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“Iconic Women in Italian Wine” tasting: Who, Where & Why?

May 15, 2022 by evebushman

VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) –  This unique event encompassed so much more than the sum of the individual women: two leading international female journalists, the female managing director of Vinitaly International, and seven renowned Italian women wine producers collaborated to create an event that set aside the natural competition between the players and focused instead on personal stories, camaraderie, and the aspiration all these women hold for the future of Italian wine.

Why has this event never happened before? An interesting question answered best by Monica Larner. “When Stevie Kim presented me with this idea, I was excited on many levels; however, most compelling was the opportunity to present beautiful Italian wines with a colleague whose magazine shares market space with my own. (Robert Parker) Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator have never collaborated on anything. With smug certainty I suspect our male colleagues would never pull resources together in this fashion for such a ground-breaking collaboration with important benefits. Post-pandemic we are all burning with a desire for new beginnings and being together. Inclusivity, camaraderie, creating togetherness. All seven of these individualistic and talents producers instantly recognised the importance and immediately agreed to participate.”

Stevie Kim pointed out that this event was the definition of ‘iconic’: “Two women wine critic titans collaborating for the first time, with seven Italian women who are giants in their industry, is a true demonstration of what it means to be iconic: ‘widely recognised and acknowledged for distinctive excellence.’”

Opening the event, Alison Napjus explained the real gravitas that informed the idea for the discussion. “Women are better communicators, using more words and more expressive words, with a better ability to listen and to empathise. These women are all around trailblazers, winery leaders, winery founders, wine makers. We all have to find new ways to connect and communicate after the pandemic pivot we all faced. This event gives us the chance to explore, as women, three particular themes in Italian wine; heritage/family, territory, wine ambassadors.”

The women winery leaders came from 5 different regions and their age gap spanned 40 years. The idea of women in wine is not new, women are everywhere in the industry, but the gathering to share stories and important vintages, to exchange experiences, ideas and ask questions with leading wine writers was ground-breaking. The honesty and open attitude of all the women involved was clearly part of the magic in the room and what will attract young and savvy wine lovers to the unique soulfulness of Italian wine.

Chiara Boschis of E. Pira & Figli in Barolo, commented ““What do I have of iconic in my life? I am not an iconic woman, I work like a donkey all day, but this vineyard, Cannubi, this is an iconic place, and the diversity in the area is incredible. When I first got together with my friends, the Barolo Boys, I was the only girl, but we all wanted to shine a light on all the differences of our area and understand the potential of our terroir.” She shared the 2010 vintage BaroloCannubi, a year that was important because her brother joined her, with his daughters who are all studying enology and will bring a new generation of women to the winery. “Wine makers usually work alone. When we start to work together, recognising everyone’s unique terroir, we start to learn new things and appreciate all the traditions, we find more opportunities.”

Elisabetta Foradori from Trentino expressed her perspective, in a different way. “I actually love making cheese, it’s another kind of fermentation. I’m a farmer. Our country has a beauty and a richness of variety and we have a mission to transfer into a bottle this pure message of the different terroirs. We have a great responsibility to save and improve the genetic variety and express the terroir in the most healthy and connected way possible. Be creative and responsible farmers for the future.” Her pomegranate logo represents 100s of tiny seeds, packed together in one beautiful container, 100’s of ideas, creative thinking, and out of the box innovation.

Arianna Occhipinti, from Sicily, youngest of the group, added her experiences as an explorer with a model for young winemakers. “Frappato is the original grape from Vittoria where I grew up. I needed an important grape to grow up as a wine maker. Thanks to the character of this grape, I learned to make wine. Now I vinify parcel by parcel to get better expression of the soils, the limestone, the tufa, the red sand. Now I have treasure, for me it is important to show what Vittoria really is, the fresh wines we can make even in the deep south of Sicily.”

Marilisa Allegrini spoke of her learning curve after the death of her father and finding her way in the world away from the winery. “Valpolicella was known for inexpensive wines in the 1980’s, and Amarone was a niche wine for high end consumers, so it was a challenge for me to communicate. The first time I went to America, the importer wouldn’t let me go out to promote the wine until I wrote down absolutely everything about the wine. Many people said they didn’t want a Valpolicella on their wine list, so I knew I had to communicate everything to make this area known and understood.”

Elena Fucci from Mt. Vulture in Basilicata felt much the same as she struggled to put her region on the map. “For me it is a dream to be with these special women in wine today. My journey started in 2000, when my family considered selling the vineyard because we weren’t making wines, just selling the grapes to the consortium. I decided to change the course of my study so the house where I was born and lived with my family would not be sold. I went to university to study enology and winemaking. No one knew where Basilicata was. I had 6 hectares and a single grape: my wine, my life, my Titolo. I travel a lot to explain my region and my wine, modern but not modernist wine, I work to respect and understand the territory where we are. The vintage I am sharing is 2012 because ten years ago I had no idea what would happen to me and my wine in these ten years since 2012 and how much communicating it would take.”

Heritage and legacy were addressed by Albiera Antinori with her family’s Tignaello and Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta with her legendary Sassicaia. Antinori said, “For me, looking at the history of the past 50 years since the start of Tignanello, and the diversity and uniqueness of wines that can be made in Italy — the terroir and the story are the future, terroir still to be discovered, every day you get surprised by wonderful areas with local varieties, an elegance, a minerality, they’ve got the sun inside. Even traditional vineyards have been replanted so new things will be coming up, but we must be centered on quality, personality, history and the story we can explain.” Regarding sustainability she added, “It’s a complicated word to use, it can mean different things. For me it is a puzzle made of many things, with the final objective of leaving something better for the next generation. Not only in the winery but also for our workers, our sales force, we need one certification in Italy for sustainable, for economic sustainability as well.”

Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta looked at the idea of safeguarding Italian wine history from outside investors and influences. “It’s not easy, there are real issues for family businesses, you have to have a strong sense of pride, family values and the family project. A responsibility to the next generations, we want to pass on what we got in an even better shape than when we received it. We are guardians. We have to combine financial goals with the family goals. Having a long-term view means we focus less on making short term cash, but we have to involve the family members to keep everyone interested, our estate is not only wine, we have other ventures and interests and my cousins and I have different interests on the estate. Consultancy helps deal with family generation change issues to and now we have the Primum Familiae Vini group which is a good place to share issues, know-how and support others in similar situations.

