Friday, March 25, 2016
Italy exported 373 million bottles of sparkling wine (in 2015)
- 373 million bottles of Italian sparkling delivered in 90 markets worldwide
- 288 million bottles of Prosecco (value 800 million Euro)
- +17% volume 2015 on 2014
- UK is the first market for Italian sparkling wines (34% share equal 100 million of bottles), USA is the second (19%), then Germany 18%)
- France confirmed the discovery of Prosecco, which accounts for 10% of all imported sparkling
- -21% Asti DOCG market share (over the past 5 years)
- +21% Prosecco DOC market share (over last year)
- Italy is the largest sparkling wine producer: 23% share
- Italy is also the biggest sparkling wine exporter: 32% share
[2015 data provided by OSVE - Osservatorio economico dei vini effervescenti]
www.ansa.it - read the full article
Thursday, March 10, 2016
The future of Italian most planted varieties
The analysis of vine nurseries production data allows to know the real supply of plants (both varieties and quantity) and to assume what will be the future of Italian wine production.
Should be noted that in 2015 the top 20 varieties feature:
- 11 red wine grapes and 9 white wine grapes
- together they represent almost 60% of nursery production: red wine rootstocks account for 25.6% while white wine rootstocks represent 33.9%
- of these 20 varieties only 8 are international (Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Nero and Cabernet Fran ), while the remaining 12 are native varieties (Glera, Sangiovese, Primitivo, Moscato Bianco, Trebbiano Toscano, Barbera, Montepulciano, Trebbiano Romagnolo, Nebbiolo, Negroamaro, Garganega and Ansonica).
Thursday, January 14, 2016
6 Vermentino and 3 Pigato wine tasting (AIS Siena)
The Vermentino triangle (Vermentino grape comes mainly from 3 points: Liguria, Tuscany and Sardinia) and the Pigato corner (Pigato grape grows mainly on West Liguria)
Il triangolo del Vermentino e l’angolo del Pigato
Wines tasted:
- Maremma Toscana DOC Vermentino “Scalandrino” 2014, Fattoria Mantellassi - Magliano in Toscana (GR)
- Toscana IGT Vermentino “Narà” 2013, Salustri - Cinigiano (GR)
- Colli di Luni DOC Vermentino “Villa Linda” 2014, La Pietra del Focolare - Ortonovo (SP)
- Colli di Luni DOC Vermentino “Costa Marina” 2014, Ottaviano Lambruschi - Castelnuovo Magra (SP)
- Vermentino di Sardegna DOC “Indolente” 2014, Tenuta Asinara - Cargeghe (SS)
- Vermentino di Gallura Sup. DOCG “Katala” 2014, Tondini Orlando - Calangianus (OT)
- Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC Pigato “La Palmetta” 2014, Cascina Feipu - Albenga (SV)
- Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC Pigato “Bon in da Bon” 2014, Az. Bio Vio Bastia - Albenga (SV)
- VdT Pigato “Spigau Crociata” 2006, Rocche del Gatto - Albenga (SV)
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
LIDL, Primitivo and Negroamaro below 2 € are not poisonous
Primitivo del Salento IGT (2014, 14% alcohol) and Negroamaro del Salento IGT (2014, 13% alcohol) are both private labels for the supermarket chain LIDL, and both priced below 2 € on the shelves.
They are not fine wines but with surprise they are not poisonous wines as well.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Antinori winery in Chianti Classico tour
Entering into the Antinori winery in Chianti Classico means to become a part of an adventure which winds you through six centuries of history of the Antinori family and their passion in producing wine.
A path that is, at the same time, historical and emotional, technical and architectural, culminating in a tasting of our wines.
The winery visit starts in the Auditorium where is shown the short movie “The Antinori. Vintners since 1385”. Then Barricaia (barrique) cellar tour summarizes the production process through the main phases of vinification and ageing. The visit finishes with a tasting of three wines which represent the territory:
- Castello della Sala, Bramito Chardonnay Umbria IGT 2014
- Antinori, Pèppoli Chianti Classico DOCG 2013
- Antinori, Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - below € 10 - Tasting
Terre de la Custodia, Duca Odoardo, Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, 2008
PAM Supermarket: 9.99 € (Dec 2015)
Region: Umbria
Grape: 100% Sagrantino
Alchol: 14.5%
Ageing: in barriques for 12-15 months, in the bottle for 6-8 month
Color: Very intense ruby red with purple overtones.
