Events & Tastings

Salame di Varzi DOP is a versatile Italian gastronomic speciality capable of making any gourmet fall in love with it. And, since we are in the extraordinary lands of Oltrepò Pavese DOP wine, what better occasion to discover it with two tasting masterclasses and...

Tuscany is a marvellous region, made up of a multiplicity of landscapes that are also very different from each other, but all united by the beauty of the landscapes and the cult of oenology. Montepulciano is a town of about 13,000 inhabitants in the province of Siena that lies...

Autoctono si nasce 2023 organised by Go Wine at the Hotel Melià in Milan was, as always, a highly interesting event to find some goodies and get some confirmation. After sharing with you my tasting notes of Emilio Bulfon's wines, I...

Last week I went to Go Wine's Autoctono si nasce 2023 and tasted many excellent wines. In particular I was happy to (re)appreciate the wines of Emilio Bulfon and since I tasted so many and liked them all, I decided to...

Last Wednesday I went to the technical tasting reserved for the press of Chianti Colli Fiorentini and for me it was a wonderful opportunity to re-embrace part of my family who live in Florence. I slept at the B&B da Olga, which boasts a...

This year it took me a while to publish the second Blend 2022 article, but with the master's degree and my constant living between Rome and Monte Isola, time is really tight. Then I managed to take a lot more notes than other years that I wanted to share with you....

If you know me at all, you know that I love tasting the 'unusual' and sour cherry wine fits perfectly into this category since I have tasted very few of them in my life! So first I want to thank Fabrizi Family for giving me the idea....

Last Saturday I went to the presentation of the Guide Vini Doctor Wine 2022 and, after a series of tastings (some very interesting, others a bit 'borderline'), I attended the tasting 'The great red wines of Piedmont'. I could have chosen... but to the grape variety....

I have just returned from an extraordinary experience in Switzerland where, in just two days, I visited Lake Thun (and in particular Sigriswil, Thun and Oberhofen am Thunersee (where I would gladly go to spend the winter...), Lake Brienz (and in particular Iseltwald) and...

Before I tell you about the Barbera wine I tasted today at Vinchio Vaglio, I want to pay a compliment. I am in the station at Torino Porta Nuova waiting for my Frecciarossa train to Brescia, and I am pleasantly impressed by this station that is so people-friendly. Bathrooms...

Put on a sunny early summer morning and a small secret garden in the heart of Milan... here begins a wonderful tasting session in the home of Dr Silvia Cirri, head of Anaesthesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care 'between weeks' and CEO of the...

Rosé wine, for me, is a wine that should have more space and producers have the task of not debasing it with easy and mediocre products designed for an audience of spritz wine consumers. Don't get me wrong: if by easy we want to talk about drinkability....

This morning I participated in an interesting Masterclass dedicated to rosé wine, where I had the opportunity to compare Bardolino Chiaretto with other French rosé wines. I found this tasting very interesting and I must say that it gave me the opportunity to...

I continue to tell you about my Vinitaly 2022 with a very nice tasting that was actually longer than what I'm about to tell you, but I decided to cut the article dedicated to Kellerei Bozen by dedicating it to Lagrein Alto Adige DOC because I didn't...

Another winery from which I got a really interesting overview at Vinitaly 2022 is Kellerei Tramin, a little gem from Alto Adige. A winery known for its gewurztraminer - which has won it a place in the hearts of fans of this...

Today was the last day of Vinitaly 2022 for me and, among the many wonderful tastings, I attended a vertical tasting of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC Riserva Casauria 'San Clemente' wine from the Zaccagnini winery. I did not know this winery except by name, and I was...

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG is a Veronese wine that I simply LOVE. Amarone wine is a dry raisin wine made from native black grapes, the main ones of which are corvina, corvinone and rondinella. The name 'Amarone' derives precisely from its being a...

What is hope? I believe it is a positive message to give to someone when something is wrong. Hope can be appropriate for a big or small problem, it doesn't matter. To give hope is to tell someone that everything will be OK, and it is exactly this phrase that has...

I love the bars in the lobbies of posh hotels. I love watching people come in and out, business meetings, fleeting dates, stolen glances. I like the tired faces, the energy, the music, the stories. For me, there is no better place to ...

