Total Wine & More

~ Our blog for all things wine, beer, spirits, cigars … and more!

Total Wine & More

Tag Archives: Italy

Something Old, Something New

20 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by totalwineandmore in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

France, Italy, Old World

oldWorld__FbCover--815x315

At Total Wine & More, we’re often asked what the difference is between Old World and New World wines. Although we hate to generalize about wine, there are a few key distinctions that often ring true when discussing what separates these two worlds.

In wine terms, the Old World constitutes Europe and the Middle East, areas that have millennia of winemaking history and often abide by age-old viticultural practices, many of which have been codified into law to ensure consistency and authenticity. While Old World wines are markedly different from one another, some attributes tie them together.

st-emillion-france

Morning vineyard view of the town of St.-Émilion, Bordeaux, France.

In comparison to New World wines, their flavors may seem less pronounced, lower in alcohol, higher in acidity and more tannic. These wines are best enjoyed with food. They’re frequently described as earthy or herbaceous, whereas New World wines are commonly associated with bold and fruit-forward flavors and aromas, often with the fuller body and flavors associated with aging in new oak barrels. As a result, Old World wines are typically considered more elegant and refined in style than New World wines.

Of course, you’d be hard-pressed to find a wine critic who would call a 1986 Caymus Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon “unrefined.” In fact, Napa Valley’s remarkable wines were critical in legitimizing the New World wine industry.

In 1976, California wines trumped some of France’s greatest reds and whites in the Judgment of Paris, a now historic wine tasting that opened the door to the New World. Now, the New World is much more than Napa Valley. It most prominently includes the whole of the North America, Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa.

Although many of these countries have long winemaking traditions, serious commercial investment has only come in recent decades, which means much of the viticulture boasts state-of-the-art agricultural techniques. New World producers are often associated with a greater investment in technology, which allows for increased production and efficiency.

7753206750_fda14e3f1d_z

The view from Pritchard Hill at Chappellet Winery.

In contrast to the Old World, the New World is known for its drink-now wines, which are often assigned adjectives like big, lush, fruity and ripe. Many of the New World’s greatest winemaking regions are in warm climates that can produce wines with higher alcohol content and riper flavor.

And yet, the lines between one world and another may be fading. Old World wineries have begun producing fruit-forward, New World-style wines, while many New World wineries aim to produce lower-alcohol, unoaked wines that reflect a distinctly European style.

See how it all began and get a taste of the Old World by stopping by your local Total Wine & More or shopping online.

What’s Old Is New Again

20 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by totalwineandmore in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

France, Italy, Old World, spain

oldWorld__FbCover--815x315

At Total Wine & More, we’re kicking off a two-week celebration of Old World wines in stores and online. While big names like Bordeaux and Chianti may immediately come to mind, we strive to educate our customers on how big the Old World really is, and how much it has to offer.

When we talk about Old World wine, we mean Europe – countries such as France, Italy, Spain and Germany – which are home to some of the world’s oldest and greatest winemaking regions. In short, “Old World” is often applied to places that are known for their age-old winemaking practices, but it can also describe the soil, climate and topography – or terroir – of Old World regions.

And while we love wines from marquee areas (Bordeaux will always hold a place in our hearts), the Old World has so much more to offer.

France has more than 400 officially designated wine appellations, or appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC), and many are often overlooked. Alsace is a perfect example. Nestled on the border between France and Germany, the area achieved AOC status in 1962.

Given its close proximity to Germany, it’s no surprise that Alsace produces fantastic dry Rieslings, including one of our favorites, Anne de K. It’s also known for producing exceptional sparkling wines at great values, called Cremant d’Alsace. Next time you’re shopping with us, keep a look out for Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Reserve or Arthur Metz Cremant d’Alsace Brut.

Il Pozzo - Fratelli Bellini

Much like France, Europe’s other wine titan, Italy, boasts hundreds of winemaking appellations, and many have a similar story to Alsace—producing great wines that are too often overlooked. While Chianti and Barolo share the limelight, the country has so much more to offer, from Lambrusco and Asti, party-perfect sparkling wines, to Dolcetto and Nero d’Avola, red wines that are easy to fall in love with.

And then there are Old World countries like Spain, Portugal, Austria and Germany, where the wines are coming into their own in the modern era. Thanks to Cava, Tempranillo and Garnacha, Spain is no longer the sum of its Sangria. With the rise of Riesling, Germany and Austria have received much-deserved attention, and Portugal’s Douro Valley has become a hot spot for exceptional red blends.

