Italian wine

Pinot Grigio by Real Housewives' Ramona Singer Available for Pre-Order

Real Housewives of New York City Ramona Singer photo

Planning on watching the premier of Season Four of The Real Housewives of New York City on February 15? Be sure to place your order now for a few bottles or even a case of Ramona Singer Pinot Grigio wine, which is now available for pre-order. The first shipment from Veneto, Italy, which is expected to arrive in February, will sell out quickly. All pre-orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first served basis.

The perky blond cast member's love for Pinot Grigio is well-known to viewers. For three years, fans of The Real Housewives of New York City have been asking Singer the name of her favorite Pinot Grigio. Apparently, Ramona was always hesitant to answer the question, because she jumped from brand to brand, trying to find the Pinot Grigio she liked the best. When you consider that Singer is a serial entrepreneur who operates several successful businesses including True Faith Jewelry, Ramona Singer Jewelry line for HSN, Ramona Singer Collections for Amazon.com and Tru Renewal Skin Care, it is not too surprising that she teamed up Opici Wines to launch her own line of Pinot Grigio that suited her tastes.

Gallery: Ramona Singer Pinot Grigio

The wine is made from 100% Pinot Grigio grown in the picturesque Veneto region of Italy. The wine's label was designed by Ramona herself. The tasting notes describe the wine as having "Expressive citrus aromas with hints of mineral which show on the nose. On the palate you get fresh, clean white fruits and crisp acidity, with a kiss of lemon and stony mineral in the well-balanced finish. It is best enjoyed young and chilled." The wine is best paired with shellfish and other seafood; simple preparations of poultry, pork and veal; pasta salads; vegetarian dishes; mild cheeses; or enjoyed as an aperitif.

With 50 brands in its portfolio from such countries as France, Chile, Italy, Spain, South Africa and the United States, Opici Wines is an experienced and highly reputable player in the wine business, and thus an idea partner for Singer. Ramona Singer Pinot Grigio is priced at around $14.99. It will be represented nationally through Opici's distributor network covering close to 50 states. It can be pre-ordered for delivery in 35 states now, by the bottle ($13.99) or by the case ($167.88) through Bottle King.

Tags: bravo, bravo tv, Italian wine, Italy, Opici Wines, Pinot Grigio, Ramona Singer, real housewives of new york city, real housewives of new york city bravo, Veneto

Masseto, The King of Merlot

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

What makes a wine worth $460 a bottle? It helps to be among the top Merlot in the world and to be one of the much vaunted Super Tuscans. The 2007 vintage of Masseto, Italy's gold standard of Merlot from Ornellaia, will be released in a few months. The grapes for this wine are grown on just more than 16 acres of vineyards in the coastal area of Bolgheri. Masseto was born almost by chance in 1986 when it was decided to vinify the Merlot from the Masseto vineyard. This small cru quickly became a collector's item sold in auctions all over the world. Masseto has received numerous accolades including a perfect 100 points from Wine Spectator's for its 2001 vintage. Suggested retail upon release is $460 but prices could go up from there depending on how quickly this one is snapped up older well-regarded vintages (especially the 2001) often sell for more. The new vintage will be available across the country at select retailers/restaurants, and is distributed by Folio Fine Wine Partners 707-256-2700.

Tags: italian wine, italian wines, merlot, ornellaia, red wine, super tuscan, wine

An Island of Venetian Culture Opens

by Amy Cortese (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine

As a 21st-generation winemaker whose family has made prosecco in the hills of Valddobiadene in Italy's Veneto region for centuries, Gianluca Bisol has a deep appreciation for the area's rich culture and history. So it is with great pride that Bisol this weekend unveils a new restaurant and hospitality center that reclaim a bit of Venice's forgotten past.

The estate, called Tenuta Venissa, is located on the island of Mazzorbo and includes a restaurant (pictured above) helmed by a renowned chef, an inn and a restored walled vineyard where an ancient grape variety that was nearly extinct has been replanted and will soon be bottled.

Mazzorbo, part of the archipelago of islands off of Venice, was once an important trading center. In recent times, it has languished quietly as a home to fishermen, abandoned vineyards and the occasional day-tripping tourist visiting Burano, an island famous for its lacework and colored houses (Philippe Starck apparently owns three) that is connected to Mazzorbo by footbridge. (Murano, the island renowned for its glass, is a short boat ride away).

Bisol hopes to transform the island into a tourist-worthy destination and research center dedicated to exploring the region's indigenous grapes and cuisine. "I have always been fascinated with the food and wine history of the lagoon," says Bisol, a genial Italian with a broad smile.

Tags: Bisol, chef Paola Budel, italian wine, Mazzorbo, prosecco, Venice, Venissa, wine

Continue reading “An Island of Venetian Culture Opens”

Voga Italia Sparkling Pinot Grigio

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Here's a relatively inexpensive yet festive and delectable alternative to fancy champagne for frugal Valentine's Day celebrations: Voga Italia's Sparkling Pinot Grigio.

My colleague Deidre Woollard first wrote about the fashionable brand back in 2006; the Sparkling Pinot Grigio (right) is the latest addition to their luxe lineup.