I have just finished watching 'Caro Battiato - Invito al viaggio' and I am immersed in a sea of emotions and memories. Memories of two people who are no longer with us: Dad and Grandma Mira. So, for my first article of the year, I decided to talk to you freewheeling. About...

Lugana DOC wine also owes its success to its incredible geographical location: it is produced in Sirmione on Lake Garda. Made from Turbiana grapes, also called Trebbiano di Lugana, it is a white wine suitable for a long evolution in the bottle. For...

A truly excellent format for celebrating the wines of the Pavia area: the right number of wineries and the right number of wines for tasting... although I will tell you in advance that I chose to do only the classic method sparkling wines. That's why I was delighted to...

Nebbiolo is definitely one of the grape varieties I love the most and among the Piedmont wine tastings those organised by Go Wine are definitely my favourite. First of all they have the right size to taste all the wines in 2-3 hours for good measure, then the quality offered...

"Divine Venus and the Five Oenological Forms of Beauty" was the title of an afternoon in which the art treasures on display at Palazzo Te dialogued with the best tastings of the Veronelli Guide 2022. Andrea Alpi, Andrea Bonini, Gigi Brozzoni, Marco Magnoli and...

I had already been to the Guida Oro Veronelli's preview of the Suns several times, but choosing Palazzo Te in Mantua was the trigger that made me consider this event 'not to be missed'. I have loved Giulio Romano and Mannerism since my days at art school and had already been there....

A few days ago I told you about the pre Blend 2021 in Alpago, at Riccardo De Prà's Dolada Restaurant: a magical evening thanks to the superlative cuisine and wine symmetries carefully chosen by Umberto Cosmo of Bellenda from the wineries he distributes. Today, however...

At the crack of dawn, I am in my room at the Il Poggio di Gavi B&B, reflecting. Thanks to the Consortium for the Protection of Gavi, I have spent a wonderful and inspiring day touring the cellars of Gavi. I had this spontaneous reflection on the...

Slow Food pulls another delightful event out of its hat, perfect for 'novice' winelovers. The island of La Maddalena in Sardinia becomes the dream setting for four June Slow events organised to be experienced in person or at a distance...

When I think of an extraordinary red wine, I immediately imagine a good bottle of Barolo... which is why I was so happy to attend this Go Wine event at the Starhotels Rosa Grand in Milan. Actually the event was also dedicated to the...

Autoctono si nasce 2021 by Go Wine is one of my favourite events. There are so many interesting tidbits and the press preview is always 'taster-friendly', meaning I can take all my notes serenely. Unfortunately, the tasting...

My intellectual honesty prevents me from saying - and writing - something I don't think... so here I am to tell you about the four wines of Feudi San Gregorio's 'Sfilata 2021'. I anticipate that there is a treat you should try, and how! However, there is also a wine that I don't ...

How nice to relax a bit by writing on my beloved wine blog while enjoying a glass of (red) wine! I literally spent a week on fire, between the Economic History exam on 5 May, the Food and Wine Law exam (I got 28 in...

The fashion for provocative photos where the bottle of wine that is supposed to be the protagonist is a superfluous side dish is all the rage on Instagram, and it's all the rage for generous cleavage, winking heels and turkey-butt mouths to be stuffed even on days away from the...

Saturday morning I received a beautiful parcel from Tenuta Mazzolino, totally unexpected also because I was not expecting deliveries on the Saturday before Easter. The second wonderful surprise was to find in it pinot noir not only vinified as sparkling wine, but also...

Today, on the Tuscan thread that has been hovering over the blog these past few weeks, I decided to uncork the Bolgheri Podere Conca 'Agapanto' 2018 in combination with a delicious Montisola steak. A perfect choice to celebrate the first episode of my podcast dedicated...

Yesterday evening I held a room on ClubHouse about Carmignano and in particular I tasted the Carmignano DOCG 2017 "Poggilarca" and the Carmignano Riserva DOCG 2015 "Grumarello" of Artimino 1596. I want to make a premise in all sincerity: I knew that Carmignano existed....

Yesterday I promised myself I would publish an article about pairing red wine and fish, but when I took an hour break from writing I found myself watching a movie on Netflix called Self-Made: The Life of Madam C. J. Walker. It may be that I am...