The Old World is a big place and we want to help you explore it. Stop by Total Wine & More or shop online and you’ll have it at your fingertips.

Tuscan Wine Experience: An Exclusive Virtual Tasting Event Featuring Marchese Piero Antinori

27 Wednesday May 2015

Posted by totalwineandmore in Wine

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Antinori, Italian wine, Italy

pieroantinori-2

Have a question for Piero you would like us to ask live during the event? Post it in the comments below!

Please join us on Saturday, June 13th from 4-5 PM EST (1-2 PM PST) for an exclusive live-via-webcast guided tasting featuring a selection of Marchese Piero Antinori’s incredible wines as a part of our Discover Italy series of events.

The Antinori Family has been making wine for 630 years. Throughout its long history, spanning 26 generations, the family has always personally managed the business making innovative, sometimes courageous choices, always with unwavering respect for tradition and the land.

Today Marchese Piero Antinori is president of the company, assisted by his three daughters, Albiera, Allegra and Alessia, who play critical roles in the business. As president, Marchese Piero Antinori has shaped the company over the decades to be one of the leading Italian producers of fine wines.  Antinori wines are prized by wine lovers around the world for their commitment to the qualities of tradition, passion and innovation.

“As the 25th generation to head the firm, Piero has transformed it into one of the world’s most influential wine companies. Safeguarding his family’s legacy has been his life’s work.”
– Wine Spectator Magazine (April 30, 2015)

Piero will be joining us live-via-webcast from his Antinori property, Antica Napa Valley.

Featured Wines:

  • Guado al Tasso Vermentino Bolgheri DOC
    94 Points, Wine Advocate
  • La Braccesca Sabazio Rosso di Montepulciano DOC
  • Villa Antinori Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva
  • Tignanello Toscana IGT
    93 Points, Wine Advocate
  • Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato Bolgheri DOC
  • Guado al Tasso Bolgheri DOC Superiore
  • Antica Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
    91 Points, Wine Advocate

Tickets are $25 per person. Purchase tickets for this exciting tasting event at your local Total Wine & More location by clicking your local store link below.

Arizona
Glendale – Sold Out Scottsdale – Sold Out Tucson – Sold Out
California
Arden Brea Laguna Hills
Connecticut
Manchester
Delaware
Claymont – Sold Out
Florida
Jacksonville Sold Out Naples – Sold Out North Miami
Pinecrest Plantation Viera (Melbourne)
West Kendall
Georgia
Atlanta (Perimeter)
Minnesota
Burnsville Roseville (Rosedale)
North Carolina
Winston-Salem
New Mexico
Uptown – Sold Out
Nevada
Las Vegas – Sold Out
South Carolina
Columbia
Texas
Arlington Plano North San Antonio (Del Norte)
Virginia
Chantilly – Sold Out McLean South Richmond – Sold Out
Washington State
Bellevue Vancouver

Total Wine Abroad: VinItaly 2013

12 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by in Vinitaly, Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Italy, Vinitaly 2013, Wine

Each spring the city of Verona, Italy – most famous for providing the backdrop to Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ – plays host to Vinitaly, one of the largest wine fairs in Europe, with over 4,000 exhibitors and well over 100,000 visitors attending from around the world. Vinitaly features four days of events, meetings, tastings and targeted workshops designed to foster relationships within the wine industry and present the diversity of Italian wine to the rest of the world.

Vinitaly_1

The floor at Vinitaly 2013

For members of Total Wine’s buying team, Vinitaly provides a great opportunity to not only check in with current suppliers but also seek out new and exciting products in the world of Italian wine. This year’s visit was no different, as our Italian wine buyers, Matt Bardill and Julie Feltovich, kept themselves very busy by meeting with over seventy suppliers, including at least ten new producers – in total over twenty-four hours of meetings in just four days!

Vinitaly_Bonacchi2

Matt Bardill and the winemaker, Andrea, at Cantine Bonacchi

While Vinitaly provides a great setting for one-on-one meetings, for our buying team the experience is enhanced by leaving the four walls of the convention center and getting a firsthand look at the winemaking process. Combining the meetings at the show with visits to individual wineries allows our buyers to not only understand the process behind the wine but also get a better idea of the culture and flavor of Italy – so time before and after the show is set aside to travel to our partners’ wineries across Italy.

Matt and Julie traveled to almost twenty wineries in all during their visit to Italy, traveling through numerous wine regions like Piedmont, Tuscany and Venezia. At each estate they were given grand tours of the production facilities and the grounds, allowing them to see how Italian winemakers have blended the ancient traditions and historical buildings with modern systems and processes – and at the end of each tour, the best part of the winemaking process: tasting the wine!

