Podcasts about super tuscans

Argiano è una delle principali e più affermate realtà vitivinicole del territorio di Montalcino e della Toscana. Celebre per i suoi eccellenti Brunello di Montalcino, Argiano è anche il produttore di uno dei più grandi Super Tuscans della storia, creato per la prima volta con l'annata 1995 grazie alla visione e allo strepitoso genio di Giacomo Tachis, il più grande enologo italiano e padre del rinascimento enologico del Paese. Solengo 2021 - anche ancora oggi è prodotto con la composizione ideata dal grande enologo piemontese - conquista i Cinque Diamanti DiWineTaste e il titolo di migliore vino di Marzo 2025.

Argiano is one of the main and most established wineries in the Montalcino area and Tuscany. Famous for its excellent Brunello di Montalcino, Argiano is also the producer of one of the greatest Super Tuscans in history, created for the first time with the 1995 vintage thanks to the vision and the amazing genius of Giacomo Tachis, the greatest Italian winemaker and father of the wine renaissance in the country. Solengo 2021 - still produced today with the composition conceived by the great Piedmontese winemaker - conquers DiWineTaste Five Diamonds and the title of best wine of March 2025.

Before we dive into today's episode, I want to take a moment to acknowledge a significant event that has touched millions around the world. Earlier this week, we learned of the passing of Pope Francis. His leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment to faith and service left an indelible mark not only on the Catholic Church but also on the global community. Whether you are a person of faith or simply someone who values the impact of a life dedicated to service, his legacy reminds us of the power of humility, hope, and unity. Our thoughts are with all those mourning this loss. May he rest in peace.Welcome back to Beats, Vines & Life! In this episode, host MJ Towler is joined once again by the charismatic Bobby Rallo—a seasoned restaurateur, chef, and passionate Italian wine critic with deep roots in Italian food and culture. From childhood memories of simmering garlic and baking bread to adventures in some of Italy's most iconic vineyards. Bobby shares stories of his family's culinary legacy, travel tales with his daughter Stella, and reflections on how Italian wine and food are inextricably linked.This lively conversation takes listeners on a tour through the heart of Italian wine country, exploring regions like Marche, Umbria, Lazio, and, of course, Tuscany. Expect a blend of vivid wine tasting notes, behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the restaurant world, and plenty of laughs as MJ and Bobby dig into everything from the rise of Super Tuscans to the quirks of American wine marketing.Whether you're a seasoned oenophile or just looking to expand your palate, you'll love this journey through Italy's central vineyards—served with side dishes of history, family, and a slice of real-life food and wine culture. Grab your glass and join the ride!A Massive THANK YOU to BOBBY RALLO!!! For more information about Rallo Hospitality click the link!!Follow Birravino on IG!Follow Bobby on IG!____________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Subscribe and give Beats Vines and Life a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show, sign up at blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguyFollow Beats Vines and Life @beatsvinesandlifeThank you to our sponsor, The Best Shake Ever. Fuel Your Body, Elevate Your Life with Shakeology! Looking for a delicious, nutrient-packed shake that supports your health and wellness goals? Shakeology is your all-in-one superfood solution! Packed with premium proteins, fiber, probiotics, antioxidants, and essential vitamins.For more information, go to The Best Shake Ever Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Moretti Cuseri family achieved success producing luxury goods in Italy. Hand-crafted luxury is also their approach to making wines at their five wine estates in Tuscany and Sicily. Export director and third generation, Alberto Moretti Cuseri, discusses each estate and wines starting with flagship Sette Ponti in Valdarno di Sopra DOC near Arezzo, which his grandfather acquired in 1951 and where his father, Antonio, planted international varieties to make some of Italy's first Super Tuscans.The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com).  The Connected Table Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.

What makes Sangiovese a difficult wine to grow and make? Why should you pay attention to the white wines of Tuscany? What do you need to know about Tuscany's Vin Santo? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Susan Keevil You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, On Tuscany: From Brunello to Bolgheri, Tales from the Heart of Italy. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!   Highlights What are some common mistakes people make when comparing Tuscan wines to those from other regions? What are Super Tuscans and how did they come to be? Why did these rebel wines capture the imagination of the world in the 70s and 80s? What's the new Super Tuscan counter culture about? Why did Brunello di Montalcino achieve icon status? What makes Sangiovese difficult to grow and why doesn't it tend to thrive in North America? What motivated Susan to include sections on Tuscan white wines and Vin Santo in the book? How is Vin Santo made and why is there so much variety? What makes Tuscan olive oil so special? How can you best pair Tuscan wines with food? Why would Susan love to be able to share a bottle of wine with Queen Elizabeth II?   Key Takeaways Susan notes that Sangiovese is like Pinot Noir in that it likes certain terroir, particular soils, the winds of Tuscany, and it is quite a sensitive grape. You can't overproduce it. It responds differently to different sites and it's not good in every vintage. It has so many parallels with Pinot Noir. They don't taste the same, but they behave the same. Susan likes an underdog story like the white wines of Tuscany, because they're only like 10% of the wines produced, though she believes that the Trebbiano grape is like the evil twin. In the book, Emily O'Hare writes about grapes like Vernaccia, Vermentino and Ansonica that are producing some great wines so we should watch out for them. There's another lovely story about wines of the small island called Giglio. It was raided by the pirate Barbarossa, and he sent all the inhabitants away to be slaves in Constantinople. But he brought back people from a village in Greece, and they bought the grape called Ansonica with them and so those vines are still on the island today. Susan thinks white wines are going to be more important for Tuscany. If you're going to find a comparison, Susan says that Tokaji is a really good one, because it has that bracing acidity that the Italians love as well. But also, you can't generalize with it. It's a 3,000 year-old-wine, and every farm makes a different version. In the past, they used to collect these grapes because they couldn't handle all the olives and all the grapes all at once. So they would leave some of the grapes in the drying lofts, up in the roofs. They would dry, and concentrate, and the sugars would get sweeter. When everything settled in November or March or February, they would make a wine from these beautiful sweet grapes. And they all have their own natural yeast from the air. And they would seed that yeast into the wine, ferment, and then they would lock it up in its barrel and leave it for seven to eight years. It would shrink, it would ferment. It would stop fermenting. And then at the end of that time, they would open the barrel very carefully, and it was something magnificent, but very, very different. Each producer would have their own.   About Susan Keevil Susan Keevil is the Editorial Director of Académie du Vin Library, where she has played a pivotal role in establishing and nurturing this esteemed wine publishing house. A former editor of Decanter magazine, she has dedicated her career to the world of wine, from editorial leadership to in-depth exploration of the industry.         To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/329.

