As the world reawakens and travel calls, wine lovers can set sights on no better destination than a region of Italy steeped in traditions that have been honed and crafted in alignment with present-day innovations. Naturally protected atop a stunning hill surrounded by dense forest, Montalcino is one of the richest agricultural terroirs in the world...

Wine has always played a dominant role in Italian cuisine and culture—although the regions of this thoroughly wine-centric country vary widely in terms of terroirs and traditions. Aosta Valley, the smallest of the 20 regions, is sandwiched in the northwestern corner between France, Switzerland, and Piedmont. Its diminutive size, high-altitude topog...

Have I ever told you how much I love Chianti? Yeah, I thought so. But please indulge me while I spend a few minutes talking about my affection for this old Italian standard … and tell you about another good one that cost me just over $10. Chianti first caught my attention a long time ago, possibly before I was old enough to buy it legally. I would...

Located in northwest Italy, Valle d'Aosta is nestled into the Alps north of Piedmont, bordering Switzerland and France. While it's equally as enticing in summer for outdoor activities as it is in the winter for its skiing, it still tends to get overshadowed by the grand cities on Italy's customary tourism circuit.  Yet its gastronomy and delicacies...

Of Italy’s many tempting wine regions, those devoted to producing its legendary crus are essential stops for oenophiles wanting to sample the marvels of a celebrated DOCG territory at the source. Brunello di Montalcino, which like its powerhouse counterpart in Piedmont, Barolo, has been dubbed the “king of wine” (although they rely on different gra...

If you’ve been to Tuscany, you had vin santo, the sweet, thick fragrant nectar often served with another Tuscan legend, cantucci cookies. To be fair, vin santo is typical of all regions of central Italy and some variants of it can be found also in the North-East of the country, especially in Trentino, where it’s produced with  Nosiola  grapes, and...

The heart of the borgo is the residence of the Scarampi Marquises, located next to the square in which the Auditorium Horszowski was built and where the Bell Tower and the two Confraternities of St. Elizabeth and St. Augustine stand. Nothing remains of the original castle of Monforte, documented in the 11th century. On the site of the previous cast...

Whether you may have heard the name Lazio or not, if you’ve been to Italy most likely you visited Rome, which is actually in the central region of Italy called Lazio.  Lazio is a region dominated by white wines by about 70% over reds that are primarily based on the Malvasia and Trebbiano white grapes.  In Lazio you’ll find a couple different types...

The late-ripening Aglianico grape is undoubtedly one of Italy’s great red varieties alongside Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. Often called “Barolo of the South,” this moniker only scratches the surface yet speaks to the variety’s ability to express finesse and pedigree from a multitude of unique vineyard sites. Some of the most exciting bottlings come fro...

Nestled in northwest Italy, between the foothills of the western Alps and Apennines, lies the country’s second largest region: Piedmont, or Piemonte, in Italian. Home to the House of Savoy, Italy’s ruling dynasty until 1946, it’s no surprise this area birthed the king of Italian wines. While Barolo reigns supreme, an array of indigenous grapes call...