Bouquet: Complex and decisive, characterized by its notes of blackberry, raspberry and spice.
Flavor: Very persistent on the palate, it is a full-bodied, well-structured wine, warm and soft.
Terre de Trinci, Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, 2010
PAM Supermarket: 5.99 € (Dec 2015)
Region: Umbria
Grape: 100% Sagrantino
Alchol: 13.5%
Ageing: 12 months in barrique 6 months in the bottle
Color: ruby red, intense colour
Bouquet: rich and persistent to the nose, small wild berries and lightly spiced.
Flavor: full and robust, deep and velvety in the mouth
Cantine dell’Alunno, Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, 2008
Penny Market: 6.49 €
this wine is bottled by Terre de Trinci winery, should be a private label for Penny Market, I suppose same characteristics of the above Terre de Trinci Montefalco Sagrantino since there is no mention on their website
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Berebene 2016 Gambero Rosso: here are the winners!
Berebene 2016 Gambero Rosso: here are the winners!
The best 6 wines of Italy, the top 21 wines for each wine region, 668 labels that have earned the Oscar Quality/Price: these are the awards of Berebene 2016 by Gambero Rosso which selected wines strictly under 10 Euro on the shelves.
National Oscar Quality/Price
We selected six labels - three white and three red to represent the north, center and south - that is the quintessence of our Berebene guide. Extraordinary wines, very inexpensive and easy to find: the best of Italy in the bottle.
- White wine – North: A. A. Terlano Pinot Bianco ‘14 - Cantina Convento Muri-Gries
- White wine – Center: Frascati Sup. Vigneto Santa Teresa ‘14 - Fontana Candida
- White wine – South: Vermentino di Gallura Piras ‘14 - Cantina Gallura
- Red wine – North: Barbera d’Asti Sup. I Tre Vescovi ‘13 - Cantina Sociale di Vinchio Vaglio Serra
- Red wine - Center: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colle Secco Rubì ‘12 - Cantina Tollo
- Red wine – South: Sicilia Rosso Centopassi ‘14 – Centopassi
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Tenute Silvio Nardi, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
On November 18th 2015, Shanghai Centree Trading Co., Ltd. (上海丰本泰贸易有限公司) held an Italian wine tasting at Le Verre à Vin, 1221 Changle Rd, Shanghai
Wines tasted:
- Tenute Silvio Nardi, Rosso di Montalcino DOC
- Tenute Silvio Nardi, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
- Braida, Il Baciale’, Monferrato DOC
- Braida, Montebruna, Barbera d’Asti DOCG
- Braida, Bricco dell’Uccellone, Barbera d’Asti DOCG
- Braida, Vigna Senza Nome, Moscato d’Asti DOCG
- Braida, Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
China imported 264,000 bottles of Asti DOCG
The aromatic and sweet bubbles of Asti DOCG are among the most exported Italian wine worldwide.
Data from Asti DOCG consortium says that China imported in 2015 Jan-Sep 264.000 bottles, which result on a estimated total 360.000.
[source; Consorzio Asti DOCG]
Unfortunately the volume decreased compare to same period last year (2014 Jan-Sep 350.000 bottles – 24,5%), but it is still a significant number – something like 3 small 20” container arriving in China every month as average.
Monday, November 9, 2015
IW&SP: 8 Italian wines tasting
On 9th of November 2015, IW&SP (Italian Wine & Style Promotion) - a consortium of 9 quality wine producers from 4 important wine regions of Italy - organized a wine tasting at Enoteca Italiana/Shanghai Yishang venue.
Wines tasted:
- Fongaro, Gran Cuvee, 2010 (Durella, Chardonnay)
- Colli Vicentini, Merlot Torre dei vescovi, Vicenza DOC, 2013 (Merlot)
- Colli di Sopra, Lara, Toscana Rosso IGT, 2013 (Mrlot, Syrah)
- Colle Manore, Barchetta, Monferrato DOC, 2012 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot)
- Cantina di Verona, Veronese, Rosso IGT 2012 (Corvina, Canernet, Merlot)
- La Collina dei Ciliegi, Amarone della Valpolicella DOC, 2011 (Corvia, Corvinone, Rondinella)
- Castello delle Regine, Princeps, Umbria Rosso IGT, 2004 (Cabernet, Sangiovese, Merlot)
- Il Botolo, Moscato d’Asti DOCG, 2014 (Moscato)