This is the weekly columnBlending is essential to making some of the world's most iconic wines. We explored the several ways to blend last week. This week, specific wines created by blending.• Champagne can be a blend of pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot meunier. It often is a blend of different vintages. Champagne houses aim to produce a distinctive, consistent product year after year, and blending grapes and vintages is how they do it. Most of the time. In exceptional years they may make a single vintage Champagne, and houses also can produce a single variety Champagne.• Bordeaux, the world's largest fine wine region, almost always produces blended wines. Key varieties are cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec, and petit verdot for red wines. Bordeaux also produces blended white wines—Bordeaux blancs—using sauvignon blanc, sémillon, and muscadelle.• Chianti usually qualifies as a sangiovese varietal, but in lowest classification up to 20% may be white grapes malvasia and trebbiano.• Super Tuscans are sangiovese-based wines from the Chianti region but must be called something else because less than 90% of the wine is sangiovese. Super Tuscans are blends of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and others, often with a significant oak influence and high alcohol. Italian rules once required them to be labeled vino da tavola “table wine”—indicating the lowest quality. Wine makers rebelled, coined Super Tuscan, and in 1992, Italian authorities relented and recognized the blend's name.• GSM wines—a blend of grenache, syrah, and mourvèdre that also can contain splashes of 19 other grape varieties—is a distinctive Côtes du Rhône blend that spread worldwide. Notable GSM regions include Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Bandol, and Languedoc in France. Now also in Australia and California.• Rioja is Spanish blend with tempranillo leading the way, supported by mazuelo, graciano, and sometimes garnacha.• Porto (port wine) is a Portuguese fortified wine that allows more than 80 varieties in the blend. Touriga nacional, touriga franca, and tinta roriz (aka tempranillo) are the leading grapes.• USA, where anything goes. Unlike the Old World, New World makers seldom have any legal restrictions on what they make. Blends can consist of whatever grapes a winemaker pleases. Makers can follow Old Word formulas, but they also throw in zinfandel and other varieties. A goodly number of California makers use field blends and could not tell you exactly what grape varieties are in their wine.Last roundCowboy giving instructions on how to get to a West Texas ranch: “Go out yonder, take a left, and you are almost there. Be sure to close each gate after you pass through.” Wine time.Email: wine@cwadv.comNewsletter: gusclemens.substack.comWebsite: Gus Clemens on Wine websiteFacebook: facebook.com/GusClemensOnWine/posts/Twitter (X): @gusclemensLong form wine stories on Vocal: Gus Clemens on VocalLinks worth exploringDiary of a Serial Hostess Ins and outs of entertaining; witty anecdotes of life in the stylish lane.As We Eat Multi-platform storytelling explores how food connects, defines, inspires. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gusclemens.substack.com/subscribe

Toscana! Böljanda landskap, små gulliga byar och såklart lådvis med vin. Vi tar oss igenom hela den renässanska eliten (så småningom) mot all dryck som finns att fukta strupen med från den här regionen. Chianti! Super-Tuscans! Små, små vinproducenter med lång italienska namn!Allt det och mer i veckans avsnitt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The biddies revisit Super Tuscans! Learn about the big three – Sassichaia, Ornellaia, and Tignanello – as well as some more affordable options. Learn why they're cool and how to spot them in the store. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/69

To download the transcript CLICK HERE In today's episode, I have more than your average wine story. I will be talking all about Super Tuscans: An Italian wine category created from rebellion and innovation when a group of daring winemakers decided to break all the rules, planting French grapes in Italian soil. In the 1980s, these wines took the wine world by storm and they still are some of the most highly desirable wines in today's wine scene. So, by the end of this episode, you will know the history behind this wine style, the key players and the desirable wines, but also I will be talking about some more affordable versions too.   And you should hopefully also feel more excitement when opening up a Super Tuscan knowing it is a wine that broke all tradition, represents innovation and is a perfect blend of history and modernity.  This episode is sponsored by Wickham Wines, A small business themselves focusing on top quality wines. Do yourself a favour, and go check out their online store for their amazing collection! Use the code EATSLEEP10 for 10% off your first order.   If you want to skip ahead:   2.19: What is a Super Tuscan 4.39: Context on how Chianti DOC used to be and it's regulations 7.12: Some slightly more affordable Super Tuscan options 9.30: The story of Sassicaia 13.36: The story of Tignanello 15.38: The story of Solaia 16.28: Why is Tignanello considered the first Super Tuscan when it was made after Sassicaia? 17.37: The story of Ornellaia 20.14: The story of Masseto 21.25: What affect have the Super Tuscans had and how have they shaped Tuscany?   Any thoughts or questions, do email me: janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat   If you fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk Until next time, Cheers to you! ------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST HAS BEEN FEATURED IN DECANTER MAGAZINE, RADIO TIMES AND FEED SPOT AS THE 6TH BEST UK WINE MAKING PODCAST

I det här avsnittet är det dags att fördjupa sig i Toscana. Denna klassiska italienska vinregion som är hem till storartade viner som Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino och Super Tuscans. Undrar du om hur fenomenet Super Tuscan uppstod, hur många generationer som de äldsta vinfamiljerna har producerat vin i Toscana och vad man äter till viner härifrån? Missa inte det här avsnittet i så fall.Vinerna som provas i avsnittet:Art nr. 2723 Ricasoli Chianti Classico Riserva Rocca GuicciardaArt nr. 70662 Antinori Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato, Bolgheri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas navigate the wine list at Strega in Boston's historic North End. Strega's wine list offers renowned wines in half-bottle formats from both Old and New World, and, as a classic Italian restaurant, they offer a standout Italian selection, too. In addition to a few Super Tuscans and superior chardonnays, Michaela chooses wines that showcase ripe pear, cantaloupe, and lime zest, wines that feature bright acidity, ripe cranberries, raspberries, red cherries, cedar, clove, and cocoa, and wines that sing with notes of honeysuckle, white flowers, ripe peach, green apple, and grapefruit. If these wines don't tickle your palate and take your dining experience to a new level, call the doctor. It's time for a checkup.   Wines reviewed include: 2020 Feudi di San Grigorio, Greco di Tufo, Italy 2019 Terrabianca Campaccio, Italy 2020 Colosi Nero d'Avola, Italy For more information on today's episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