Summing up, Allegrini said, “We must put the agricultural product into the cultural context of Italy as a place of art, history, architecture, and beautiful landscape.” Larner added, “This is the real way to help Italian wine be more competitive, to communicate differently and better, to tell that story, down to the soil, down to the producer, down to the winery, down to the vineyard, down to the very last rock.” Stevie Kim remarked, “Everybody wants to be like Antinori, this is the problem I face as an agency, everyone wants that beautiful 26 generation story on their home page. Every winery has to find their own original story, not only the romance of generations and terroir, not only bio and organic and so on, but it has to be economically sustainable as well as. Each winery has to find the uniqueness of their story.” Najus concluded that, “You can teach people about wine, but to find the story is much harder.”

Looking back on this momentous event, Stevie Kim commented, “This session was never about men versus women or pigeon-holing anyone on the basis of gender, regionality, or points of view. Rather, Iconic Women in Wine at Vinitaly 2022 took a good long look at how to improve communication, highlight success and exalt the unique power of women to unite in challenging circumstances for a common good. Larner and Napjus absolutely found the story that needs to be told in order to secure the future of Italian wine in the global market.”.
__________________

About Alison Napjus: Alison Napjus divides her time between New York, where Wine Spectator is based, and a second home in Tampa, Fla. She regularly travels abroad, both personally and professionally. After graduating from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, Napjus moved to New York to take a position as a manager at Tribeca Grill restaurant. She joined Wine Spectator in 2000 and was promoted to Senior Editor in 2012 and Tasting Director in 2016. She is lead taster for the wines of Spain, France’s Champagne and Alsace regions, South Africa and wines from regions throughout Italy. As Tasting Director, she oversees the scope and content of Wine Spectator’s annual reviews of more than 15,000 wines, working closely with the tasters and tasting coordinators in the New York and Napa offices.

About Monica Larner: Monica Larner is a Los Angeles native, her family moved to Rome when she was 11. After high school in both Italy and California, Monica earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in journalismfrom Boston University and New York University respectively. She worked for the Italian daily La Repubblica, followed by the Rome bureau of BusinessWeek and two years as a staff writer with Italy Daily of the International Herald Tribune where she penned her first wine column. Monica is an active member of the Ordine dei Giornalisti and a certified sommelier with the Italian Sommelier Association. In 2003, Monica was approached by Wine Enthusiast to be the magazine’s first Italy-based correspondent, where her proudest achievement is the 185-page special collector’s Wine Enthusiast “Wines of Italy” edition that showcases her decade-long body of work. She was awarded the “Best International Journalist” Silver Grape Leaf three by the Comitato Grandi Cru d’Italia. Gambero Rosso recognized her as a “Leader of Italian Excellence,” and the Italian Trade Commission acknowledged her distinguished service to Italian wine. In 2013, she joined The Wine Advocate as the Reviewer for Italy.

About Vinitaly: the grand Vinitaly 2022 was held from April 10th to the 13th. Vinitaly 2022 counted 88,000 visitors of which 25,000 were top international buyers from 139 different countries. The premier event to Vinitaly, OperaWine “Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers,” which was held on the 9th of April, one day prior to Vinitaly, united international wine professionals in the heart of Verona, offering them the unique opportunity to discover and taste the wines of the 130 Best Italian Producers, as selected by Wine Spectator. Since 1998 Vinitaly travels to several countries thanks to its strategic arm abroad, Vinitaly International. In February 2014 Vinitaly International launched an educational project, the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) with the aim of divulging and broadcasting the excellence and diversity of Italian wine around the globe. VIA this year launched the 21st edition of its Certification Course. To date, there are 271 Certified Italian Wine Ambassadors of which 15 are also Italian Wine Experts.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: brand ambassador, cheese, covid, critic, farmer, grape, Italy, robert parker, terroir, valpolicella, variety, vineyard, vinitaly, wine advocate, Wine tasting, wine writer, winemakers

South Coast Winery Garners 20 Awards from LA Competition

May 7, 2022 by evebushman

TEMECULA, Calif. – South Coast Winery, owned by the Carter family, raised the gold standard at the 83rd anniversary of the Los Angeles International Wine Competition – winning two “Best of Class” gold medals, five other gold medals, eight silver medals and five bronze medals – stellar recognition for 20 of its wines. Sister winery Carter Estate Winery was also awarded three Silver Medals at the competition.

The 2022 Los Angeles International Wine Competition received 1,250 wines to judge, and the entrants showcase their finest domestic and international vintages through this prestigious wine event with judging taking place on March 9 to 10. Competing wines were produced in 19 countries, including: Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain and the United States.

The public will have its first opportunity to taste and learn about the award-winning wines at The Learning Centers at Fairplex, which offers an extensive wine education program at the Los Angeles County Fair being held from May 5 to 30 and attended by approximately 1 million people each year and at CHEERS!, a June fundraising event to benefit the education programs of The Learning Center.

“We are extremely proud to have been recognized by a leading, 83-year-old wine institution, being judged by a team of highly trained wine professionals and compared to so many outstanding domestic and international producers,” said Jeff Carter, president of Carter Hospitality, which owns South Coast Winery and Carter Estate Winery. “And we are pleased the Los Angeles International Wine Competition gives wine enthusiasts the chance to taste winning wines at the famous Los Angeles County Fair and its CHEERS! educational event.”

