Category Archives: Italian Wines

Wines of the Week: March 18-24

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Bill Ward

Everyday: With some wine regions, it’s often difficult to know how much the improved product is a result of advances in growing and winemaking techniques, or the fact that the “good stuff” that never had been exported is finally reaching these … Continue reading →

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Wines of the Week: Feb. 18-24

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Bill Ward

Everyday: My way better half has little or no use for rich, oaky California chardonnays, but she loves her some white Burgundy. Down that path lies financial ruin, but not if we can find more wines like the 2010 Laroche Tete de Cuvee Bourgogne … Continue reading →

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Pinot gris/grigio recommendations

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Bill Ward

If there were a Cliché Dictionary, it would have a photo of pinot gris/grigio next to “you get what you pay for.” It is exceedingly difficult to find really good inexpensive renditions of this increasingly popular grape. In compiling this recommendations roundup, … Continue reading →

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Wines of the Week: Feb. 11-17

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Bill Ward

Everyday: Dagnabit! I thought I was adding a new grape to my list, but it turns out that cannonau is what the Sardinians call grenache. Really tasty grenache, in the case of the Cantina Santa Maria Le Bombarde Cannonau di Sardegna ($12), a juicy, smooth, slightly … Continue reading →

Posted in California Wines, Italian Wines | 2 Comments

Wines of the week: Feb. 4-10

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Bill Ward

Everyday: The safest proclamation I can make about wine is that Italian whites under $20 have shown more gains in quantity and quality than any other category. The latest seriously delicious evidence: the Pala Vermentino di Sardegna 2011 ($17), whose … Continue reading →

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Pinot gris/grigio: A primer

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Bill Ward

As with most grapes, anyone who says “I don’t like pinot gris/grigio” doesn’t really know what he or she is talking about/saying. What they probably mean is that they don’t like the type of pinot gris/grigio they have encountered, perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Alsace, California Wines, Italian Wines, Oregon Wines | 3 Comments

Wines of the Week, Jan. 21-27

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Bill Ward

Everyday: I used to call St. Patrick’s Day “National Booze Day,” but I’m about convinced that it’s time to switch that designation to Super Bowl Sunday. (Exhibit A: the day after’s bevy of people calling in “sick.”). One way to lessen … Continue reading →

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Wines of the Week: Dec. 17-23

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Bill Ward

Everyday: Back in my Navy days in Italy, I kept on reading about this wine called Lacrima Christi (“Tears of Christ”). Unfortunately, the ones I found back in the late ’70s made me go “Jayzus, that sucks.” Not anymore. The De Angelis … Continue reading →

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Wines of the Week: Dec. 3-9

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Bill Ward

Everyday: Joseph Bastianich has long been among America’s foremost experts on Italian (although I’d put the Twin Cities’ Marc Mackondy right up there with him). And clearly Bastianich also knows a lot about making Italian wine, at least if the Bastianich Friulano ($16) is any indication. … Continue reading →

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Wines of the Week: Nov. 26-Dec. 2

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Bill Ward

Everyday: It’s almost criminal how few people are buying wines from Alsace in recent years. But the victims of these “crimes” are most assuredly the perpetrators themselves. The Wolfberger Alsace Pinot Blanc 2010 ($14) is a great introduction, racy and … Continue reading →

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