The biddies kick off the new year with some favorites, Super Tuscans! Learn about the big three - Sassichaia, Ornellaia, and Tignanello - as well as some more affordable options. Learn why they're cool and how to spot them in the store. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/69

The Moretti Cuseri family achieved success producing luxury goods in Italy. Hand-crafted luxury is also their approach to making wines at their five wine estates in Tuscany and Sicily. Export director and third generation, Alberto Moretti Cuseri, discusses each estate and wines starting with flagship Sette Ponti in Valdarno di Sopra DOC near Arezzo, which his grandfather acquired in 1951 and where his father, Antonio, planted international varieties to make some of Italy's first Super Tuscans.The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET.The Connected Table Radio Show is broadcast on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). The Connected Table Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.

"I thought I had the perfect life in New York, but fate had something different in mind for me.  I've fallen in love with this place and what it has to offer"  -   Casalvento: House of the Wind by Gudrun CuilloWelcome to Episode #79:About twenty five years ago, Bob and Gudrun Cuillo were looking for a place to buy in Capri Italy, not far from Benevento, near Naples where Bob had family ties to the region.   The Capri property fell through and next they found themselves in Tuscany talking to friends when they were introduced to an ancient Borgo in Radda, Chianti that might be up for sale.  A week later they were the owners of medieval Casalvento, a hamlet of land and historic buildings.  Bob And Gudrun didn't even realise there was a vineyard, and on the ground were vines of Chianti Classico.   Bob and Gudrun's fate was sealed and the next twenty years or so were spent restoring the vineyard, the olives and the Borgo, amongst other projects in their busy and creative lives. Later they purchased more land close by, a medieval hamlet called Livernano and onwards they went.  Today I introduce to Gudrun Cuillo and her book of fiction Casalvento - House of the Wind.  If you love a book set in Italy, and heart thudding, more palpitations set in the beautiful hills of Tuscany, but not just Tuscany that Italian Ideal, the Italian beauty Chianti, one of the oldest settlements ancient Radda, and if you love a little romance and travel, and Italian history and a story that makes you want to jump on a plane, well as soon as possible,  well then Casalvento: House of the Wind is a book to escape with, wherever you are in the world.Gudrun's estate these days makes award winning wines, Chianti Classico, Chianti Riserva, those gorgeous Super Tuscans and much more.  You can also stay and sip at your own leisure, do cooking classes, and wine tours, but mostly if you are intrigued you can visit her website Livernano Winery and Resort and follow Gudrun on Instagram at livernano_casalvento_ ….Or just listen along and enjoy Gudrun's story about the vines, the wine making and the writing journey.  And the surprising and wonderful process of becoming a fiction author, something she turned to at a time of grief and loss.  You can find her book Casalvento:  House of the Wind at all the usual places.  Find all Show Notes and details mentioned at: michellejohnston.lifeYou can now Support the Podcast and send your encouragement.© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and lifeMusic Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023Support the show

Deputy Editor of The Wine Advocate, William Kelley, who recently took over reviewing Bordeaux, as well as Burgundy and Champagne, amongst others, and former guest on E62 (Evolution of the Wine Critic) and E68 (Burgundy), takes a deep dive into the current state of Bordeaux in this two-part episode.  First, William tackles the history of Bordeaux and how it achieved greatness as one of the top wine regions globally to its recent decline relative to Burgundy.  Detailed Show Notes: Bordeaux was William's 1st love of wine, part of its charm being its everywhere and always accessible relative to Burgundy's scarcityThe Rise of BordeauxFrance's most successful “commercial” wine - Bordeaux is a trading port city on the Atlantic, commerce is key to its identityWine was mostly an export product vs Burgundy was drank mostly by nobility, was also harder to travelRobert Parker was a big supporter of Bordeaux vs. Burgundy, which was less of a focusBordeaux's downfallLost commercial influence over the past 20 yearsConversation of wine has been around “terroir” and the Burgundian modelAggressive pricing (particularly of 2010 en primeur campaign) also drove away many traditional customers - many wines still not worth what they were sold for en primeur from the 2009 and 2010 vintage campaignsWorries that 2022 may have a similar fateBordeaux strategiesSome are trying to replicate Bordeaux scarcity (produce less Grand Vin, more 2nd / 3rd wines) - the region/producer may be too big for this strategy to workTrying to copy other successful wine region styles (e.g., Napa, Super Tuscans; Int'l Sauvignon Blancs for whites)William believes the best path is to keep what's unique about the region but improve quality to make wines more approachable (e.g., more precise block harvesting, canopy management, etc.)There's an overreliance on vintage for Bordeaux; many great wines are made in lesser vintagesWinemaking trendsSince the 1982 vintage, new prosperity led chateaux to invest in new wineries, the focus was in the cellarRecently, the push has been for vineyard improvements, promoting soil health and rooting systems, canopy management, and rootstocks and clones, though these take generations to implementSales focusSalespeople in Bordeaux are not winemakers vs. Burgundy, where they are vigneronsCritics often taste at negociants, not at wineriesWilliam was one of the 1st critics to walk the 1st growth vineyards in decadesLa Place de BordeauxSuitable for big chateaux w/ pre-existing reputations, not small onesPetite chateaux - struggling and hard to surviveM&A - can increase top chateaux production, especially of 2nd wines, where they can often get 2-3x the price of former wines Get access to library episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore a wonderful selection of wine at the  Italian trattoria Buca's Tuscan Roadhouse, a small restaurant big on ambiance and authentic Italian cuisine. Their wine list has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and features a number of standout selections which Michaela reviews and recommends Super Tuscans, little-known value wines, and a few special bottles for those who want to indulge in  Wines reviewed include: 2017 Sor Ugo, Ala Vecchia, Tuscany 2020 Pipoli, Vigneti del Vulture Blanc, Southern Italy 2017 Nails Margreid, Schiava, Alto Adige For more information on today's episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Då är vi framme vid slutet av våran resa genom Toskana. Sista anhalten är Super Toskanare eller Super Tuscans. Vi diskuterar ursprunget av vinerna och försöker komma överens om vad som ÄR en Super Toskanare. Vi provar: 1. Le Volte dell'Ornellaia 2020 Pris 179kr Art.nr. 32472 2. Tenuta di Petrolo - Torrione 2016 Pris. 299kr 3. Tinuta di Trinoro Le Cupole Rosso 2018 Pris. 349-400kr 4. Marchesi AntinoriTignanello 2019 Pris. 949kr Art.nr. 32152

Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas navigate the wine list of Levante to help you pair the best bottle with your pizza or pasta – or both. Levante is a casual-cool, pizza-centric Italian restaurant and bar in the heart of Long Island City. It's vibrant, lively, and delicious. This wine list offers options to satisfy wine lovers of all types, from bubble or classic Italian white to Super Tuscans, Sam points out the best bottles to try and encourages you to be a little more adventurous when choosing a bottle for the table.  Wines reviewed include: 2019 Alta Mora Etna Bianco 2014 Boscarelli Vino Nobile 2016 Pacherhof Sylvaner For more information on today's episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

Vintec Podcast: a wine lovers guide to collecting, cellaring and serving

We're in the middle of a mini series on Italian wine and this week the focus is all on REDS! In Episode #75, I discuss the top 5 red wines you need to be familiar with when learning about Italian wines. We discuss food pairings, regions, how to shop for these wines, and so much more! It's an episode you don't want to miss, so grab a glass and press play now! And don't forget to subscribe to the show on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts so that you never miss an episode! --------- Sign up for my newsletter here and get a free guide to Food & Wine Pairing! >> thewineceo.com Email: Sarah@thewineceo.com  Instagram: @thewineceo Facebook: @sarahthewineceo ------------- Today's Sponsor: Wash & Wik Use code THEWINECEO at checkout for 20% off your purchase! ----------- Top 5 Italian Reds: 1. Sangiovese Family (including Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Super Tuscans) 2. Nebbiolo Family (Barolo and Barbaresco) 3. Barbera 4. Nero d'Avola 5. Valpolicella Blends (including Amarone and Recite) Honorable Mention: Dolcetto, Sagrantino, Nerello Mascalese, and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

The biddies kick off the new year with some favorites, Super Tuscans! Learn about the big three - Sassichaia, Ornellaia, and Sassichaia - as well as some more affordable options. Learn why they're cool and how to spot them in the store. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/69

Chianti over centuries had become the equivalent of Italian red wine and grew to be a style rather than a wine that represented a place. The key producers in the Chianti Classico region were aristocrat Florentine families with interestingly up to the Second World War, a run their estates with a system known as sharecropping. Landowners allowed farmers the use of the land in return for half of the production, which resulted in little incentive to improve quality. Central Tuscany saw the very first attempt to define a wine production area legally by Grand Duke Cosimo III de 'Medici in 1716, with the boundaries outlined and criminal penalties on any merchant or customer buying wines falsely claiming to be from these areas. This law was never really used, though it was intended to protect the good reputations of these wines and to prevent fraud.The creation of Sassicaia in 1968 and Tignanello in 1971 inspired the category of Super Tuscans and led to similar wines produced in the 1980s in the Chianti Classico region. Chianti Classico became an autonomous DOCG in 1996. In other words, it is no longer a sub-zone of Chianti.My guests today are Frances Di Savino and Bill Nesto MW co-authors of ‘Chianti Classico: The Search for Tuscany's Noblest Wine.' With which we explore the history of Chianti Classico, how those decisions tarnished the images of Chianti and what the contemporary producers are looking to change that.Bill is a Master of Wine who teaches in two colleges at Boston University: Metropolitan College, Fran is a corporate attorney who has a background in medieval and Renaissance studies and is Bill's partner in life and on the wine roadRemember to Subscribe and leave a Review! We would love you hear from you! Reach us on: Instagram Looking into wineTwitter Mattia ScarpazzaMail Info@mattiascarpazza.comOnline Recording on studio-level: Squadcast https://squadcast.fm/?ref=mattiascarpazza

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David talks to Club Oenologique's Adam Lechmere about the march of the Super-Tuscans including Bolgheri's awe-inspiring ‘anteprima' and he talks to writer and presenter Aleesha Hansel about how we should rid the world of unsustainable heavy wine bottles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you want to download the transcript CLICK HERE This is the second part of my chat with Sommelier extraordinaire Bert Blaize, and we are talking about his favourite wine region: Tuscany. He has visited this region many times, and so not only talks about his recommended wines but the places themselves. If you haven't listened to Ep 55 about his ideal (and mistake) food and wine pairings, go back and have a listen. Don't forget there is a competition running, to with a virtual wine tasting, hosted by me (open to listens all over the world). More details at the bottom.* If you want to skip ahead: 1.15 My winery of the week: Fattoria dei Barbi 4.59 Tasting their Morellino di Scansano 2019 (£16.27 WineApp) 6.16 Tuscany chat with Bert 7.14 Elba and Isolo de Giglio 8.08 Style of wines from Maremma 8.51 Super Tuscans and a recommendation Le Macchiole 11.00 Northern Tuscany: Lucca and Colline Lucchesi DOCG with recommendation Tenuta di Valgiano 15.41 Sangiovese and favourite regions 16.42 Brunello Recommendations Fellini, Stella di Campalto 21.42 Bert's wine shop in London, Bottles 'N' Jars 23.27 Perfect Pairing for a Chianti Classico Reserva 27.47 First love in Chianti:  Isole e Olena 28.00 Describing Chianti and comparing the landscape to Montalcino 30.13 Advice on buying Chianti 32.03 One of the best whites in Italy: Isole e Olena Chardonnnay Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk Until next time, Cheers to you! *Competition closes on August 30th 2021. It is open to participants all over the world.  The virtual tasting will include 6 wines. These wines will be chosen based on the winner's chosen theme, what they want to learn and what wines are available in their country. The winner will be chosen on August 31st and contacted. To win, leave a review and some stars on Apple Podcasts, take a screenshot, and send this screenshot to janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk or on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat You can always contact me in advance if you have any other questions. Good luck.    

