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My husband and I, both members of Houston’s Italian Cultural & Community Center (ICCC) and frequent guests at their wine tastings (read about past events here and here), were thrilled to attend their first ever Italian wine seminar in four two-hour classes over the course of four weeks, led by Master Sommelier Craig Collins (Meet the Sommelier at t...

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Although it remains most associated with France, Italy is also a major producer of rosé wine, though here we refer to it as rosato (plural: rosati). And it’s made all over the country. Plenty of it is sparkling too, and of very good quality (see below for recommendations). Surprisingly, however, Italians have not been as great at consuming this win...

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Many international wine connoisseurs consider Italian reds to be among the best in the world — the equal, if not the superior, of French and California varietals. “I don’t think there’s a better wine grape in the world than Nebbiolo, especially with food,” said Bend’s Ron Lybeck, a former New York sommelier employed at the Ariana Restaurant. Nebbio...

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Castello Banfi, the iconic vineyard estate in the Montalcino district of Tuscany, continues its high standards of excellence with its latest accolade from the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy.  American-owned and operated, Banfi was the recipient of the Wine Excellence Award for “the Italian wine producer who has made the greatest contribution...

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Italians take their wine seriously. That said, they’re here to enjoy it—and far from snobby, are usually rather laid-back about choosing a vintage. Wine is meant to go with food, after all, so it is often simple… and relatively cheap! For this reason a nice house wine isn’t necessarily a terrible wine (and it’s usually better than what you’d find a...

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You don’t have to be in Rome to eat as the Romans do. Eataly, an authentic Italian marketplace and restaurant, is finally coming to the West Coast: and exclusively to Westfield Century City. Opening the doors to the new store will reveal an experience like no other. Standing three stories tall, Eataly will feature a vast array of products to purcha...

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The transformation of "bringing a bottle" equating to "bring a prosecco" began about four years ago, for me. While my student days were reliant on cheap vodka and whatever mixer I had around the house, shamefully incorporating Ribena squash on more than one occasion, my mid-twenties have been replaced with prosecco. I head to the supermarket, selec...

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So you think you know Italian wines? Wrap your heads around this: Italy’s National Registry of Grapes boasts 461 official grape varieties, 377 of which are genetically different Native grapes. So basically you could explore a new variety 365 days of the year yet fall short, let alone combining the endless permutations of producers, terroir, and sty...

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In survey after survey, marketing firms, tour operators and consortia name Italy as the most or second-most popular destination of choice for Europe-bound American travelers. The country’s multifaceted appeal is certainly a draw. History buffs, art lovers, architecture aficionados, fashionistas and — perhaps most notably — foodies will find plenty...

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In the wine world, Italy is known for its abundance of indigenous grape varieties - nearly 400. Of all those, sangiovese rises above in quantity, as Italy's most planted variety, and in quality (except for nebbiolo). The sangiovese grape is most responsible for the great wines of Tuscany. The Tuscan hills seem to have been created to nurture this...

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