Matt, Julie, Albino and Egle Armani, and Alfio

Matt, Julie, Albino and Egle Armani, and Alfio

Among the highlights was a tour of Cantina del Redi in the ancient town of Montepulciano, home of a cellar believed to be over 2600 years old and the setting for a number of Hollywood films… most recently ‘Twilight: New Moon’. A visit to Botter Carlo gave the buyers a glimpse of the massive production process for one of our top-selling Pinot Grigios, as they were guided by one of the wineries founding brothers, Arnaldo. And a stop at Castello della Paneretta, located between Firenze and Siena, provided a breathtaking 180-degree panorama of the region and a view all the way to the Alps.

The view from Castello della Paneretta

The view from Castello della Paneretta

Although very busy, the ten-day trip was a great experience for our buying team. Old partnerships were strengthened, new and exciting ones were forged, and everyone gained a better understanding of how to bring Italy to our customers.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Alfio’s Bowtie Diaries – DAY 3

01 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by totalwineandmore in Bow Tie Diaries

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Alfio Moriconi, Brunello, Italy, Morellino di Scansano, Wine

Alfio’s Bowtie Diaries – DAY 3: Maremma and Montepulciano

Andrea Bonacchi’s Guest House

Southern Tuscany and Montepulciano were on the agenda for today, but before we got on the A1 (the main interstate that runs from Florence down to Rome) we made a quick visit to Andrea Bonacchi’s Montalcino property, Molino della Suga.  Andrea showed us the recent renovations he made to his estate, including  a new guest house overlooking the winery from its kitchen – I wouldn’t mind making a meal in here!  Since it was 7:30am and I had just ordered a doppio from the roadside gas station, we figured it would be best to take a rain check on tasting Casalino Brunello di Montalcino, another great Brunello that we carry in our Tuscan section.

The View of Southern Tuscany from Mantellassi

Back on the road, we headed south to Mantellassi vineyards in the southwest region of Tuscany, Maremma. For those of you not familiar with the area, we were about two and a half hours south of Florence, or so we thought. The car’s GPS couldn’t find our next destination (perhaps it had too much Brunello from the day before?) and we found ourselves on top of a mountain at a local grocery store that sure enough sold Mantellassi wines, but was not the family estate nor our next appointment. All was not lost, we befriended a local man who was able to lead us in the right direction, which was back down the mountain and to the town of Scansano, 45 miles away. Mantellassi is operated  by Giuseppe Mantelassi and produces a type of wine called Morellino di Scansano – you guessed it, another name for Sangiovese grapes! The Mantellassi family played a key role in obtaining a DOC appellation status for Morellino di Scansano wines, as Mantellasi is considered one of the most prestigious Morellino producers.

The peaceful grounds at Montebelli

Trying to make up some ground from the previous GPS debacle, Alfio took the helm and we were off to the Montebelli estates in Caldana near the southern province of Grosseto for lunch and a visit with the Tosi family. The Montebelli estates, owned by Carla and Lorenzo Tosi, has a full agriturismo, a country hotel. Carla and Lorenzo’s son  Alessandro (along with winemaker Claudio Gori) run the operations for Fabula wine, which is produced on the property. Claudio is a well known enologist in Tuscany and has worked with many Tuscan producers to refine their art of wine making. Alessandro and the Tosi family pride themselves on producing wine without using chemicals and as they say, “not playing around with wine or the soil, but only using what the land gives us.”  The Tosi mantra of using no pesticides and maintaining an organic estate creates a serene and relaxing retreat in nature for all of their guests to enjoy.

After lunch with the Tosi family, we headed back north with better GPS coordinates to the noble city of Montepulciano and to Palazzo Ricci. Montepulciano is located directly east of Montalcino (for those of you keeping track of our geographical location) and like Montalcino, is a medieval hill town and commune. Montepulciano produces two very classic wines, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montepulciano, both made from the iconic Tuscan grape, Sangiovese. In the center of Montepulciano is Palazzo Ricci, a Renaissance palace and home of Cantina Del Redi.  Antonio Gaudosio, export manager for Redi, set us up with an incredible tour of the cantina whose architecture has remained untouched for over 500 years.  The name Redi, comes from  the 17th-century poet and scientist Francesco Redi, who immortalized the excellence of wine from Montepulciano in his famous poem Bacco in Toscanawhere he states that “Montepulciano is the king of every wine.”