Following are the 20 South Coast Winery winning wines from the Los Angeles International Wine Competition:

Best of Class Gold Medal: Sparkling, Gewurztraminer, Temecula Valley, 94 points

Best of Class Gold Medal: Port, Black Jack Port, South Coast, 94 points

Gold Medal: Grenache Blanc, Temecula Valley 2020, 93 points

Gold Medal: Sparkling Pinot Grigio, Temecula Valley 2020, 92 points

Gold Medal: Rhone Style Blend, 20th Anniversary, South Coast 2018, 92 points

Gold Medal: Riesling, Temecula Valley 2020, 91 points

Gold Medal: Sangiovese, South Coast 2017, 91 points

Silver Medal: Viognier, Temecula Valley 2019

Silver Medal: Red Blend, Big Red Table, South Coast

Silver Medal: Red Blend, South Coast 2017

Silver Medal: Pinot Blanc, “Sur Lie,” Temecula Valley 2020

Silver Medal: Verdelho, Temecula Valley 2020

Silver Medal: Sparkling Rosé, Vineyard Rose, Temecula Valley 2018

Silver Medal: Red Blend, Meritage South Coast 2017

Silver Medal: Red Blend, Tempranillo, Monastrell, South Coast 2015

Bronze Medal: Sparkling, Spumante Diamante, Temecula Valley

Bronze Medal: Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands 2019

Bronze Medal: Chardonnay, Sans Chene, South Coast 2019

Bronze Medal: Sauvignon Blanc, Musqué Clone, Temecula Valley 2019

Bronze Medal: Gewurztraminer, Temecula Valley 2019

The Carter family’s sister winery, Carter Estate Winery, in Temecula also earned citations for three of its wines at the 2022 Los Angeles International Wine Competition:

Silver Medal: Blanc de Blanc, South Coast 2015

Silver Medal: Blanc de Noir, South Coat 2015

Silver Medal: Brut, South Coast 2015

A list of all winners and additional information is available at https://fairplex.com/competitions/wine-competition.

About South Coast Winery

The only winery among the state’s top wineries to claim the title of California Winery of the Year four times at the California State Fair Wine Competition, South Coast Winery sets the gold standard for excellence amongst California wineries, earning more than 3,000 awards since its inception in 2003. Situated on 63 lush acres, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa offers a breathtaking retreat for wine tours, romantic getaways and group events with 132 rooms and villas, a working winery and tasting room, gift shop, full-service spa and restaurant.

South Coast Winery offers a broad portfolio of 45 wine labels, the majority of which are available for sampling in its main tasting room – from robust reds such as Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Petit Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir to whites including Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Riesling. Also available are sparkling wines, dessert wines and other specialty offerings. The winery employs a staff of skilled winemakers, including master winemaker Jon McPherson and winemaker Javier Flores, both with decades of experience in the wine industry.

For more information, visit www.southcoastwinery.com.

About Carter Hospitality Group

Established in 2011, Carter Hospitality Group, LLC. is a family-owned hospitality company with four hotels and resorts as well as three wineries across the United States. Based in Orange County, California, the company manages and owns a portfolio of luxury properties including South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Temecula, California; Carter Estate Winery and Resort, Temecula California; and Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa, Texas Hill Country. Carter Hospitality Group additionally serves as the owner-franchisee for Red Lion Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista South, Orlando Florida. For more information, visit www.carterhospitality.com.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: argentina, Australia, best of class, blend, bronze medal, California, canada, Chardonnay, Chile, competition, France, Germany, Gewurztraminer, gold medal, Grenache Blanc, israel, Italy, Japan, judge, los angeles, medal, mexico, New Zealand, pinot blanc, Pinot Grigio, Port, portugal, red blend, Rhone, Riesling, Rose, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, silver medal, spain, sparkling, Temecula, Tempranillo, united states, verdelho, vintage, Viognier, wine competition, wine education, wine judge

Vinitaly International Academy Welcomes 21 Italian Wine Ambassadors

May 5, 2022 by evebushman

VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) The 23rd edition of Vinitaly International Academy was a joyful week full of intensive learning experiences, networking, tasting, studying, and a little bit of good old panic. VIA is the gold standard of Italian wine education and this year showed off the course to its fullest potential. With the in-person return of both faculty members, Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar IWE, the course rebounded from COVID restrictions with a subscription of over 50 international students and a tasting list over three days that encompassed close to 140 wines in preparation for a grueling exam that has a typical pass rate of 25%.

This edition of VIA saw an enthusiastic, passionate and seriously studious group of selected students with a broad base of experience in the wine sector spanning buyers, retailers, educators, writers, enthusiasts, sommeliers, and those very new to the world of Italian wine. VIA aims to create the longest table, welcoming everyone who is curious about Italian wine to join the conversation.

The course offers students a hybrid learning format, with a series of online lectures in preparation for the in-person event in Verona, where students are immediately immersed in the Italian wine world, with unique experiences such as an opportunity to taste the wine of the historic families of Valpolicella at the famous Antica Bottega del Vino at a private event, as well as master classes hosted by various wine consortiums from all over Italy. Professor Attilio Scienza, the VIA scientific advisor, also attended the course and delivered spectacular lectures with up to the minute research in vine DNA and history, specifically for the benefit of VIA students.

Students faced a challenging 4-part exam on Thursday 7 April, which resulted in the inauguration of 21 new Italian Wine Ambassadors, the most successful class to date. Congratulations to all the participants, all of whom have now become members of the VIA family, intent upon spreading the love for Italian wine across the globe.

The list of Italian Wine Ambassadors, Verona Flagship Class of 2022: Peggy Baudon, Bev Bourdin, Julian Di Donato, Noell Dorsey, Jodie Hellman, Cedric Izri, Elissar Kurban, Jules Lamon, Chunxia Liu, Michael Markarian, Hee Sung Park, Gabby Rossouw, Christpher Sachs, Thomas Sartori, Erik Schneider, Rodrigo A. Sepulveda Schulz, Emiliano Stratico, Scott Thomas, Jessica van der Schee, Ezra Wicks, Ashlee Brianne Howell.

