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Meet Schioppettino: An Italian Outlaw Grape

Meet Schioppettino: An Italian Outlaw Grape

by Mary Beth Vierra | Feb 5, 2022 | Featured, Wine Education, Wine Regions

  Crackle, crunch, boom— are the sounds invoked by the name given to a rare, nearly lost red grape from the Friulian hills in far northeastern Italy. Meet Schioppettino [ski’OH–pet–TEE–noh], the elegant, perfumed, floral yet pepper-savory red...
Lugana Wines: Liquid Gold from Glacial Soils

Lugana Wines: Liquid Gold from Glacial Soils

by Mary Beth Vierra | May 14, 2022 | Featured, Viticulture, Wine Education, Wine Regions

  Not far from the soaring Alps of northern Italy lies a placid lake in a dream-like setting.  At this northerly latitude we expect brisk days and a Continental climate. Instead, we find a pocket of Mediterranean-like climate, where grapevines grow amidst lemon...
Vino “Col Fondo”: Italy’s Ancestral  Sparkling

Vino “Col Fondo”: Italy’s Ancestral Sparkling

by Mary Beth Vierra | Dec 12, 2021 | Featured, Wine Education, Wine Regions

  Maybe decade ago, we began hearing a quiet, fizzy buzz about a sparkling wine style born of an ancient production method. You may have heard of it referred to by a few names — pét-nat, méthode ancestrale, Col Fondo, and Sui Lieviti, to list a few. That quiet...
Beyond Bubbles:  Prosecco and the Land of Valdobiaddene

Beyond Bubbles: Prosecco and the Land of Valdobiaddene

by Mary Beth Vierra | Nov 20, 2021 | Featured, Wine Education, Wine Regions, Food & Wine

  Walking the covered porticoes and lively piazzas of Italy at aperitivo hour, you’ll witness the exuberant beauty of Italian Prosecco pulled from chilled ice buckets filling glass after glass at every bar and café. Nothing captures the Italian lifestyle like an...
Arianna Occhipinti- Sicilian Winemaker

Arianna Occhipinti- Sicilian Winemaker

by Mary Beth Vierra | Mar 1, 2021 | Wine Education, Wine Regions, Wine Reviews

Passionate winemaking from Vittoria Sicily – A salute on International Women’s Day Meet Arianna and sip her SP-68 Rosso, made from a co-fermentation of indigenous red grapes grown bio-dynamically on the road bearing this same name – SP 68. Meet Arianna  📌...
Tis the season… for Mustard!

Tis the season… for Mustard!

by Mary Beth Vierra | Feb 21, 2021 | Viticulture, Wine Education, Wine Regions

….In the Vineyard that is! Golden waves of billowing mustard among the vines of Dry Creek Valley.     Beyond beauty, mustard performs magic for the soil and the vine every spring.   Like any cover crop, it protects against erosion, invites water...
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Recent Posts

  • Meet Schioppettino: An Italian Outlaw Grape
  • Holiday Wine: Pairing Wine to Holiday Dishes
  • Lugana Wines: Liquid Gold from Glacial Soils

About Mary Beth

Crushing on..... silky pasta -- strong coffee and bright wines -- a world map -- and a good dance beat

crushcoursewine

Still wondering about your holiday wines? Whether Still wondering about your holiday wines? Whether you're the host or asked to bring a bottle—here are my quick and simple tips for selecting a wine sure to drink beautifully with your favorite holiday dishes! **For my pairing tips with local wine recommendations go to LINK IN BIO - my blog post 
 *(An edited version of this article appears in today's 12/22 Healdsburg Tribune. Check that too. But for my original version, go directly to my blog- LINK IN MY BIO ☝️☝️🎄✨
#wine-pairing #holidaywinepicks #winepairing #holidaywines #holidayhosting #holidaydishes #shophealdsburg #sonomacountywine #winesofhealdsburg 
@liocowineco @cartographwines @seghesio @smithstorywines @duttongoldfieldwinery @marimarestate @bannisterwines @montagne_russe_wines @longboardwine @marinelayerwines @rameywinecellars @benoviawinery @acornwinery @fritzundergroundwinery @stuhlmullervineyards @untivineyards @toadhollowvineyards @bodkinwines @moshin_vineyards @pedroncelliwine #crushonwine #winelover #certifiedwineeducator
Barolo comes to Healdsburg! Grateful to have been Barolo comes to Healdsburg! Grateful to have been included in an intimate tasting of Beni di Batasiolo wines and white Alba truffle luncheon at ZigTown. An engaging afternoon with Fiorenzo Dogliani and Paola Marrai of Batasiolo winery on their short visit to the US. New friends were made on a most beautiful day in Zig-gardens, with many cin-cins and rousing songs woven through tastes of fine Barolos at the table.

With estates in vineyard across the Barolo zone, we sampled not only Barolos from both Tortonian and Serravalian soils, but wines from the most renowned Crus (Brunate & Cerequio in the La Morra and Bussia in Monforte d’Alba). 

Five of the Barolos poured with lunch were single vineyard (MgA-designated) estate wines from the 2013 vintage. (They continue to hold their wines before release until they are beautifully ready). Our final wine of the day— the 1996 Briccolina—was a treat- an opportunity to taste two vintages of the same wine side-by-side to explore the evolution with time.

