The main three varieties grown in this area are Barbera, Dolcetto and the rampant Nebbiolo. Dolcetto goes into producing the aptly named Dolcetto d’Alba, Dolcetto d’Asti, Dolcetto di Dogliani both regular and superiore and Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba. The size of these regions producing vineyards is significant. Taking Dolcetto d’Alba as an example the total [...]
This morning we visited Renato Vacca at the Cantina Del Pino only a few hundred meters from Barbaresco. Growing the key three varieties of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto, Renato obviously takes great pride in the quality of his Barbarescos. Two are produced, the single vineyard Ovello and a blend. There is a third also; another [...]
These crazy little vehicles seem to be everywhere in Piedemonte. They aren’t quick, they don’t have a huge load capacity and it seems doubtful you could pick up girls in one but they are very popular and next time I come back I’m renting one. Behold the ape 50.
A few nights ago when we were still in La Morra a thunder storm drifted across and headed north east. Whilst we didn’t get much rain there was plenty of lightning and thunder. The thunder just seemed to roll and roll around the hills. I was then informed by our host that what I thought [...]
If you visiting the Alba area one winery that is worth a visit is the Cantina Terre del Barolo at the edge of Castiglione Falletto. It’s the local cooperative for the La Morra – Barolo area and produces a great many wine form the region from a wide variety of vineyards. They are open for [...]
Sorry about the lack of posts. I’ve written a lot but unfortunately getting an internet connection has been a struggle at times. Alba was good, well OK, but since I’ve moved north of Asti it’s been really difficult. Hope to sort something out soon.Â
Once we arrived in Lange, I noticed the amount of growth on the vines was significantly more than what we had seen in Burgundy or the Alsace. The three main varieties here are Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto. Whilst the amount of foliage on the Dolcetto is moderate there is almost double the amount on the [...]
On Monday there another tasting of 2004 Barolo’s at the Cantina Comunal in La Morra. Not that I’m complaining, it just that the amount of tastings being held here is bit of a shock. Sometimes in New Zealand we go months without a tasting. Well it seems like that anyway. There was a couple of [...]
Think I had finished for Sunday? No way. Jeff and I headed off to Nizza Monferrato for a Barbera d’Asti tasting that was held in the main street, well I think it was the main street. A glass cost 5 euros and there would have to have been 40 producers with wines on show including [...]
After the white wine tasting there was a fantastic lunch including all manor of meets including some ham by that was prepared in a similar way to the Parma except it was from Friuli. Absolutely fantastic stuff their web site is here if your interested, DOK dallava. Jeff and I got invited to sit at [...]
On Sunday I met up with Jeff Chilcott again to go to a charity tasting of some of the white wines of Piedmonte at the cellars of Coppo in Canelli. Unfortunately I didn’t take my camera, as the cellars are quite beautiful, old, dark brick work arch’s stacked with bottels barrels. Would have made for [...]
With rain and fog still hanging around the valleys we ventured again on Saturday to the cellars of Ciabot Berton. I had been looking forward to having a look around their vineyards but due to rain we were kept indoors. This was still very interesting. One of the features of the cellar was their free [...]
Piedmonte is famous for it’s fog which usually occurs in Autumn. A special Spring display was put on for our benefit over the weekend.
The plan was to leave La Morra at about 4.30PM and drive a short distance to the Marchesi Di Gresy and arrive at 5PM. When it began to rain at around 1PM I didn’t realise that this was going to be far more difficult than it appeared. You see, I decided that a bike ride [...]
From what I’ve seen, everybody in this region uses well-proportioned tasting glasses that suit the wines. This often means a change of shape when tasting Barolo or Barbaresco but after the hard work in the vineyard and the winery everyone is addiment that they are not going to cut corners when showing the wines.
On Thursday I travelled a short distance to Germano Ettore near the village of Serralunga d’Alba. I was met by Sergio Germano, who makes the wine and also manages the vineyards of the 13 hectare estate. I got to have a look around a few of Sergio’s steep vineyards and discuss a few points around [...]
On Wednesday morning we visited Mauro Veglio near La Morra. The property consists of about 12 hectares of vineyards. The winery is modern and very clean and boasts a couple rotary fermentors. Now, a rotary fermentor is not a new theme park ride, rather a special tank that rotates around a lateral axis during the [...]
We visited Fonatanafredda on Tuesday and tried a few of their wines. A big thank you to Ornella for showing us around. As they are the largest producer in the area they have a fairly substantial winery complete with an underground tunnel that links some of the buildings. Plenty of good wines, a couple interesting [...]
On Monday we reached La Morra in Piedmonte. We are spending two weeks in here and having a thorough look around the vineyards and wineries. The only issue I’ve had has been getting an internet connection. If you are reading this then I must have found one. The shoot growth of the vines is quite [...]
On our way out of Burgundy, I insisted on a detour to the Montrachet. The photos below are from the Puligny-Montrachet end. Row spacings are approximately 1 meter as are the vine spacings. Note below the very small amount of cane laid down, and the lack of snakes. I’d say that there is only a [...]
The accommodation we have had on this trip has been outstanding thus far, well, except for last night in Annecy, but that’s maybe another story. I don’t really feel like slagging someone off at the moment. That aside, the B&B of Michel Nartz that we stayed at in Dambach-la-Ville was marvellous as well as the [...]
Working Saturday! We drove from Alsace to Burgundy this morning, Beaune to be more specific. Friends had recommended a restaurant called Ma Cuisine, however we were disappointed to find it closed. After making some other arrangements we went on to visit Meursault. Les Combettes One of my absolutely favourite wines is the “les Charmes†premier [...]
When you look through wine books where they focus on the Alsace, at least ones in English, you often don’t see much mention of Dambach-la-Ville. Only a few kilometres north of Stelstat, Dambach-la-Ville is a picture post card town that is strangely light on tourists. Around every corner of its narrow streets is another winery [...]
This morning I’m visiting Claude Gisselbrecht at Willy Gisselbrecht in Dambach-la-Ville, south of Strasbourg. View Larger Map I first made Claude’s acquaintance around 6 or 7 years ago when I started importing Willy Gisselbrecht into New Zealand for Glengarry Hancock’s. Yet I only met him for the first time last year when he visited New [...]