About: Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) aims to be the gold standard of Italian wine education. It offers a complete educational path with standardized courses that will teach professionals and educators to master the diversity of Italian wine in a rigorous, organized manner. VIA’s main objective is to foster a global network of highly qualified professionals such as Italian Wine Ambassadors and Italian Wine Experts: in turn, they will support and promote Italian wine throughout the world. VIA was founded by Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International. The new VIA ecosystem avails of the guidance of Italian trade associations Federdoc, Federvini, Vignaioli Indipendenti FIVI, and Unione Italiana Vini as members of the Institutional Advisory Board. Italian vine genetics scholar, Prof. Attilio Scienza, oversees VIA’s scientific and educational direction as the Chief Scientist. VIA Faculty Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar teach the flagship Italian Wine Ambassador course. To date there are 292 Certified Italian Wine Ambassadors of which 15 are also Italian Wine Experts.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: covid, Italy, Master of Wine, sommelier, valpolicella, vinitaly, wine education, Wine tasting, wine writer

Reviewing the book, Malbec Mon Amour, by Laura Catena and Alejandro Vigil

April 29, 2022 by evebushman

Recently offered a book written by a vintner I’ve met and admired for a long time, from a country I haven’t visited, and I jumped on it. Filling in the blanks, I’m sharing details from the publisher, my review of the book and their latest vintage below.

From the Publisher

I wanted to introduce you to a whimsical, yet informative book that has been in the works for over ten years, written by Laura Catena and Bodega Catena Zapata’s oenologist Alejandro Vigil.

Malbec mon amour tells the story of Malbec, a story of near extinction, rebirth and in a joyful end, the story of how a plant has elevated the lives of millions of people for over 2,000 years. Laura and Alejandro had the vision of a book that would reflect the fun and inspiration that Alejandro and Laura experienced in their daily rides throughout the vineyards of Mendoza.  Why “mon amour”? Well, Alejandro Vigil has Malbec tattooed on his arm, and Laura’s family’s journey from Italy to Argentina began 120 years ago with a plant of Malbec.

Alejandro and Laura see the world of wine, its ancient history, its terroir, its people, its soils and climate in very romantic and artistic terms. But at the same time, they are both scientists. This illustrated book combines the art and science of wine in a way that has never been done before. It tells the story of how the Malbec variety went from fame to near-extinction and back, and why Malbec is so much more than a wine variety. It is a wine that tells the history of humanity and the journey of immigrants and plants across continents.

The book is currently available on Amazon in North America, Central America, Latin America, and Europe.

Book Review

What a gorgeous book, from the front cover through to the pages, inviting me to really want to get into it and into it I did! As well as the sample of their 2019 Malbec! Get your own book to see the pages and what’s inside, these are my takeaways:

  • “According to oral tradition, the Malbec grape expanded from its native Cahors to Bordeaux in the 18th century, introduced by a Hungarian winemaker called Malbeck or Malbek. In Bordeaux, producers used it to lend more color to their claret.”
  • Malbec may have been known as “the black wine” due to harvesting at night or the color that stained people’s teeth and tongue.
  • At one time England’s Henry III personally protected Cahors Malbec so that Bordeaux officials could not limit any sales or its transportation. And King Francis I of France liked Malbec so much that it was known as the King’s Plant, Plante du Roi.
  • One of our authors, Laura Catena, visited Cahors as a “pilgrimage to the original home of Malbec” studying the history and meeting with experts.
  • Malbec was just behind Cabernet Sauvignon, as the second most important variety, during the 1855 classification in Bordeaux. The grape was first planted in Argentina in 1853, from vines from Bordeaux, and resulted in a low yield and high quality wine.
  • When Phylloxera “wiped Malbec off the map” in Bordeaux it was replaced with Merlot. However, at the same time, Malbec was still doing well in Argentina.
  • Manual wine presses were used until the 1950s, some wineries still use this method for “uva francesca” aka the French grape known as Malbec.
  • Mendoza, Argentina, is the fifth largest wine producer in the world with 345,000 acres under vine, from hundreds of wineries. Many export their wines worldwide.
  • By the end of the 1970s there had been a financial crisis that changed grape production, Malbec was removed for higher-yielding varietals and “most Argentine wines were characterized by somewhat oxidized aromas, a soft mouthfeel, low aromatic intensity and little varietal typicity.”
  • In 1984 winemaker Nicolas Catena Zapata had just returned from a tour of Napa, and felt that if Napa could compete with the French (Judgement of Paris) so could Argentina. He planted Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, updated his winemaking practices and hired Paul Hobbs, a well-known and respected consultant from California.
  • “Catena Zapata has the largest selection of Malbec plants in the world.” The Catena Institute, where Alejandro Vigil works as a soil specialist, evaluates the soil’s “behavior with every vintage.” There is a lot of information on how soil effects terroir – and aromas in the finished product.
  • Mendoza is a desert, with an average of eight inches of rain per year, and water is 260 to 660 underground. The area requires drip irrigation, and this is generally used prior to bud break.
  • The book includes the Winkler Scale of the micro-climates of Mendoza, the Winkler Index charting temperature, the history of the Catena Institute, detailed descriptions of the Malbec vineyards in Mendoza, Uco Valley and other regions, as well as dozens of illustrations, photographs and maps.

Tasting 2019 Catena Malbec

A regal dark purple color, and a nose full of fresh lush fruit – juicy blackberry, crushed plums, blueberry – followed by hints of tri-color peppercorns, bark, moss and very dark sweetened chocolate. The taste reminded me of a bowl of fresh cut fruit – the same as on the nose – as well as layers of dark spices and drying tannins for a lingering finish. I didn’t have my sample with any food, and I didn’t need to. Well done.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: argentina, book review, Bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon, Chardonnay, chocolate, climate, color, France, Italy, Malbec, oenology, phylloxera, pressing, soil, spice, tannins, tasting notes, terroir, variety, vintage, Wine tasting, winemaker

International Pizza Expo and Conference 2022! So Many Great Discoveries!