Carter & Rob are joined by Yana (Carter's wife) to talk about and drink a couple of Super Tuscans.  They discuss how they came to be, what varietals are used and where the name Super Tuscan comes from.

A global think tank, a research and action institute, ARENI Global is dedicated to understanding and sharing knowledge around the world of fine wine.  Pauline Vicard, the Co-Founder and Executive Director, shares ARENI’s definition of fine wine and details findings from their research around the fine wine consumer.  This includes how millennials are shifting the mindset of all fine wine consumers, how they are loyal to merchants over brands, and the differences between consumers in Hong Kong, mainland China, and Europe.  Listen in and get to know the fine wine consumer better! Detailed Show Notes: ARENI Global - started as a think tank in 2017, gathering experts within and outside of the wine world, now a research and action institute with 3 steps: 1) understand the world 2) the impacts on the future of fine wine 3) what actions to takeARENI deliverablesDiscussion platforms with peersPublish whitepapers, reports, articlesSmaller events, panelsFine wine definitionObjective quality - complexity, length, balance, potential to ageThe capacity of fine wine to stop time, bring emotionsRelationship with its maker - the authenticity of expression of the winemakerPrice points - start at 30 euros ex-cellar, to the highest bracket of 450+ euros ex-cellarThe fine wine consumerARENI interviews collectors and merchants every yearWant to be treated as unique; curious - really into information; international; demanding; very loyal (not to wines/brand, but to several merchants) - trust is important; price-aware; masculine = getting more feminine (~15-20% today); getting young (now ~49, but getting younger)Use the internet to review prices and ratingsYounger international / millennials - don’t have a lot of regional differences, often source wines from around the world; choose restaurants based on sommeliers and follow them on Instagram; learn from the internetHong Kong - buy to possess, only buy through friends, interested in famous history or personalities, not vineyards and soilMainland China - buy to drink, only buy through friends, use the internet to make sure wine exists and isn’t counterfeitWhen prices rise for specific wines or regions, those buyers move on to other wines/regions; the brands find new customers in different regionsFine wine regionsmostly the classics, Bordeaux (70%), Burgundy rising, Italy, and ChampagneCalifornia has not impacted much because very little sold internationally, though more via La Place de Bordeaux; taste profile too powerful, Super Tuscans more similar to Bordeaux and better-perceived value4 types of fine wine consumers - fairly equally distributed between eachPassionate - addicted to knowledge, mentorship importantStatus Seekers - buy the label, belong to a group, approved by influencersCollector Drinkers - buy and sell wines, make money to buy more wineAffluent - people who are rich and want to drink better winesMillennial mindset - impacting other groups with their mindset - want to be considered as an individual, demanding, likes sustainability, social media use; the challenge is the affordability of fine winePeople tend to learn about fine wine through family consumption (especially in Europe), work (especially in the US), bought fine wine when it was cheaper years ago, mentorship (often from merchants and sommeliers), interest in food, and travel

If you find wine from Italy confusing, and/or want to get a better understanding of wines from Tuscany, then this is the episode for you. Listen to show host Joe Janish get the download on Tuscan wines from winemaker Giovanni Folonari, whose family has been making wine in Tuscany for over 100 years. Giovanni explains the following: - the differences between Chianti, Chianti Classico, and Chianti Classico Riserva - the new Chianti designation: Gran Selezione, and why Italians insist on confusing the world - when and why you should choose from these different types of Chianti (hint: it has something to do with what you're eating) - how a winemaker can get arrested for breaking Italian wine laws (it's true -- you can!) - where the term "Super Tuscan" came from, and what it means - why the term "Super Tuscan" might mean nothing at all - what "Super Tuscans" you might enjoy, and why - how to choose Tuscan wines - the simplest, fool-proof rule for pairing food with Tuscan wine (or any wine, for that matter) And much more. Links: Giovanni Folonari bio - https://insidewine.cc/gfolonari Tenute Folonari - https://www.tenutefolonari.com/en/ More about this episode on Wine365 - https://wine365.us/gfpodcast The photo of Giovanni Folonari accompanying this episode is copyright Angelo Trani. Have a question, comment, or idea for an upcoming episode? Email me at joe@insidewinepodcast.com or leave a voicemail at 917-727-9242

INTERVIEW AND TASTINGInternational wine critic and Masterclass.com Instructor James Suckling had a conversation and tasting with Elisabetta Geppetti and her daughter Clara Gentili. Usually, every summer to James visits them to taste their latest wines, but for obvious reasons, this was not possible in 2020 so they sent their wines to James instead.  Fattoria Le Pupille is located in the hilly part of Maremma, a coastal area of western central Italy. They produce one of the most popular Super Tuscans, under the label Saffredi. The 100-point Fattoria Le Pupille Saffredi 2012 came ninth in the JamesSuckling.com Top 100 Wines of 2015 and it was included in our 2016 list of Top 10 Super Tuscans. They started with the Fattoria Le Pupille Morellino Di Scansano Riserva 2017, which James found bright, fruity and balanced. They moved onto the pure sangiovese Fattoria Le Pupille Toscana Poggio Valente 2018. “It's medium-to full-bodied with refined tannins and a clean, fruity finish,” James said, also noting its elegance and drinkability. They finished with the Fattoria Le Pupille Maremma Toscana Saffredi 2018, which reminded James of traditional wines of the 80s and 90s. He said the Saffredi shows a “fantastic nose … with currant, sage, rosemary and rose-petal character.”You can hear more of what they thought of the wines as well as their opinions on the vintages in this podcast.

