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June 2022

  Now in its 17th year (or rather having just completed its 17th year), Radici del Sud turns the spotlight on wines from indigenous vines and oils from Puglia, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Sicily, Abruzzo, Molise, and Sardegna. Radici del Sud Aside from probably Sicily and even Puglia itself, wines from southern Italy get less attention than those from central and northern Italy. The south has long served as a bulk wine producer for not only Italy but other areas in Europe. However, over the last few decades, producers have shifted from bulk into quality production. As Katarina said in her recent piece, How Radici del Sud Highlights the Potential of Southern Italian Wines,

  Day 2 for the Radici del Sud press tour dawned early after a late night return from Giovanni Aiello. We woke up to remnants of rain from the evening before which pushed back our departure time for our morning winery tour. Only one winery appeared on our schedule for today, but one is enough when we're learning about Primitivo from Fatalone. Fatalone and Primitivo If Primitivo is king in Puglia, Fatalone is the power behind the throne. This small, historic, family winery got its start when Petrera Nicola built his winery in Gioia del Colle. He chose to plant on a hill called Spinomarino, known for its lofty, well-aired, and

  Let me begin with post with a small freak out about OMG MY FIRST PRESS TOUR/JUDGING! Thanks to Katarina at Grapevine Adventures, I was asked last year to join the journalist contingent at Radici del Sud. However, due to Italy's travel restrictions at the time, I was unable to do so in the end. Happily, the founder Nicola Campanile kept my name and invited me back this year. [caption id="attachment_17721" align="alignleft" width="351"] botti at Cantine Rivera[/caption] I felt beyond thrilled and honored to be part of this. Not only was this my entrée to the world of wine judging, but I would be doing so alongside the likes of people I have

  Keeping true to its brand, last year when 7Bilgeler released a new white blend, the winery named it for an ancient philosopher. The 7Bilgeler Herakleitas is a little east meets west including as it does Chardonnay usually used in the winery's Anaxagoras wines and Emir from the winery's Vindemia series. I used to really love 7Bilgeler and its wines. Despite the fact that all the wines involved international grapes. Then the winery released the Vindemia series with native grapes and I got so excited! But then I drank them. I'm sorry to say that I think the winery's overall quality has fallen over the last couple years. A sad

  Last year on a visit to Athens, the owner of one of my favorite wine shops (Alpha Sigma) helped me pick out a few wines with unusual grapes. Now, I love me some Assyrtiko. Love. So, to combine that with my interest in less usual Greek grapes, he recommended the Domaine Mega Spileo Assyrtiko Lagorthi. [caption id="attachment_17701" align="alignleft" width="349"] How much do I love this back label?![/caption] Of course I jumped at this. Peloponnese Assyrtiko doesn't usually do it for me but I had to have this wine for the Lagorthi. I got it home, made myself a pork gyro since I can now bring home the frozen meat, and

  If you know me, you probably know that I don't like Kavaklidere. My dislike has nothing to do with its size; it being one of the largest (the largest?) wineries in Turkey. I don't like the attitude. Then last autumn, the winery released a new wine: Kavaklidere Cotes d'Avanos Emir. And darn it all, it's really good. Cappadocia and Emir   Emir is THE grape of Cappadocia. While now found in pockets around Denizli in the Aegean, the purity and linear quality of Emir requires the high elevations and volcanic soils of Cappadocia. You can read more about the grape itself in my Get to Know the Grape: Emir post. Also

  Nearly extinct until the 1970s, Kalecik Karası has become of of Turkey's most popular and widely planted grapes. While red wines remain the most common, the grape shows great flexibility and makes blanc de noir, rosé, and traditional method sparkling wines. Below are my picks for top Turkish Kalecik Karası wines (well the red ones anyway!). It originates in the Central Anatolian region, near Ankara, in Kalecik. Fairly adaptable, the grape grows across the country now and very often gives nuances of terroir. Known for its distinctive cotton candy aroma, Kalecik Karası at its worst is a simple fresh and fruity wine without complexity but with enjoyable fruit and

  Most of my May seedlings have perished due to neglect. I'm afraid this is not going to be my year for plants! I'm travelling too much during these sensitive, early weeks. Despite the likelihood that my balcony won't be quite as picturesque as it was last year, I am looking forward to sitting out there with some wine! What will I be drinking? What will you be drinking in June? Read on and find out what your horoscope suggests! Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) Things are heating up this month, Aquarius, and I don't mean just the weather! Get your flirt on this month! Don't be afraid to make the first