Peter Wearing, Author at The Small Winemakers Collection

Great Ripasso from Luigi Righetti

Peter Wearing Weekly offerings Leave a comment January 12, 2022February 18, 2016

Valpolicella is a fruity, complex red wine from the Valpolicella viticultural zone of Veneto. Because Valpolicella’s wines generally lean towards the lighter end of the scale, for centuries the local winemakers have employed various techniques to improve the depth and complexity of their cuvees. The passito and ripasso methods have been the most successful: the former is used in the Recioto della Valpolicella and Amarone della Valpolicella, while the latter is used to make Valpolicella Ripasso. Ripasso was trademarked for …

2012 Spottswoode Offering

Peter Wearing Weekly offerings Leave a comment January 12, 2022February 10, 2016

Spottswoode has been one of Napa Valley’s stalwart producers of quality Cabernet Sauvignon since its earliest years, and for the last decade or so has been quietly turning out elegant, refined, and even understated wines that represent everything that is good about Napa Cabernet. While other wineries have pushed the frontiers of ripeness, extraction, and new oak, Spottswoode seems to have simply stuck to its guns, and now represents a classic profile of Cabernet in the valley. The estate has …

Fine Italian Fizz to Toast Fall

Peter Wearing Weekly offerings Leave a comment November 26, 2019January 14, 2016

Franciacorta, like Champagne, is both a geographic area as well as a sparkling wine. Awarded the coveted DOCG designation in 1995, Franciacorta is located east of Milan in north-central Italy and extends between Brescia, Lake Garda and Trento, south of Lake Iseo. It is a small area with relatively low production when compared to the Champagne region of France. The Franciacorta region is only about one-tenth the size of the wine growing area of Champagne and its total annual output …

A Super “Super Tuscan” from Jacopo Biondi Santi

Peter Wearing Weekly offerings Leave a comment December 6, 2019January 14, 2016

On offer this week is the 2011 Jacopo Biondi Santi Braccale. The wine is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20 % Merlot – a subtle balance between the austerity of traditional Sangiovese and the roundness of Merlot, perfectly adapted to the Maremma. The vineyards for this wine are 900-1350 feet above sea level with West – Southwest exposure. The grapes are vinified separately with a 10 day maceration that includes malolactic fermentation, then matured in French barrique for 10 …

Ripe and Ready Cabernet from the Veneto

Peter Wearing Weekly offerings Leave a comment June 24, 2022September 23, 2015

Luigi Righetti is one Veneto producer that has embraced the French varietal Cabernet Sauvignon. What makes this wine very unique is the manner in which it is produced: similar to the famous Amarone of the region, Sognum is made with semi-dried grapes, which concentrate the fruit flavours and add richness to give it a more robust flavour profile. Sixteen months in oak barrels gives additional complexity by softening the mouthfeel, and also gives a nice accent of vanilla and spices. …

Alella

Peter Wearing Alella October 20, 2021January 26, 2000

Alella D.O. (est. 1956) is one of Spain’s smallest appellations. It’s greatest challenge has been the encroachment of urban development, as it is located just 15 miles north of Barcelona. Sandwiched between the ocean and mountains, the vineyards are located within the foothills not far from the sea. The oldest vineyards, closer to the sea, experience a Mediterranean climate while more recent plantings, at higher elevations are cooler and experience a more Continental climate. Allella has a distinctive topsoil known …

Albana

Peter Wearing Albana October 21, 2021January 26, 2000

Albana is an old white variety grown almost exclusively in the Colli Albani of Emilia-Romagna. Perhaps its greatest claim to fame is that it, as Albana di Romagna, was the first white wine to be promoted to DOCG status, a decision that shocked a great many people. This grape variety is used mostly in the production of dry white wine but it is as a passito or sweet wine that the grape has shown the most promise. Vinified dry, it …

Alsace

Peter Wearing Alsace April 5, 2021January 26, 2000

Alsace is located in the Northeast corner of France and has been part of Germany several times in the last 150 years, a situation which is evident by the timbered houses, last names of locals and wines produced. All wines are labeled with the grape variety making the region, on the surface, easy to understand. However, the complex pattern of soils which includes everything from clay limestone to shistous to volcanic makes it the most diverse wine region in the …

An Introduction to Alto Adige

Peter Wearing Alto Adige October 20, 2021January 26, 2000

The northernmost region of Italy bordering Austria, Alto Adige was only ceded to Italy after the First World War, and its predominantly German-speaking inhabitants still call it the Sudtirol. Viticulture is centred on the main Adige valley wherever benchland and workable slopes are available. The climate is continental and the topography is definitely Alpine with vineyard altitudes ranging from 200m asl to 1000m asl. Winemaking ability and wine quality are excellent here, right across the board, all the way down …

An Introduction to Abruzzo

Peter Wearing Abruzzo October 20, 2021January 26, 2000

Abruzzo is the mountainous central region of Italy, famous for its Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. The rugged terrain, 65% of which is mountainous, helped to isolate the region from the winemaking influence of the ancient Romans and Etruscans in Tuscany, but the area has had a long history of wine production. The region produces about 5% of all the wine in Italy of which 60% is red. The region has notably hearty cuisine, including various types of roast lamb and Arrosticini, a …