The CasaSmith Vino Rosso 2016 is a 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese blend sourced from seven vineyards located in various AVAs inside the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington State. CasaSmith is one of Charles Smith's Wines of Substance line of wines intended to pay tribute to his favorite wines of Italy. You may know Charles Smith from his line of wines that included Kung Fu Girl Reisling and Boom Boom Syrah, he sold those wine to Constellation Brands and is concentrating on the Wines of Substance.The Vino Rosso is a tribute to the Super Tuscan wines of Tuscany in Italy. In the Chianti region, Chianti is made with the Sangiovese grape, the Chianti wines were in decline from their days of massive popularity. There are governing bodies in Italy (DOC and DOCG) that provide strict rules and regulations for the farming of the grapes and the making of the wine.A few winemakers were looking to modernize their wines and experimented with using French grapes, mostly Bordeaux grapes and Syrah) which were not permitted by the governing body. The business was slowing down, so the winemakers, who were very encouraged by the results of their new blends, decided to release them for sale, anyway. Even though the grapes came from DOCG and DOC designated vineyards they had to show Table Wine on the label.Table wine was the lowest classification of Italian wine, usually used for low-cost bulk wine. The Super Tuscans were an immediate hit and are extremely popular to this day. This caused a problem for the DOCG and DOC who were promoting and protecting the quality of Italian wines. Table wine was outselling the highest designated wines, so the created the IGT (now IGP the European Union standardized terms). An IGT wine is a wine that represents the region it is from but does not conform to the rules. So, Super Tuscans were at one time an outlaw wine.This brings us to CasaSmith Vino Rosso 2016 which is an interesting wine. I forgot which vintage of this wine I had purchased and downloaded the 2017 tech notes by mistake. When I corrected my mistake a got the 2016 notes I found the vineyards used in 2016 were completely different than 2017 and 2016 was oak barrel-aged and 2017 was aged in stainless steel vats. They actually change the sourcing and production details based on the conditions of each vintage.That is the sort of thing you see in small boutique wineries, not with wines that are available to purchase from coast to coast. So we have vintage selected vineyards, natural yeast, not commercial yeast used in fermentation and oak barrel aging for 9 months with 35% of the barrels new oak. Even though the Super Tuscan wines were from a Sangiovese region the percentage of Sangiovese could vary with each producer or occasionally no Sangiovese was used. A 70% Cabernet Sauvignon to 30% Sangiovese blend is in keeping with the original. The alcohol content is 13.5%. CasaSmith Vino Rosso 2016 Tasting NotesThe color is a deep, dark, barely see-through black cherry red. The nose is rich and ripe, there is blackberry, exotic spice, cinnamon, plum, bacon frying in the pan (no maple), raspberry, sour cherry, and pepper. This is a chewy Red blend with a nice mix of light and dark flavors. It tastes of a stew of tart cherry, sweet blueberry, and extracted blackberry, followed by interesting spice, and tobacco. The mid-palate adds orange zest. a salty sensation, and dusty chocolate powder. The tannins have a slight edge, you can feel them but do not bite. The acidity is really good, it brings a solid bright edge to the wine. The finish is softer than expected but sticks around.The Summary The CasaSmith Vino Rosso 2016 is a Super Washington.  This is a well-made, very tasty wine. Give the wine time to open, don't just pop the top and pour. If you wait you will be rewarded with a velvety texture and rich, bright flavors. 

We are joined on this episode by Super Sommelier turned Woodwinters, Account Manager, Sarah Bachiorri. Sara is from Umbria, Italy, so naturally, the theme is Sangiovese. Learn all about the region Chianti, where Sangiovese hails. We talk about its history, its past problems, clonal research and why you should be looking out for clones R24 and T19 ( yep, seriously! ), We probably spend far too much time talking about sausage rolls ( very us ), but in our defence we were in Gezellig Restaurant and Bar and this could be the best bar snack in London, and at least this time we are eating it, so you get a wine and a food tasting this week. We also have a little chat about the Super Tuscans, Tignanello, Sassicaia and Ornellaia. This week we are tasting Antinori Chianti Classico Reserva 2015, Italy, Cantina Goccia, Nodo 2012, Umbria, Italy and Vinea Marson 2013, Heathcote, Australia

The final week of February 2019 was a disaster for Sonoma County residents and for business owners in the recently developed Barlow center in Sebastopol, California. The Russian River Valley suffered some of its worst flooding in decades. Bill and I both live in Sebastopol and we have a lively discussion about the floods and what the future holds for the affected areas. Brent Young writes an article to explain how vineyards are impacted during winter flooding. The interstate battles between California and Oregon vintners continue as Solidarity of Oregon has prompted Eric Cohen, owner of Justice Grace Vineyards to bring his attorney into the fray. Australia is hot. What type of impact is climate change having on this wine growing region? Glyphosate a key ingredient in the weed killer Roundup has been detected (in low levels) in several leading beer and wine brands. Should we be concerned? Bill and I discuss these topics and many more in this weeks addition of VinoWeek. Thanks to everyone for listening. Cheers! The wine of the week is the 2015 Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore. The town of Bolgheri, in the province of Livorno, sits at the midpoint of the Tuscan coast. Bolgheri is a relatively new wine area having received its DOC in 1994. Grattamacco was the second winery to be established in this area. The original owner Meletti Cavallari was looking for a fishing retreat with his wife and ended up buying an abandoned farm house with a small vineyard on a hill in Bolgheri. He planted the hill with Cabernet Sauvignon and they released their first wine in 1982. The property was acquired by the Tipa Bertarelli family in 2002. There are 67 acres of vineyards located on a hill between Castagneto Carducci and Bolgheri at around 330 feet above sea level. It’s a maritime climate with frequent sea breezes. The soils are calcareous sandstone, marl and clay and the vines average around 24 years of age. All the grapes are hand harvested, with spontaneous fermentation taking place in open cone shaped vats. The wine spends 21 months in french oak and six additional months aging after bottling. it’s composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese. I must confess I have never been a big fan of “Super Tuscan” wines. No doubt living in Sonoma County and being only a 45 minute drive from Napa Valley has prejudiced my viewpoint. It’s not that I don’t understand Super Tuscan wines or I’m incapable of enjoying them, admittedly I’m a maniac for Tuscan Merlot. It’s primarily is about availability and price points. Good to high quality Super Tuscans are not made in large quantities and they can be very expensive. Although Super Tuscans can be composed predominantly of Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Franc or other varietals, I’m referring specifically to Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blends. Having so many wonderful choices for Cabernet/ Cabernet Sauvignon blends in my own back yard at much more favorable pricing, puts Italy’s Super Tuscans a little lower on my buy and try list. I was afforded the opportunity to taste the 2015 Grattamacco at the James Suckling Great Wines of Italy event in San Francisco on March 2nd, 2019 and then again a few days later at the Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri San Francisco event. The wine displays black cherry, currant and cedar box aromas on the nose with garrigue lurking in the background. The attack on the palate is strong but the sensation is really one of elegance and silkiness. A slight earthiness, very intriguing, with a good kiss of oak. Full bodied with good concentration and savoriness, the finish is long and satisfying. The wine shows great balance with no rough edges and I suspect that it will age well, although it’s drinking incredibly well now. So if you’re looking for a great splurge candidate this is it. 4,166 cases produced $70 - $100