April 15, 2022 by evebushman

Attended my first Pizza Expo last year at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Why would a wine and spirits writer attend a pizza show? Well, considering that all that wonderful cheesy crusty meat-lovers-and-more pizza HAS to be paired with wine or spirits, and I’m there. We got to try some amazing new products, new toppings and new sides. The row of pizza ovens alone made your mouth water! Couldn’t wait to see what the 2022 event had to offer. This was my social media post (photos by Ed Bushman here) with just a sample of what we tried:

Are two conventions in two days too much? Not for us! Yesterday it was the International Pizza Expo where besides pizza, we sampled all of the things that go with pizza including Ken’s Salad Dressings, Grappa and American Whiskey from Gia Distillery, Bel Evo Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Rians La Crema Brûlée and Sicilian Olives from Atalanta Corporation, Melinda’s Hot Sauce, Red Star Yeast, Piancone Epicureo Balsamic Vinegar, A’Siciliana Limonata and Aranciata, La Banderita Tortillas, the wine bar at the Stanislaus booth, Piknik Althena Dolmades, Caputo Cheese, BelGioioso Cheese, Hillshire Farm Pork Chorizo, Blue Bunny Ice Cream, Villa Dolce Gelato Italiano, Liokareas Cold-Fused Olive Oils, Stella’s Gourmet pizza cookies, Ambrosia bar fruits, Sabatino Tartufi Truffles…

Some of the details not mentioned above included:

Ken’s salad dressings are always amazing, this time I inhaled their Balsamic Vinegar dressing that not only works on a salad but also is a great dipping sauce for pizza, fish, chicken and steak.

Having Grappa at the end of a night of pizza and wine is one of my favorite things, so having a yummy Grappa from Moscato grapes by Gia Distillery was just perfect.

Bel Evo Olive Oil, tasted with a little bread, was mouth-watering. I could easily imagine it on a plate with some Piancone Epicureo Balsamic Vinegar for the perfect side dish with any dinner, pizza included.

The Vanilla Bourbon Crema Brûlée and Sicilian Olives from Atalanta Corporation were also yummy. The olives before dinner, or in a Martini with dinner, and that Crema Brûlée – imported from France – is for after dinner, if you have any room left in your tummy.

Melinda’s Craft Pepper Sauces makes more than one kind of hot sauce, check them out for your pals that need hot sauce on – or nearby – their pizza!

A’Siciliana Limonata and (blood oranges from Sicily) Aranciata is a lesser-known sparkling fruit soda company from Italy, and just as good as any other you may have tried. Simply perfect for when you don’t need wine or spirits to enjoy your pizza!

The La Banderita Tortillas served at the Expo were huge wraps for a burrito or a flat bread type of pizza.

I regret not trying the tomatoes from Stanislaus, “THE REAL ITALIAN TOMATO COMPANY” but I did appreciate sitting in their large booth, tasting Coppola wine and being serenaded by their guitarist.

I simply adore stuffed grape leaves and would love to see this offered more frequently at Italian restaurants as a side. The great tasting ones from Piknik Althena were a great find at the Expo.

Served with flavored olive oil, Caputo Cheeses were a first for me. Yummy stuff that deserves attention on or off your pizza.

Finding large display cases of BelGioioso “Italian cheese made in the USA” made my day! Why? My Italian mama, who passed away this year, was a huge fan of their sharp Provolone. So, of course, I had to have a slice…or two. Their cheeses are easily found in the deli section of most supermarkets.

Hillshire Farm had a huge booth, making soft tacos with all different kinds of their meats. The Pork Chorizo was amazing, and I had no clue that they even made it, and I will definitely look for that on my next pizza!

I was looking for the Blue Bunny Ice Cream booth from the moment I got to the Expo. They serve up a small crunchy topping cone and a layered sundae. Always delicious. This time one of the staffers at the Stanislaus booth saw me with my cone, called me over, and told me to try it with their olive oil. It was life changing. Both should be offered in a pizza restaurant IMHO!

How about a salted caramel ice cream sandwich from Villa Dolce Gelato Italiano to cleanse your palate after that pizza pie you had for dinner? Yes please! Gelato is the ticket!

Do Greek olive oils, made from Greek Kalamata olives of course, with infusions like basil, sage or garlic sound good to you? Trying Liokareas Cold-Fused Olive Oils without any bread or vinegar…and they were really different. Look for these oils and buy them!

Greek Olive Oils! (Pizza Expo Photos by Ed Bushman.)

If you love shaved truffles on pizza or pasta look for Sabatino Tartufi Truffles that come in different flavors for that perfect taste you are looking for.

You know those big cookies some restaurants serve in the round tin, topped with ice cream? The brand Stella’s Gourmet Pizza Cookies is the real deal, moist and full of flavor. And you know what else I’m going say…another perfect pizza finisher after pizza!

Personal note: No actual pizza mentioned above? I sampled a lot of pizza made with different types of cheeses, sauces, dough and toppings, and I must say that if you have any allergies, or a need to only eat vegan or vegetable-made cheeses, toppings or crusts, pizzerias have many options for you these days.

https://www.instagram.com/pizzaexpo/

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https://pizzaexpo.pizzatoday.com/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: bourbon, cheese, dessert, dinner, food, food event, France, fruit, Italy, las vegas, pizza, pizza expo, restaurant, truffles

Alessandro Del Piero and Edge Americas Online Announces Launch of NIO Cocktails USA

April 6, 2022 by evebushman

Los Angeles, Calif. – Edge Americas Online, a Los Angeles-based consumer products distributor and retailer and an operating unit of EDGE Americas Sports, has been appointed by NIO Cocktails to kick off their brand presence in the United States with a California launch of their innovative premium line of boxed cocktails. Edge Americas Online has signed a licensing agreement with NIO Cocktails to launch NIO’s online ordering platform in the USA and opens the first NIO Cocktails retail shop in Los Angeles, CA, apart from NIO’s flagship retail store in Milan, Italy.

Co-founded by World Cup champion Alessandro Del Piero and industry veteran Jeffrey Whalen, EDGE Americas Online is a Los Angeles-based distribution company focused on consumer products retailing. NIO Cocktails is a Milan, Italy-based leading purveyor of premium quality, boxed, and ready-to-share full line of truly innovative cocktails. NIO Cocktails bears the guaranteed signature of Patrick Pistolesi, an Italian master mixologist ranked nineteenth among the World’s 50 Best Mixologists and brand ambassador of the most prestigious brands in the spirits industry.

“We are very pleased to have signed a licensing agreement with NIO Cocktails, undoubtedly #1 in the world of innovative, premium, ready-to-enjoy cocktails,” said Jeffrey Whalen, Co-Founder of Edge Americas Online. Whalen brings extensive high-level experience in the consumer products segment, having previously served in executive roles in consumer products licensing worldwide. “It is my belief that NIO Cocktails will spread a new cocktail culture with a combination of Made in Italy craftsmanship, expert mixology, and novelty.”

