“From the time I was a young boy I worked year round in these vineyards and I understand that without superior grapes you can’t make superior wine. I know how lucky I am. “

— Renato Vacca -winemaker/owner Cantina del Pino

Who wouldn’t want to drink Barbaresco from the first vineyard to ever make the wine? Though Cantina Del Pino has only been producing since 1997, the Vacca family, and their vineyard, have been a part of Italian winemaking for over 100 years. Domizio Cavazzo established the vineyard in 1894, becoming one of the first winemakers to produce Nebbiolo under the name Barbaresco. An advocate for Langhe farmers, Cavazzo’s vineyard was well known, recognizable by the large Mediterranean pine tree he planted on the day his first son was born.… Read the rest

September 2013

In many wine areas throughout the world, there are a handful of individuals or families who make “the” wine for their particular region – winemakers who define the style of that kind of wine. When it comes to Valpolicella, the Dal Forno family does just that. For more than 30 years, Dal Forno has been producing deeply concentrated Valpolicella, Amarone and Recioto. Romano Dal Forno , the current winemaker/owner, took over the farm in 1983. Risking everything, he invested a large amount in 1990 to update the winery and refine Dal Forno’s process. The extremely bold flavor of the Valpolicella Superiore is a great example of Dal Forno’s commitment to perfection and their respect for traditional winemaking. Their Valpolicella Superiore is just short of an Amarone, made entirely with fruit that has been dried, though for less time than that legally required for Amarone.… Read the rest

August 2013

The Diffonty family, makers of Cuvee du Vatican, go back as far as 1673, when they began as farmers. Felician Diffonty named the domain Cuvee du Vatican in 1958, with blessings from the pope. Since then the family has played a large role in the community, Félician was the mayor of Chateauneuf du Pape from 1965-1995 and Jean Marc Diffonty, the 4^th generation
and current owner of the domain, was made president of the Young Winemakers of Châteauneuf du Pape in 1996. Jean-Marc continues the family business today with wife Karine, they have dedicated themselves to the further development of the domain. In 1998, they created the Reserve Sixtine, named after the Sistine Chapel, made from the oldest of their vines and seen as an expression of the land and the Diffonty tradition.… Read the rest

August 2013

The Frescobaldis are a prominent Florentine noble family that have been involved in the history of Tuscany since the Middle Ages. The family’s start in wine production is documented at the beginning of the year 1300, their wines being served at the tables of the Papal Court and the English Court of Henry VIII. From the beginning, the family has demanded that their wines be of quality and that they reflect the uniqueness of their terroirs. The estate of Castelgiocondo is one of the first four to begin producing Brunello di Montalcino in 1800, and its historic importance is represented on the label of Castelgiocondo by the figure of Guidoriccio da Fogliano, commander of the troops of Siena who in 1323 led the attack on the Montemassi castle; an historic moment that coincided with the initiation of the Frescobaldi family’s centuries-old adventure in the world of wine.… Read the rest

August 2013

“Today, Muga is making some of the finest wines in Rioja and is an exemplary Rioja winery. Muga wines are both classical and new wave in style. It sources grapes from its own vineyards and from more than 50 neighboring growers. Muga’s wines are fruit rich, beautifully balanced, nuanced, and a pleasure to drink. Noteworthy are the Prado Enea Gran Reserva, Torre Muga and Aro, wines that typify Muga’s commitment to producing new wave but authentic Rioja wines.”
– The International Wine Review

The history of Muga is one of tradition, family, and, last but certainly not least, oak. Isaac Muga Martinez and his wife Auro moved to the Rioja Alta region in 1932. They hoped to open their own bodega, large enough to rival the established wineries already in the area.… Read the rest