This week we are talking about Super Tuscan wine. Super Tuscans come from as the name suggests, the Tuscany region of Italy which is located in central Italy. “Super Tuscan” is a term used to describe red wines from Tuscany that may include the use of non-indigenous grapes, particularly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.   Wine Recommendations Tenuta Monteti Caburnio 2010 - priced around $21. 55 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Alicante Bouschet, 15 % Merlot, 5 % Cabernet Franc, 5 % Petit Verdot Nose: Dark fruit - blackberries, black currant, black plums, floral (like lavender and rose) Dry, full body, medium plus acidity and smooth, soft medium level tannins Flavors: dark fruit, vanilla, touch of rose and lavender You can tell this wine has spent some time in oak and in the bottle - soft edges but still quite a bit of acidity so probably would be great with even more age We were not expecting the floral component - we feel this is a bit of French influence showing. This wine is complex and structured, can stand up to food or good for sipping on its own   Toccata Classico 2015 - priced around $29. This wine was given to us as a sample The grapes in this blend are 50% Sangiovese, 30% Cab Sav, 5% Merlot, 5% Freisa, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cab Franc  Nose: sweet & smokey BBQ ribs, ripe black cherries and blackberries, vanilla Dry, full body, medium tannins, medium plus acidity Flavors similar to aromas, plus black plum This is an intense wine that needs food with big flavors and/or a bit of fat. Most people will probably want food with it. This one could also age a bit longer, especially if you want to accentuate those umami flavors.   Sources Wikipedia  Wine Folly  Vinepair  Oxford Guide to Wine

In this episode, Jake introduces an Italian Wine and gives a little history on Super Tuscans.  If you ever wanted a good pizza wine, give Saracosa Rosso di Toscana a try. Jake also shares his new method for taking wine notes and discusses with Mason on possible improvements. The guys discuss the debate over Terroir and the government enforcement of wine regions. This debate is raging in the Copper Cane vs Oregon case is starting to involve government regulators and the court. Jake and Mason put the libertarian twist on their opinion for how this could be solved with voluntary action. Speaking the government, your hosts also discuss the raising of tariffs on wine imports in the UK.  These duty increases potentially could affect UK drinking practices shifting it back toward Cider and Beer.

Tuscany is a famous wine region located in central Italy. It is known primarily for its red wines based on the Sangiovese grape, such as Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Montepulciano. Ever since the 1970s, the region has also produced the “Super Tuscans” – wines based on international grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. ***Subscribe to our Channels for more: *** ► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BEVERAGETRADENETWORK ► iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bevcast/ ► Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=233919&refid=stpr

If you’re anything like me, you enjoy wine but are fairly uneducated about it and usually forget everything you learn at wine tastings.    That’s OK. Today I’m talking with my friend Toni from Taste Florence and we are giving you a great wine list that has everything you need, whether you like red, white, or dessert wines. We explain what Super Tuscans are, I learn what barrique is. And we also share where to drink high-end cocktails at hipster places, as well as cheap gin and tonics at communist bars. Visit postcardacademy.co for the full wine list.   I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. If you so desire, you can sign up for my newsletter here. And thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard

Cesare was born with the taste of Sangiovese in his mouth, as he says it. He's 4th generation to be making wine in Chianti Classico, and we dig into so many topics that are very relevant in today's wine world. From the introduction to the Gran Selezione tier to what is happening with the branding of Super Tuscans and how they're involving. I also always enjoy hearing how the next generation is gearing up to take over. Please note, this podcast will sound better if listening while riding a Ducati at 200 mph (actually don't do that, but listen and you'll get it)!

Nel 1988, in occasione di una delle tante cene che due amici erano soliti organizzare, nacque uno dei grandi vini iconici e di culto dell'enologia toscana e italiana. Nato dall'unione del Sangiovese dei vigneti di Capannelle e del Merlot delle tenute di Avignonesi, il 50 & 50 è un vino di spiccata eleganza e finezza, un maestoso rappresentante della cosiddetta categoria dei "Super Tuscans" e che, ancora oggi come nel 1988, continua a stupire per la sua impeccabile qualità.

