to Italy’s civil protection bulletin today, there are 10,590 infected; 827 dead; and 1,045 healing. “I am proud of the Italian endurance test,” said […]
One Woman. Many Wines
Lia Tolaini Banville and her father, Pier Luigi Tolaini, started importing wines from Italy 16 years ago (2004), expanding the operation in 2016 to include wines from France, Germany and the UK. In 2011, Banville added Italian spirits to her portfolio, introduced a wholesale division and, a few years later, extended her reach to include Washington, DC […]
The French Vineyards of Occitanie
Occitanie is considered one of the newest French wine regions and it is located only 2 hours from Barcelona. The name for the region references a large southern European realm where people spoke a Latin-derived language called Occitan. This French vineyards region covers a territory similar to that ruled by the Counts of Toulouse in the 12th […]