To understand a wine fully, it is necessary, as a first step, to know the grape variety from which it is made. That is why when Federica of Aroma Wine Bar, the Tortona wine shop specialising in Derthona Timorasso, suggested I talk about this wine, I accepted...

My vocation for wine goes hand in hand with my curiosity for cheese. I love to create easy or unusual pairings and enjoy the company of both. A day can go well or badly, but if you end it with wine and cheese I am sure it will have, in every...

On this night before the exams, I want to share with you the paper I did for the Geography of Wine Production course in which I got top marks. I really hope the exam goes well tomorrow... in the meantime what do you think about finding out...

Today I decided to talk to you about a wine I care a lot about: Chianti. When I think of this wine, and in particular of the best Chianti Classico wines, I think of Casalino, a small village of 64 inhabitants in the Casentino forests, where I spent some wonderful summers...

I love Christmas. If I think of a time of year that makes me happy, it is this time of year. I love hot chocolate, snow, little lights that warm the rooms, streets and hearts. I love watching films full of Christmas spirit with enchanted villages, old loves and families....

Creating a restaurant wine list is a real challenge because there are so many factors that come into play. The most common mistake is to include wines according to one's personal taste without taking into account the type of clientele one has or wants to have. In fact.

Yesterday evening I was a guest at the Masterclass 'Il Lugana ieri, oggi e domani' (Lugana Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) organised by the Lugana Consortium as part of Milan Wine Week at the splendid Palazzo Bovara, which also has the advantage of having the metro stop right outside the entrance. The...

On Saturday 1 February 2020, in the Wine Point of the Cigognola Castle, a few steps away from the splendid manor house, Giovanni Bigot presented his 'Bigot Index', assisted by two exceptional professionals: Angelo Gaja, whom I am sure I do not have to introduce to you, and Stefano Poni,...

On Thursday 23 January 2020 I went, as I do every year, to the GoWine Association's 'Autoctono si nasce' event at the Hotel Michelangelo in Milan. Once again I found it a small and very interesting event to discover some goodies and confirm...

I have only been home one day this week and my life as a digital nomad (or wine blogger) has reached an all-time high! However, there was one experience I was particularly happy to have, partly because of who organised it, partly because I was...

On Saturday 5 October, I was invited to the 'Tour of Italy in 80 wines' wine tasting of Iper's 'Grandi Vigne' project at the Portello Shopping Centre in Milan. Iper Portello in Milan is very easy to reach even by Metro because on the new line of the...

In mid-September I went to Porto with my closest friend - and partner - Fabrizio and I was delighted that he too was able to admire the magic of this city and taste these wonderful wines. When I hear about liqueur wines, and in particular Port Wine, I...

In this article I will not tell you about wine. I will save all the tastings I did during the Valtidone Wine Fest for a future article, where I will be happy to share my notes with you and point out the Malvasia (and other) wines I liked best. No, in...

On Sunday 1 September, I returned to a winery that I had already had the pleasure of visiting thanks to the Press Tour organised by Pellegrini 1904 SpA at the end of June (I invite you to also read my previous article with all the wine tastings of this...

Mare & Vitovska 2019 took place over a month ago, but due to a series of personal vicissitudes I found myself with 'writer's block'. This is why I decided to focus on the new edition of my bestselling book 'How to become a Sommelier'. Not...

Here is a tasting I did during this splendid Vinitaly 2019 that I have not yet told you about: a vertical tasting of Telos Bianco by Tenuta Sant'Antonio to which Agnese of Wine Meridian invited me, whom I thank! The Télos project was born from the desire to...

I admit it... before I had a boyfriend from Piacenza, I was rather ignorant about the wines of the Val Tidone. Sure, I had tasted more than a few, but the enormous potential of Malvasia bred in this area I had yet to realise! Instead, thanks...

It seems like only yesterday that I was in Liguria for the first time... but more than four months have passed and so many things have happened. I have met so many wonderful people who revolve around the world of Stelle & Calici and, in particular, Vite in Riviera [in...

On 29 November, I was in Liguria for the first episode of Stelle & Calici with Chef Tommaso Arrigoni (if you haven't already done so, you can read the full article by clicking HERE). So I was delighted to participate....