NIO Cocktails (Needs Ice Only) was founded on the simplicity of tasting and enjoying your favorite cocktail wherever you want, with the highest quality recipes and ingredients. It’s as simple as shake, open, and pour! “We are equally pleased to have signed this licensing agreement with Edge Americas Online, Alessandro, and Jeffrey to kick off our journey in the United States,” said Alessandro Palmarin, Co-Founder of NIO Cocktails. “NIO Cocktails is expanding rapidly across continents with a core collection of more than 15 premium cocktails perfect for any occasion like company celebrations, dinner parties, weddings, and so much more. We are very focused as well on our approach to sustainability, each NIO Cocktails box is entirely recyclable, and we are a Carbon Neutral Company.”

NIO Cocktails will be available for shipment in California only and can be purchased at retail at 257 W 7th St – San Pedro, CA, in the heart of Los Angeles’ Little Italy district, and online at niococktails.us.

About NIO Cocktails

NIO Cocktails is the brainchild of Luca Quagliano and Alessandro Palmarin, with the aim to change attitudes around cocktail consumption among the general public. The brand aims to become a leading innovator in the world of mixology, bringing its premium ready-to-drink cocktails to every place and occasion. The concept behind NIO is simple: just shake, tear, pour. NIO, which stands for Needs Ice Only, is based on the dream to be able to enjoy your favorite cocktails wherever you want, all while maintaining the highest quality in both the recipes and their ingredients. All NIO Cocktails boast the seal of approval of Patrick Pistolesi, Italian master mixologist and brand ambassador to some of the world’s most prestigious spirits brands, who is now considered to be among the top 50 bartenders in the world by World’s 50 Best Bars. Pistolesi’s artistry is reinforced by NIO’s collaboration with some of the best producers and spirits labels in the world. Better yet, sustainability is at the core of the brand: the iconic design packaging is entirely recyclable, thanks to FSC- certified paper sleeves and the 45% bioplastic pouches. In addition, NIO Cocktails is a Carbon Neutral Company. Online at: www.niococktails.us

About EDGE Americas Sports 

EDGE Americas Sports is a sports and marketing/distribution agency. The agency was created with a singular aim to deliver the most inspired consumer experience in the market – products and services that add to the celebration and emotion of that one moment. EDGE Americas Sports currently licenses NIO Cocktails, operates the Juventus Academy Los Angeles, owns the football Club LA10 FC, with investments in the acclaimed Los Angeles Italian restaurant N10 and multiple consumer brands. The agency has offices in Los Angeles and Torino, Italy. Learn more at www.edgeamericassports.com.

EDGE Americas Sports on the web at: www.edgeamericassports.com

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: cocktails, Italy, los angeles, mixologist, ready to drink, recipe, spirits

Eve’s How To: The Wine Night

March 18, 2022 by evebushman

We have a “wine night” with friends pretty frequently and it recently dawned on me that I’ve never written about how that works.

For some, or even most of you, you have some experience with this: you invite pals over, everyone brings a bottle or two to share over dinner, and you talk about the wines – why you chose them and how they fared during the evening. This blog post is to remind those with experience how to make it enjoyable for the newbie guest, and the how-to for a newbie host.

This one wine night I will use as an example is described a bit in this social media post: How was your last Wine Night with friends? We recently shared a 2019 Napa Hindsight Chardonnay that was new to me and Chablis-like due to its fresh fruit and no noticeable oak, then came the Grenache we mistook for Syrah or Mourvedre in a 2007 Domaine Du Pegau Chateauneuf Du Pape, a masterfully balanced 2000 Marcarini Brunate Barolo with dinner that benefitted from 6 hours of decanting, and two I was too tired to taste: 2010 Orma Super Tuscan and Camus VSOP Cognac. If I had to pick a favorite of the night it would be hard as the ones I had were all so good for many different reasons.

Now the details to help our wine 101ers:

Let your guests know what your menu is so they can bring a wine (or two) that they believe will be appropriate for pairing.

Always have a white to start. I’m amazed at how many people prefer sparkling, white or pink wines in general; so having at least one leaves no one out.

Decant any wine, in this case it was the Barolo, if you know requires it due to its youth or older age. Decanting allows more air to envelop a wine that needs to “open up” a bit before drinking. If you’re not sure, taste the wine before you serve it to guests. If it’s tight or tart decant it. You can also search the Internet for the same wine (same vintage year too) and see what others recommend.

Serve appetizers as well as a main course during your evening. Drinking wine without food causes early inebriation so having some starters helps. And as this may be when you are drinking your white wine, serve with cheeses, nuts, and crackers – nothing too big – unless you will be moving onto reds. If you do that before dinner then add in the charcuterie. Some wine people like charcuterie with whites too, it’s not my preference, but as in my recommendation for decanting – taste your food with your wine to educate your palate and form your own opinion.

When you do move onto reds you can do it a couple of different ways. Serve the lower alcohol wines first and move up the bigger ones last. You can decide what is served first depending on the menu. Big wine with big food. In this case we had the Barolo with a lasagna dinner, the Rhone that was more Grenache-based just before, and the Napa Chardonnay first. The Super Tuscan came at the end of the meal and the Cognac came last.

One other note on the order of the wines. If you have an amazing wine to share consider serving it early on in the evening. I had “palate fatigue” and couldn’t taste the final Super Tuscan or enjoy the Cognac, and I may have missed out.

Lastly, encourage your guests to taste each wine before committing to a full glass. That way if it isn’t their “cup of tea” they can move onto something else that is. I like to have at least two bottles open at a time to give guests that option.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: aged, Barolo, charcuterie, Chardonnay, Chateauneuf du Pape, cheese, cognac, decant, dinner, drink, etiquette, food, food pairing, fruit, Grenache, Italy, Mourvedre, Napa, palate, pink, Rhone, Sparkling wine, Super Tuscan, Syrah, vintage, white wine, wine dinner, wine pairing, Wine tasting

Young Italian Winemakers Champion Sustainability and Innovation

March 10, 2022 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Five days before the ministers of agriculture representing the world’s largest economies met in Florence, Italy, for a G20 summit, a group of young Italian wine professionals held a symposium of their own. AGIVI, the Association of Young Italian Wine Entrepreneurs, hosted the convention on Sept. 12, 2021, at the same city’s Palazzo Vecchio, to discuss some of the most pressing questions about the future of Italian wine. How would wine fit into the global drive toward sustainability, also a G20 focus? And, more broadly, how could the up-and-coming generation in the industry reach young wine lovers in an increasingly competitive global marketplace?