Voga Italia "transformed the traditional, stuffy wine bottle into a distinctive, glamorous shape." The curvier clear glass bottle of the Sparkling is sealed with a traditional cork and topped with a resealable, airtight cap.

Voga Sparkling is made from 100% Pinot Grigio from the mountainous province of Trentino and the Veneto region (home to Venice) of Northern Italy.

At 12% alcohol, it's a striking golden color with a fine effervescence, aromas of white blossoms and ripe fruit, and a clean citrusy finish. It sells for $15.99.

Tags: Champagne, Italian wine, ItalianWine, Italy, Pinot Grigio, PinotGrigio, Valentines Day, ValentinesDay, vday09, Voga, Voga Italia, VogaItalia

Tommy Lasorda Signature Series Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Sports

Most of the time wines from sports celebrities hover in the moderate price range but baseball legend Tommy Lasorda has a special bottle that sells for $500. Lasorda's limited 2001 Carmignano varietal is an Italian wine that comes in a magnum (1.5 liters) embellished with Terra Cota embossing. Each bottle is hand signed by Mr. Lasorda and comes in a wooden case. Lasorda also has more moderately priced offerings, his 2005 Chianti Classico sells for $32.98.

Source

Tags: italian wine, tommy lasorda, TommyLasorda, wine

Il Palazzone Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

New York Magazine has an interesting piece on Dick Parsons ,the CEO of Time Warner which mentions Il Palazzone, his vineyard in Tuscany. Parsons is passionate about his Brunello saying in the article that it has terroir, complexity and character. According to the article, he has also created a super Tuscan, named Lorenzo & Isabelle after his parent. The wine is a blend of Cabernet-Franc, Sangiovese, and Petit Verdot.

Il Palazzone is around 25 acres in the hills of Montalcino. His Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is particularly well regarded. it is only produced only in outstanding vintage years and is aged in French oak. It sells for over $100 a bottle through Italian Wine Merchants

Source

Tags: dick parsons, il palazzone, brunello, IlPalazzone,Brunello, italian wine, red wine, time warner, wine

2001 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Rabaja

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Barbaresco, the strong and sexy wine made of Nebbiolo grapes from the Piedmont region of Italy is known by wine lovers as being a delicious companion for beef dishes and is way to experience something other than those Napa cult Cabernets (delightful though they are). An article by father-and-daughter wine writing duo, Frank and Kate Sutherland, rates five Barbarescos with an eye toward finding tastes of black and red fruit.2001 They gave top honors to the Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Rabaja praising the aromas of blackberries and Dr. Pepper-like sarsaparilla. It was the most expensive wine on their list (they say it costs $109.99 but it can be found for as low as around $90 at various places) but they report it is worth the money. The wine has also received a 93 from Wine Spectator. It's definitely going on my want-to-drink list.

Source

Tags: barbaresco, bruno rocca, BrunoRocca, italian wine, piedmont, wine

Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Wine Spectator has chosen their wine of the year and have unveiled the first ten of their 100 best list. The top wine is the Brunello di Montalcino Tunuta Nuova 2001 from Casanova di Neri. The family-run winery in Tuscany creates this Sangiovese-based red wine which is aged in 600-liter French oak casks. In the Wine Spectator video, James Suckling says that the warm summer days and cool nights of that year created a wine with a rich perfume and raspberry and blackberry flavors with a hint of chocolate and seamless tannins. He also believes the wine could be even better in a couple years.

The Casanova di Neri website says that the quest for the Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova came about with the search for the perfect microclimate of the terrain as well as the delicate cultivation of the Sangiovese grapes. The wine is aged in small oak casks for 24 to 30 months and then for at least a year in the bottle. The first vintage produced was in 1993. The wine has earned a rating of 97 and sells for $70. There were 4,830 cases made. The winery also makes olive oil and grappa as well as fine wines.

Also, I must mention, Giacomo Neri is a serious wine fox.

Source

Tags: brunello, casanova di neri, italian wine, red wine, sangiovese, tuscany, wine, wine spectator

Lorraine Bracco Wines

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Sopranos actress Lorraine Bracco is yet another celebrity winemaker. Bracco's wines are are available in the New York tri-state area this spring and will be available nationwide in the fall. Her wines include eight different varietals (Barolo, Amarone Classico, Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva, Montepulciano, Pinot Grigio, Brunello Di Montalcino and Primitivo) chosen from various Italian producers that she picked out herself. Bracco isn't involved in wine production yet but according to an interview in Wine Spectator posted on Avenue Vine, she would like to be. On her website it says that she is interested in purchasing her own vineyards.

Source

Tags: barolo, bracco wines, Italian wine, lorraine bracco

Diesel Jeans Enters The Wine Business

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Diesel Jeans is now in the wine business. Decanter reports that Renzo Rosso, the founder of the popular label presented three new wines at Vinitaly this month.The three wines are Bianco di Rosso, a Chardonnay, Rosso di Rosso (Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon) and Nero di Rosso (Pinot Nero) and will sell in restaurants for over £100 a bottle. Rosso owns a farm in Marostica in Vicenza, Veneto and also sells olive oil. Too bad the name Vin Diesel is already taken.

Source

Tags: diesel, italian wine, new wine, wine