When I received the invitation from Cristina Boffa of the MAD13 agency, I have to say that I liked the idea straight away: first of all, I got to know Liguria during the selection of wines for my sparkling wine guide, and I fell in love ...

One of the greatest pleasures of my life for me is to write, and to do it in bed, wearing only my underwear under a warm duvet on a beautiful Sunday morning with the sun giving the lake reflections of a thousand colours and penetrating my...

When Antonio Montano asked me to be co-presenter of this evening on Marsala at Le Proposte di Corano Restaurant, in my beloved Colli Piacentini, I was delighted to accept. Sicily has always been in my heart, and I never tire of repeating it...

On Saturday I went to the 2018 Picchio Rosso festival dedicated to the Cantina Valtidone's new wine. I always like to go to this winery because the people who work there are all exquisite and so I happily combine my love of wine with...

I am in Duisburg, at the Hotel Landhaus Milser, at the wine presentation of the world-famous footballer Andrea Pirlo. On the premise that football and I have nothing to do with each other (but I strangely followed the 2006 World Cup too) and that I found out yesterday which team...

It was some time ago that Stefano Spagnolo of Salento Wine Shop talked to me about his beloved Salento and portrayed it as a land capable of producing extraordinary rosé wines. So he sent me 6 labels of these Apulian rosé wines and the first thing I thought of, when I saw them, was that they were...

I am writing to you live from the Carlo Magno Restaurant in Collebeato (Brescia). Dr Lorenzo Palazzoli, Doctor, Researcher and Oleologist is the guest of Lions Valtrompia for a short course on Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The aim of the evening is to explain the narrow...

When I was approached to become Media Partner of this event, I was delighted to welcome this new partnership: the Best Wine Stars 2018 promises to be really beautiful! My fellow sommelier and writer, the very talented Adua Villa, who I saw...

After the latest controversy of the Taliban of natural wines, I will show you that a wine can be good and natural... without smelling and smearing. Then let's face it: if the wine is good, natural or not, we don't give a damn! Ditto if the wine is bad! If a good wine is natural... BETTER!

The only thing I like about travelling by train is that it is very compatible with my life as a wine blogger: in fact I am writing to you right now to tell you how my day went! Granted, I'm so hungry I could eat a Lilliput with all its...

Io bevo così (I drink this way) is the event dedicated to ethical wine that has reached its fourth edition this year. In a location of great charm, Villa Sommi Picenardi in Olgiate Molgora, were presented for 2 consecutive days, 21and 22 May 2017, over...

Sauternes is one of the most famous French wines in Italy. The AOC Sauternes is at the southern end of the Bordeaux wine-growing area and consists of two different appellations: Sauternes and Barsac. For us humble Sauternes enthusiasts, this represents a wine...

I have just returned from Milan, where I was at the presentation of the brand new Chilli Pepper Spray for self-defence by Tatù, the Piedmontese start-up that in just over two years has churned out fashionable objects of great taste and with a spirit of solidarity. Niente Paura S.r.l. is...

Today I am writing to inform you of this beautiful initiative dedicated to all lovers of Franciacorta wine resident or passing through Milan! Just now I received this email: We are happy to announce that Berlucchi has opened Berlucchi Franciacorta Lounge in Milan. The...

Morbegno in Cantina: a delightful event differently organised. A provocative title of mine, which I repeat to underline the concept of differently organised. But let us go in order: what is Morbegno in Cantina? I quote the official website of the...

On Sunday 22 June, I was a guest of the Scaglione family in the province of Asti on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Loazzolo DOC and took part in a wonderful dialogue on wine together with other important personalities such as Antonello Maietta, President...

In the Tuscan wine capital, among the hills and cypress-lined avenues, the perched houses and boundless vineyards, the 2010 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino and the 2013 vintage of Rosso di Montalcino were presented. I had never been to this small medieval commune of little ...

On Saturday afternoon, I had the honour of being invited to the event organised by Gino Fabbri, World Pastry Champion, in his wonderful shop in Bologna 'La Caramella' on the occasion of his victory at the World Pastry Cup held in Lyon on 25 October.