“Young people think, plan and work in a green mindset”, said Violante Gardini Cinelli Colombini, president of AGIVI, which is a branch of the national UIV (Unione Italiana Vini) and export sales manager of Casato Prime Donne winery in Montalcino. “From the vineyard to the cellar, ranging from the choice of packaging to that of transport to the services offered in the company, the initiatives of the new generations are increasingly developed from a sustainable perspective, with specific actions aimed at achieving objectives that are as respectful of the environment as possible.”

According to a survey made on the AGIVI members, 94% believe sustainability provides a decisive competitive edge, with nearly 70% choosing suppliers based in part on the sustainability of their proposals. Another survey presented at the convention found that 70% of millennial wine tourists would be more likely to visit wineries with ethical labor practices, and 70% favored companies that helped disadvantaged communities. Canned wines, carbon emissions and pesticide alternatives have also been hot topics in AGIVI’s ongoing dialogue about sustainability.

While AGIVI has been exploring environmental and social initiatives, its members have also been navigating new technologies in viticulture and sales, along with new platforms, customers and tastes—while preserving the heritage that has long made Italian wine unique. In 2021, AGIVI members gathered to exchange knowledge in regions like Umbria and Trentino; they contributed to social media webinars, and panels and tastings at Vinitaly and in New York. Along the way, they discussed creative enotourism, labeling and transparency tools like QR codes, and distribution platforms like e-commerce.

“Our job is very challenging, we never stop learning and the wine industry is in continuous development,” explained Emanuele Rocca, export sales manager of Rocca Vini, which includes estates in Piedmont and Puglia. Rocca cited the cultivation of new and “forgotten” varieties, waste reduction in production and packaging, the embrace of e-commerce and social media, an enhanced cellar door experience, and expansion into lesser-known regions like Salento (the “heel” of Italy’s boot) as new ways the company is carrying on the family tradition of innovation. “Our grandpa didn’t teach us to ride a bike but taught us interesting wine secrets,” said Rocca. Among younger drinkers, Rocca notices a movement toward lower-alcohol wines and, most encouraging, an increased interest in wine education.

“I’m optimistic,” said Rocca, “because I see the young generations focus on the quality of the product.”
—
The program: European quality wines: taste the difference is a project financed by the European Union and managed by Unione Italiana Vini and PRODECA for the promotion of PDO and PGI European wines abroad in China and US. In order to achieve this objective, the TTD.EU program will organize wine seminars, workshops and b2b meetings both in these countries and in Spain and Italy, inviting wine professionals to join study trips to Europe. The program, realized in the span of three years (2021-2023) aims at creating awareness about European quality wines, in particular Italian and Spanish, which share a long tradition and a high standard of quality.

The beneficiaries: Unione Italiana Vini is the oldest and most commissioned Association of the Italian wine market. It represents cooperative, private and agricultural wine-companies, bottlers, consortia, associations and wine-making machines or wine cellars / laboratory manufacturers, located throughout the Italian territory. Promotora de Exportaciones Catalanas (PRODECA) is a public company established in 1986 and part of the “Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Government of Catalonia”. It supports the agri-food sector and its companies with the knowledge, tools and experience to increase their products in Catalunya and worldwide.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: alcohol, bottles, canned wine, cellar, china, climate, Italy, label, montalcino, New York, Piedmont, social media, spain, sustainable, variety, vineyard, vinitaly, viticulture, wine education, wine tour, winery

Discover Italy and Spain’s Greatest Wine Regions Through “Taste the Difference: Quality Wines from the Heart of Europe”

March 5, 2022 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – After a successful 2021, “Taste the Difference: Quality Wines From the Heart of Europe”, a campaign co-financed by the European Union and managed by Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) and the Spanish state-owned company PRODECA, will continue its mission of increasing the awareness of European PDOs (Protected Denomination of Origin) and PGIs (Protected Geographical Indication), shining the spotlight on some of the best wine producing territories of Italy and Spain.

To be classified as PDO, a wine must be made in a specific region and all the production, processing, and preparation process must occur within the same limited territory. Therefore, products registered as PDOs are those that have the strongest links to the place where they come from. For wines, this means that the grapes must come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is produced.

To be registered as PGI, a product must have at least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation taking place in a specific region. PGIs emphasize the relationship between a specific territory and the name of the product, where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. In the case of wine, this means that at least 85% of the grapes used must come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is made.

The Taste the Difference campaign aims to expose US consumers, media and trade professionals to the most celebrated and historical Spanish wine regions of Catalonia such as Allella DO, Cava DO, Conca de Barbera DO, Costers del Segre DO, Empordà DO, Montsant DO, Penedès DO, Pla de Bages DO, Priorat DOQ and Terra Alta DO, and will elevate the tradition of Italian wines along with their ancient native grapes and historical appellations such as Prosecco DOC, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, Chiaretto di Bardolino DOC, Custoza DOC, Trento DOC, Franciacorta DOCG, Barbera d’Asti DOCG, Vermentino di Sardegna DOC , Terre Siciliane IGT and many more.

This year, numerous will be the occasions, in person and online, to dive in and explore these European wine jewels with planned activities such as educational seminars, road shows, participation in industry events such as TEXSOM, press and trade trips and a media relations campaign, all supported by an informative website and social media content amplification.

First on the activities calendar are masterclasses in New York and San Francisco in March and a study trip to Barcelona in April. Wine professionals willing to deepen their knowledge of a great selection of Spanish quality wines from the region of Catalunya are invited to apply and be considered for exclusive wine tasting experiences and visits to the most evocative villages and wineries in Catalonia.

