Category Archives: Historical Stuff

The Italian Connection: Beaujolais Crus & Ancient Rome

Posted on November 23, 2015 by

The end of November is here and with it our tables are being adorned with French Beaujolais.  This ritualistic gulping down of Beaujolais is for good reason – not only is the freshly harvested and vinified Nouveau released on the … Continue reading →

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Leonardo da Vinci’s Truly Old Vines

Posted on March 22, 2015 by

Leonardo da Vinci’s fresco The Last Supper, located on the refectory wall of the Milanese church Santa Maria delle Grazie, is among one of the most easily recognized works of Italian art.  But did you know that payment for it … Continue reading →

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Friday the 17th – Origins of the Unlucky

Posted on October 17, 2014 by

You might have heard of the unlucky nature of the number 13, especially when it falls on a Friday in some parts of the world, but in Italy the number 13 is actually a good one!  Except in one very … Continue reading →

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Wine Quotes – Pliny the Elder

Posted on January 3, 2014 by

“In Vino Veritas (In wine, there is truth)” –Gaius Plinius Secundus, aka “Pliny the Elder”. Pliny the Elder was a Roman author and natural explorer and philosopher in the 1st century AD. He is maybe best known for writing Naturalis … Continue reading →

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Italian Wine Regions: Piedmont

Posted on May 19, 2013 by

PIEDMONT Grapes and wine-making were first introduced to this Northern Italian region by the Greeks, much like the rest of Italy, being cultivated and pressed afterwards by the Romans (whose love for wine was responsible for many advances in wine … Continue reading →

Posted in Grapes: Black, Grapes: White, Historical Stuff, Italian Wine Regions, Red Wines, Sparkly Wine, White Wines | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Wine Quotes – Thomas Jefferson

Posted on May 11, 2013 by

“Good wine, is a daily necessity for me.” Did you know that Thomas Jefferson, founding father and third president of America, was an avid wine connoisseur? During his first term as president he spent $25,000 (or the equivalent of $75,000 … Continue reading →

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What’s a “Super Tuscan”?

Posted on April 27, 2013 by

If I say Tuscany, you will probably think Chianti.  But there’s of course much more than Chianti to be found from Tuscan wines.  The one I’ll focus on here is the so-called Super Tuscan: a nickname for Tuscan wine stars … Continue reading →

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Intro to Falanghina (White)

Posted on March 20, 2013 by

Meet Falanghina (say it: Fall-an-GHEE-nuh), one of the oldest white grape varieties in Italy!  It’s believed that Greek settlers brought this variety with them to the Campi Flegrei area (near modern-day Naples)  as far back as the 7th century BCE.  … Continue reading →

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Italian Wine History, Briefishly

Posted on March 16, 2013 by

Where does wine come from originally?  A. Italy B. France C. Napa Valley D. None of the above Those of you that answered “D. None of the above” are correct (and probably like myself assume that when provided with the … Continue reading →

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