After welcome pours of  their refreshing Batasiolo Gavi di Gavi, we enjoyed these DOCG Barolos from 2013:  Bussia-Vigneto Bofani, Brunate, Cerequio, Boscareto and Bricollina, side-by-side with the incredibly fresh and still bold Bricollina 1996.  In the mix, we also enjoyed a beautiful blend of their best parcels—the reserve Barolo DOCG from 2012.

Thank you Ziggy, and cheers to the delightful Fiorenzo, @paolissimam, and Ricardo of Batasiolo Vini and Bethany of @Palmbay / @taubfamilyselections 

@batasiolovini @ziggythewinegal 
 #barolo #barolowine #viniitaliani #alwayslearning #truffleseason #cincin #winelover #crushonwine
Barolo comes to Healdsburg!… to Zig town to be p Barolo comes to Healdsburg!… to Zig town to be precise. Grateful to have been included in an intimate tasting and white Alba truffle luncheon with Fiorenzo and Paola of Batasiolo winery on their short visit to the US. New friends were made on a most beautiful day in Zig-gardens, with many cin-cins and rousing songs woven through tastes of fine Barolos at the table.

Five of the Barolos poured with lunch were single vineyard (MgA-designated) estate wines from the 2013 vintage (the same year Ziggy, our host, was last there visiting during harvest!), and our our final wine of the day— the 1996 Briccolina—was a fun treat- an opportunity to taste the two vintages side-by-side to explore the evolution with time.

With estates in vineyard across the Barolo zone, we sampled not only Barolos from both Tortonian and Serravalian soils, but wines from the most renowned Crus (Brunate & Cerequio in the La Morra and Bussia in Monforte d’Alba). 

After welcome pours of  their refreshing Batasiolo Gavi di Gavi, we enjoyed these DOCG Barolos from 2013:  Bussia-Vigneto Bofani, Brunate, Cerequio, Boscareto and Bricollina, side-by-side with the incredibly fresh and still bold Bricollina 1996.  In the mix, we also enjoyed a beautiful blend of their best parcels—the reserve Barolo DOCG from 2012.

Thank you Ziggy, and cheers to the delightful Fiorenzo, Poala, Ricardo and Bethany of Batasiolo and Palm Bay.  @batasiolovini @paolissimam @ziggythewinegal @teri_rolleri #fiorenzodogliani #barolo #barolowine #viniitaliani #alwayslearning #truffleseason #cincin #winelover #crushonwine @palmbayinternational @taubfamilyselections
Asti...Monferrato...Alta Langa...Nizza. If these I Asti...Monferrato...Alta Langa...Nizza. If these Italian wine regions are a bit under your radar, get to know the range of world class DOCG wines made in the most beautiful corner of Piemonte in my latest article for VeroVino, curated importer of hand-crafted wines.
You'll also meet Andrea Ivaldi, 4th generation producer in the Asti-Monferrato and discover the 5 gorgeous, artisan wines he produces from each DOCG: a Barbera d'Asti, a Nizza (highest-end Barbera you can find), Alta-langa (mouthwatering Traditional Method sparkling), and sweet frizzante wines in both red and white (Brachetto and Moscato d'Asti). 
>>Link in Bio

#asti #monferrato #winemaker #barbera #interview #viniitaliani #meetthewinemaker #winesofpiemonte #learnwine
#italianwinescholar #italianwineambassador
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Crush Course Wine

5 days ago

Crush Course Wine
At Unified Wine & Grape Symposium 2023! Pre-gaming the Keynote Speaker luncheon with Robin McBride of McBride Sisters. This sparkling Rose of Hawke’s Bay is fantastic! (Attended a super interesting first session this morning on smoke and rose and ladybug and cork and terpene issues in the vineyard/winery. Stay tuned) ... See MoreSee Less
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Crush Course Wine

1 month ago

Crush Course Wine
Still wondering about your holiday wines? Whether you're the host or asked to bring a bottle—here are my quick and simple tips for selecting a wine sure to drink beautifully with your favorite holiday dishes! Plus, my recommended wines for each dish. *An edited version of this article appears in today's 12/22 Healdsburg Tribune. For my original version, go directly to my blog here. ... See MoreSee Less

Holiday Wine: Pairing Wine to Holiday Dishes - Crush Course

crushcoursewine.com

What’s a great wine for the holidays? When it comes to holiday wine pairing, follow my tips for selecting a wine sure to drink beautifully with a selection of these traditional holiday dishes.
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Crush Course Wine

1 month ago

Crush Course Wine
Local Friends —Running out for your holiday fest wine? Shopping for wine gifts? Gifts for your foodie-wine-loving friends? I offer some ideas for northern Sonoma County / Healdsburg locals. My article/guide in the the most Healdsburg Tribune. ... See MoreSee Less

Local Gift Options for Wine-lovers - Healdsburg Tribune

www.healdsburgtribune.com

If wine is on a holiday shopping list—whether one is the host, the wine-bearing guest or the gift-giver for wine-loving and foodie friends—one may look no further than local wineries, tasting room...
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