First off, we discuss Sonoma Underground, the event I'm co-producing on 24 February 2018 to showcase 15 amazing, "underground" producers in Sonoma that are hard to find, don't get the press they deserve, and make outstanding wines. Limited tickets available to you! Get yours: www.undergroundwineevents.com Then we talk Syrah! Syrah is one of tastiest grapes in the world but because it changes based on where it's grown, it can be a bit of a risk to buy. In this episode, we cover the fundamentals of Syrah, why it ranges in flavor and what to expect from the regions that make it. Here are the show notes: About the grape: Many different styles, many different faces Dark skinned, vigorous so have to tame it to get flavor Same as Shiraz NOT the same as Petit Sirah (cross of Syrah with Peloursin) Flavor depends on climate – you can’t generalize  Lots of theories about its origins - but the wine is from the Rhône. It's a cross of Dureza in Ardeche and Mondeuse Blanche from Savoie  Old World – plants based on total site (terroir, esp soil), New World = climate, soil less important   Top Places that grow Syrah: France Australia Languedoc Spain Italy Argentina South Africa CA Chile    Climate: Low tolerance for too much heat and too little heat Buds late, ripens early – short growing season Vinification: Co-fermentation – esp with Viognier (Côte Rôtie and Australia) – no more than 5%, with Marsanne and Roussanne in Hermitage (up to 15%) Stems and oak play a role Places: Rhône Northern Rhône:  General flavors – peppery when less ripe, fruity and perfumed when more ripe Côte Rôtie:  floral, roasted, bacon, lavender notes Hermitage: minerally, tannic, bacon, herbs Cornas – fruity, heavier, less nuanced Crozes –Hermitage and St-Joseph: flatter areas -- lighter, more peppery, floral, earthy, great values Southern Rhône Hot and dry, Syrah gets overripe – need cooler, north-facing sites to slow ripening, Grenache gets best sites, Syrah is part of the blend Known as an improver variety in Languedoc and Provence with Grenache and Mourvèdre  Australia Much hotter than Rhône – heavier styles Barossa: Benchmark Shiraz– chocolaty, dark fruit Best versions are dry-farmed Victoria, Canberra, Western Australia - More Rhône-like versions  McLaren Vale: Different styles often like milk chocolate Clare Valley: dark cherry Sometimes blended with Cabernet Sauvignon  Penfolds Grange is the most famed version  Check out the podcasts with Simone Madden-Gray for more info!  United States: California: Dry Creek Valley, Paso, Central Coast areas, some Napa as GSMs or alone.   Washington State: Some are big and full of plum, cooler sites in Yakima very nice with bacon. Outstanding in Walla Walla   Chile: Colchagua – warm, fruity San Antonio Valley – Limari and Elqui – lean with some fruit but not over the top  South Africa Swartland is the best – fruity, spicy, but restrained   New Zealand Needs hotter sites: Gimlet Gravels in Hawkes Bay, some in Marlborough   Italy Sicily, versions from Planeta, Used in Super Tuscans       Thanks to this week's sponsor who makes the podcast possible! The Great Courses Plus -- who makes you smarter and more well rounded! With thousands of outstanding video lectures that you can watch or listen to any time and anywhere, The Great Courses Plus is an easy way to stimulate your brain and make you smarter! For a free  trial, go to thegreatcoursesplus.com/wine  

Anthony Hines (Producer/writer of Sacha Baron Cohen productions) joins us for some freeform whines! And since he rebelled against telling us his whine in advance, we paired it with a rebel wine aka a Super Tuscan (Cab/Sangiovese Tuscan vino) from sponsor Gregory Condes. The wine is "La Massa" which is a Super Tuscan! A wine that stepped outside the rules of Tuscany. The hip sip tip from Ellen is going to Prizon, a K-town bar where she enjoyed fries and soju drinks that taste like Dimetapp in the best way. Shaughn's hip sip tip is a whisky (moonshine) his chums Bob and Becky made in California. The whines are freeform and start in with Ellen's women-in-comedy whines. Then they all cheers fuck Trump.  Anthony dishes on writers' round tables, the homemade wines from back home across the pond, and the terror of home-brewed dead bodies in Lake Hollywood. Gossip goes into the Royal fam back in England, from upcoming nuptials to the Queen-mum's drinking rituals.  Things go on to the Scientologist's schemes and driving dinner parties in the UK. It is all about the party. The lighting round covers where Super Tuscans came from, where sparkles in the UK come from, what the hell Claret is and what Rioja is. Pour a drink an get into it!     See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We welcome our new Italy co-host, Filippo Bartolotta, a native Florentine, wine expert, writer, and travel company owner. This fabulous normal wine guy tells us about himself, about Italian wine culture, and about how to get the best out of Tuscan wine!   The Show Notes:  1. Chianti is hard to recommend by appellation, the producer is more important ("heart and land"). Still, the best areas for Sangiovese are on the northern slopes. Areas between Florence and Siena like: Castelnuovo Berardenga, Castellina, Gaiole, Radda, Barberino Val d'Elsa, San Casciano are great. Colli Pisane, Colli Fiorentine, Colli Sienese have good wines as well.    2. Classico is a safe bet for an old school Chianti with: A light color licorice orange peel violet cherry terroir!    3. Chianti Classics a minimum of 80% Sangiovese but can be 100%. It includes native grapes like Colorino or Canaiolo, and Merlot, Cabernet, and Syrah in small proportions.   4. Classico also has a Riserva tier (aged a min of 24 months with a minimum of 12.5% alcohol to guarantee the fruit is ripe), and Gran Selezione (aged 30 months in barrel, 13% alcohol minimum).  Example: Montevertine (especially Le Pergola Torte),     5. We talk about how Super Tuscans raised the bar. We discuss Tiganello by Antinomy, Cepparello   6. The best producers pay attention to climate, clonal selection and tension between acidity, fruit and terroir.    7. Great producers In Montalcino: Tenuta di Renieri Pietroso Tenuta Le Potazzine Fuligni Le Ragnaie In San Gimignano (Vernaccia):  Sono Montenidoli,  Cesani Panizzi Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara La Lastra  San Quirico Il Lebbio   I know we promised a list of more Tuscan producers, but it's been hard to get a hold of those names since Filippo is the wineman to the stars : ) For now, we can use this list from an article he penned for Decanter a while back... http://www.decanter.com/wine-travel/italy/top-10-tuscan-wineries-to-visit-13770/2/  

Red, M, Dawn, T and Alpha go through some Q&A about back to school stuff. 21 Things Only Moms Know About the First Day of School What didn't you do that you wanted to get done? What is your favorite thing about your kids going back to schoolleast favorite? What is the first thing on your agenda after you drop the kids off? Stefano di Blasi IGT Toscana 2014 Our Take: A little young, but good. Authentic Italian food wine that can instantly transport you to the sun-drenched hillsides of Tuscany. If you love the balance and elegance of classic Italian reds, this is the wine for you. Instead of making a traditional Chianti, Stefano blended in some world-class grape varieties like Syrah and Cabernet to give this wine more punch (a trick he also uses when making hundred dollar Super Tuscans). This is your Tuesday pizza wine. You can open a bottle without mortgaging your house and it will turn a simple pizza pie into a romantic night in Florence.