After tasting some excellent wines and a brief history lesson at Palazzo Ricci, we met up with Luca Gattavecchi at Poggio alla Sala, an estate that he and his family purchased over 15 years ago. Luca’s philosophy to making wine is quite simple and eloquently put, “Our concept of wine is very traditional; we are not quick to follow new trends; we try to produce wine according to tradition, thinking of it not merely as a drink but as an important part of our lives: a glass of wine always marks important occasions in our lives.” And Luca is right – any of his wines would help you celebrate a special occasion, especially the Poggio alla Sala Vino Nobile Riserva!

Alfio and Luca Gattavecchi Overlooking the Vineyards at Poggio alla Sala

Luca and family also make wine that carries the family name, Gattavecchi, which they store in a 7th or 8th-century B.C. cellar just up the road from the Montepulciano clock tower at Cantina Gattavecchi.

Cantina Gattavecchi also serves as their family restaurant and it is here where we ended our third day with a fabulous feast of food, wine, and music with Luca’s friends and family.

Cantina Gattavecchi

Antipasto at Cantina Cattavecchi

Alfio’s Bowtie Diaries – DAY 2

01 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by totalwineandmore in Bow Tie Diaries

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Alfio Moriconi, Italy, Wine

For Day 1 of the “Bow Tie Diaries” click here

Alfio’s Bowtie Diaries – DAY 2: Montalcino
After grabbing a panafoccacia and a cappucino for breakfast, we were off to visit Montalcino, a region southwest of the province of Siena. Montalcino produces two wines that are regarded as the best red wines in Italy: Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino, both made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. Though they taste relatively similar, they differ in production from the age at which the grapes are harvested; Rosso grapes are from younger vines and sit for less time in the barrel. The DOCG (which in Italian stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita – or the quality assurance/legal standards for Italian wines) regulations require Brunello di Montalcino to be aged for five years, two and a half of which must be in wooden barrels to make the Brunello more elegant and full-bodied.

Alfio & Maria Budzon of Podere Paganico

Tuscan native Giorgio Carratelli, who has collaborated with Alfio in finding some of the greatest Montalcino wines for our stores, joined us for our visit to producer Anna Maria Budzon at Podere Paganico. During our visit, Anna Maria assured us that big hand gestures where a part of Italian colloquialism and that she wasn’t intentionally trying to hit us.

After tasting Anna Maria’s delicious 2010 Rosso di Montalcino, we then headed to our next vineyard, Casisano Colombaio, where we saw them getting ready to bottle their Brunello Riserva. When in Rome (or in our case Montalcino), it would have been ungracious if we didn’t sample some of the different vintages of Casisano’s Brunellos, and the 2004 was absolutely fantastic!

Alfio & The Ciolfis

Next stop was Podere San Lorenzo, where we had an opportunity to sit (finally) and speak with three generations of Ciolfi men who have run their winery from atop the scenic hill sides of Montalcino for over 60 years.  Even though the youngest Ciolfi, Luciano, runs the winery, his father and grandfather still come to work every day to maintain the vines and oversee the land.

After experiencing the pride the Ciolfi’s have in their family business, we made our way through the winding gravel roads of Montalcino to visit another family owned vineyard, Vasco Sassetti. Like San Lorenzo, Vasco Sassetti sits on a hilltop and is managed by Massimo Lanzini. It was a good thing that Vasco Sassetti (who also makes grappa, a brandy distilled from the fermented pressed grapes) was close by and our next stop. As it turns out, fertile Tuscan soil is fantastic for Sangiovese grapes, but not good for your car or Alfio’s clothes. The dust from the gravel roads left a thick cake batter like substance on our car and with low windshield washer fluid, we were unable to see out of our car. Santo cielo!  A word of advice – when you rent a car in Tuscany, don’t get a black one – it will ALWAYS be dirty! Not good conditions for arriving in style with your cravatta. It was lunch time and it was great to see how all workers (regardless if you were a family member or not) stopped what they were doing and sat down together for a home cooked meal.  We felt like I was on the movie set of Eat Pray Love, where the food kept on flowing – though Julia Roberts was nowhere in sight.

Vasco Sassetti Grappa

Terralsole Brunello Riserva 2004 Label Painting

With a newly washed car (grazie, Massimo Lanzini!) we were on our way to our final stop for the day, Terralsole. At Terralsole we met up with Mario Bollag and his wife, Athena Tergis, a professional Irish fiddle player. Not only do Mario and Athena make excellent wine (their Brunello Riserva 2004 converted me to becoming a Brunello drinker for life), but they also have altruistic hearts and started a foundation in Haiti, Te Soley. Te Soley’s main objective is to support needy children and families with education and agricultural development projects. All of Terrasole’s labels are inspired by Haitain artists’ paintings, which they have displayed throughout their villa.

