Pasqua: Breaking Rules and Taking Names in Veneto

I’m impressed by the quality, value of these wines and their manifestation of Pasqua’s progressive spirit. One of the key difference between “Old World” (France, Italy and Spain are top of mind for me), and “New World” (where the United States, Australia, and the South American countries of Argentina and Chile are top of mind…

Wine of the Day: 2013 Pasqua Amarone della Valpolicella

This outstanding wine was a fantastic introduction to Amarone for me! The grapes for this wine were hand-picked and sorted in late September, then left to wither in wood boxes (the appassimento process, meaning “withering” or “fading”) stored in a well-aerated loft for about three months, during which the fruit loses 25-30% in weight, resulting…

A Surf and Turf Feast with Donnachiara Wines #ItalianFWT

“These were two outstanding wines that were the perfect accompaniment for our Surf and Turf Feast” The theme for this month’s Italian Food, Wine and Travel (#ItalianFWT) group of food and wine writers is Italian Wines For Cold Winter Nights. When considering pairing food and wine, do you pick the food first, or the wine?…

A Taste of Lazio #ItalianFWT

One of the things I love most about food and wine is their ability to transport one to a different place.  And a  place’s people, culture, and customs are reflected in its food and wine.  In that sense, one can virtually travel the world through food and wine.  And that is exactly what we are doing…

Shrimp and Cheese Grits with Vietti Arneis #winePW

Wine Pairing Weekend is a monthly collaborative event for wine/food bloggers started by David Crowley of Cooking Chat.  It’s a great way to find food and wine pairings that work (or learn from the ones that don’t); along with tips on how to create your own food and wine pairing magic.  Valerie Quintanilla of GirlsGottaDrink.com is hosting this month’s…

2015 Slow Wine Tour Coming to San Francisco

You’ve probably heard of the “Slow Food” movement, which was emerged from Italy’s Piedmont region more than 25 years ago in 1989. The slow food movement’s mission is… good, clean and fair food for all. What you may not know, at least I didn’t until recently, is that there’s also a “Slow Wine” movement. In 2010,…