For more information about the campaign visit tastethedifference.wine or email info@tastethedifference.wine. Pages dedicated to the Taste the Difference project can be found on Facebook and Instagram

About TASTE THE DIFFERENCE PROGRAM:

The program: European quality wines: taste the difference is a project financed by the European Union and managed by Unione Italiana Vini and PRODECA for the promotion of PDO and PGI European wines abroad in China and US. In order to achieve this objective, the TTD.EU program will organize wine seminars, workshops and b2b meetings both in these countries and in Spain and Italy, inviting wine professionals to join study trips to Europe. The program, realized in the span of three years (2021-2023) aims at creating awareness about European quality wines, in particular Italian and Spanish, which share a long tradition and a high standard of quality.

The beneficiaries: Unione Italiana Vini is the oldest and most commissioned Association of the Italian wine market. It represents cooperative, private and agricultural wine-companies, bottlers, consortia, associations and wine-making machines or wine cellars / laboratory manufacturers, located throughout the Italian territory.

Promotora d’Exportacions Catalanes (PRODECA) is a public company established in 1986 and part of the “Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Government of Catalonia”. It supports the agri-food sector and its companies with the knowledge, tools and experience to increase their products in Catalunya and worldwide.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: asti, barbera, cava, doc, docg, europe, grapes, Italy, New York, prosecco, san francisco, spain, taste, wine education

Barolo and Barbaresco World Opening Event Is Back With 2022 Edition In Los Angeles

February 16, 2022 by evebushman

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) – The Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani, the association representing over 500 wineries in Piedmont, Italy, is pleased to announce the second annual edition of Barolo & Barbaresco World Opening in Los Angeles. The upcoming event will feature the most recently released vintages of Barolo and Barbaresco, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The Barolo & Barbaresco World Opening is a unique occasion to learn more about the two iconic red wines of Piedmont. Through this comprehensive event, the consortium aims to increase awareness and build excitement in the United States market by providing direct encounters with the most influential wines of these famous appellations.

BBWO 2022 will begin on April 28th with a preview tasting for Master of Wine, critics, sommeliers and journalists from Europe and the United States to analyze the overall quality of the 2018 and 2019 vintages. The tasting will be followed by an exclusive gala reception in Hollywood at Paramount Pictures Studios, featuring a celebration of Piedmontese food and wine culture.

On April 29th, at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, over 150 producers will present their Barolo and Barbaresco wines to press, trade, and consumers with a walk-around tasting. Both the Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG appellation wines will be poured during the tasting, as well as select single-vineyard labels.

“After the tremendous success of the inaugural event, we are thrilled to return to the United States with the second edition in Los Angeles this year,” said Matteo Ascheri, President of the Consortium. “The Barolo & Barbaresco World Opening is an incredible opportunity to present our wines, our traditional food and our culture to the most influential wine personalities in the United States, ​​our highest-volume export market.”

The renowned Barolo and Barbaresco wines, often called the “king and queen” of the Langhe region where they are made, are produced from 100 percent Nebbiolo grapes. Age-worthy and complex, these wines have a long history of production in Piedmont and express the nuances of the region’s microclimates. In addition to the Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG appellations, producers may use the term MGA (Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive) on qualifying labels to indicate single-vineyard bottlings. The Grand Tasting will feature an area dedicated to these MGA wines.

The Langhe region, situated in the southern part of the Piedmont region between the Alps and the Apennines mountains, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the cultural history of its vineyard-covered hills, a manifestation of wine traditions that have evolved since pre-Roman times, yet remain central to the daily economic activity and social life of the region. The region’s distinctive microclimates and unique geological soil types can be tasted in the glass year-after-year, making the Langhe home to some of the world’s most respected wines, among them Barolo and Barbaresco. To uphold the quality of these wines and its land, the Consortium maintains strict agriculture guidelines, such as the yield per hectare planting regulations set in 2011.

The event will also include cheeses of Fontina Valle d’Aosta PDO, and rice of Biella and Vercelli Barraggia PDO. Over two days, participants will have the chance to take a culinary journey to Italy, tasting Barolo and Barbaresco wines paired with Fontina PDO cheeses and risotto prepared with Baraggia rice. The Barolo & Barbaresco World Opening event is part of the European campaign “Top Tales: A piece of Europe on your table,” created to increase awareness of these three PDO products in the United States market.

For more information about the Barolo & Barbaresco World Opening events, contact BBWOevents@colangelopr.com, for media inquiries contact merland@colangelopr.com.

# # #

About Top Tales: Top Tales is a project supported by the European Union aimed at promoting Fontina DOP from Valle d’Aosta, Rice di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese DOP, as well as the DOCG’s Barolo and Barbaresco. The European communication campaign Top Tales: A piece of Europe on your table, is designed to increase the awareness of the three DOP products in the United States market.

About the Consorzio Di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe E Dogliani: Founded in 1934 and representing 537 wine producers across multiple appellations, the Consortium is committed to the management, protection, and promotion of the Langhe, Alba, and Dogliani wine denomination. The Consortium ensures high quality by a set of formal production guidelines for the entire winemaking process, from agronomy to market surveillance. The Consortium continues to perform periodic sampling of wine products on the market to prevent fraud and to protect the wines’ authentication and reputation. Barolo & Barbaresco are registered trademarks in many countries throughout the world.

About Consorzio Tutela Fontina: The Consortium was created in 1957 to protect Fontina DOP, its production and distribution. The entity releases the Fontina DOP trademark on every wheel of Fontina produced following the Consortium’s rules.

About Consorzio Tutela Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese: the rice from Biella and Vercelli was awarded the PDO status in 2007 after the European Union verified its unique quality and nutritional characteristics. Today, the denomination covers 22,000 ha of paddy fields across 28 communes.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: aged, appellation, barbaresco, Barolo, cheese, culinary, docg, europe, food, food pairing, Italy, los angeles, Master of Wine, microclimate, nebbiolo, Piedmont, soil, sommelier, united states, vineyard, vintage, wine event, wine pairing, wine writer

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Eve Bushman

Eve Bushman, owner Eve’s Wine 101 and Eve Bushman Consulting.

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