Though we were tired from our long day in Montalcino, we enjoyed meeting all of the people behind the wines and learning more about the Sangiovese (Brunello) grape. Next time we’re having a cookout, we are heading straight for a Brunello di Montalcino at Total Wine!

More Terralsole Labels inspired from Haiti, with a special edition label (far right) designed by renowned Tuscan Artist Vivienne, Mario & Athena’s 5 year old daughter.

Alfio’s Bowtie Diaries – DAY 1

30 Thursday Aug 2012

Posted by totalwineandmore in Bow Tie Diaries

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Alfio Moriconi, Chianti, Italy, Tuscany, Wine

Alfio MoriconiAlfio Moriconi is Total Wine & More’s Vice President of European Imports and Sales, and he has been in the wine business for over half a century – first as a retailer, then as an importer. Alfio has traveled frequently and extensively to Europe in search of small, family-owned wine producers in France and Italy. You can find Alfio’s gems at your local Total Wine under the “Alfio Moriconi Selection” section, and you can also find his name on the labels of some of the wines we carry. The Alfio Moriconi Selection represents the top picks of over 40 years of Alfio tasting thousands of wines, selected and presented as nothing but the finest.

Alfio Moriconi Selection Stamp

We caught up with Alfio recently during a business trip to Tuscany. Over the next few days, we will follow Alfio as he travels through Tuscany, bringing you some of the highlights from his trip so that you can learn more about this famous wine region and its producers. As Alfio would say “if you’re not drinking wine at least once a day – you’re not living life!”

And with this, Total Wine is proud to present the Alfio “Bowtie Diaries”!

Bowtie Diaries – DAY 1: Chianti Rufina

We met up with Alfio at the Florence International Airport with his briefcase in hand ready to take on Tuscany. Usually seen with his signature fashion trademark, a bowtie or cravatta, he surprised us with his casual look, sans bowtie. With the 40°C heat wave (that’s over 100°F) in Tuscany, apparently fashion doesn’t always come first – but don’t worry, he still had on his sports coat!

Our first stop was Castello del Trebbio in Chianti Rufina,a small region just northeast of Florence. Anna Mira Baj-Macario, the owner of Castello del Trebbio (known to locals as “Anna with the Castle”), welcomed us to her beautiful 12th-century estate with an amazing Tuscan feast! Anna Mira and her family have dedicated years to refurbishing the castle where they currently live and to producing an amazing Chianti on the grounds in the surrounding valleys. For lunch we had a saffron and peach risotto, followed by a chicken roulade (chicken, prosciutto, egg and sage) and tiramisu for dessert.

We ended the day visiting Maurizio Masi at Cantina Bellini, to check-up on an order that was just put together to ship to our stores.  Maurizio is the latest generation of Bellini family members to run Cantina Bellini, which makes the Bellini Chianti and Il Pozzo Chianti found in our Tuscany section.  After our long travel day from the States to Florence, we were ready for bed and resting up for our trip tomorrow to Montalcino!  Buona Notte!

Alfio with Maurizio Masi

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • June 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • May 2018
  • January 2018
  • September 2017
  • July 2017
  • March 2017
  • December 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • February 2012
  • October 2011
  • September 2011

Categories

  • & More
  • American Craft Beer Week
  • Anniversary
  • Beer
  • Bow Tie Diaries
  • Brunch
  • California Trip 2012
  • California Wine Experience 2013
  • Champagne
  • Cider
  • Class
  • Cocktails
  • Discover Event
  • Earth Day
  • Educational Class
  • father's day
  • Food
  • Galentine's Day
  • Gifts
  • Grand Opening
  • Grand Openings
  • holiday
    • Cinco de Mayo
  • Independence Day
  • Intern Jean-Hubert
  • Interviews
  • Job Opporunities
  • Live
  • Memorial Day
  • Miscellaneous
  • New Product
  • New Year's Eve
  • Promotions
  • Recipe
  • Seltzer
  • Spirits
    • Gin
    • Rum
    • Tequila
    • Vodka
    • Whiskey
  • St. Patrick's Day
  • summer entertaining
  • Tailgating
  • Tastings and events
  • Thanksgiving
  • Total Discovery Exclusive Content
  • Uncategorized
  • Valentine's Day
  • VinExpo
  • Vinitaly
  • Wine

Meta

  • Log in

Powered by WordPress.com.

 

Loading Comments...