MY 15 SUPERSTARS . . .

My 15 superstars from James Suckling's Great Wines of Italy event in Miami !
The event took place on Monday night (March 6th) at the Design District, which as some of you know showcases art, fashion, and wine. The event was quickly filled with wine enthusiasts and professionals passionate about Italian wine. It was a great event and later I took the opportunity to try some wonderful restaurants (for all of you foodies) that I will later upload on the website.
So finally I just got back from a wonderful trip in Miami and I have chosen some bottles for this blog that stood out to me from the wineries that attended, and most importantly, I think they'll be a great addition to your cellar.

So lets dive into these gems!
(In no particular order)

RENIERI

                        

Marco Bacci owns three wineries in Tuscany: Renieri in Montalcino, Castello di Bossi in Chianti Classico, and Terre di Talamo in Maremma. In this event he presented two excellent Brunello wines: Renieri Brunello di Montalcino 2012 and Renieri Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2011. Both wines show beautiful balance and well structure. My favorite is the Riserva 2011.

ARGIANO

Argiano is owned by a group of Brazilian investors. At the event I met the CEO, Bernardino Sani, who presented Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2012 and Argiano Toscana Solengo 2014. I love both wines, but then again, I have never been disappointed by Argiano wines. I especially want to highlight their Brunello di Montalcino 2012. Its aromas and flavors are impressive, as well as its structure. It has a long lovely finish. A must-try for wine lovers!

SAN FILIPPO

San Filippo is owned by Roberto Gianelli. Year by year he produces great Brunello wines. I remember interviewing him in one of my visits to Vinitaly fair and tasting his 2010 vintage which left me impressed due to its structure and quality. In this event he presented his Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucére 2012 and Brunello di Montalcino 2012. Both are beautiful wines. Le Lucére 2012 is a rich wine with excellent tannin, acidity, and full body. Terrific wine! (Better in 3-4 years).
Winos don't miss out on trying it!
P.S. - You can check out his Vinitaly interview in my website by clicking on the 'Gallery' icon.
www.patriciashapiro.com

CASANOVA DI NERI

Giacomo Neri is an excellent wine producer! His wines never disappoint. His passion for wine making shines through his unique Burnellos. His son Giovanni (shown in the picture above) works with his dad in the vineyard throughout the whole process. It was nice to see the young Millennials learning from their parents and doing such a great job, as Giovanni did, in the Miami event. The wines presented were Brunello di Montalcino 2012 and Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2012. Both are great but pay special attention to Tenuta Nuova 2012. It has a perfect structure, delicious palate with impressive aromas. The long finish was spectacular. Keep an eye on it, it will be a great addition to your cellar.

CIACCI PICCOLOMINI D'ARAGONA

I met Paolo Bianchini, the wine producer, several years ago. He (and his sister Lucia) own a beautiful property in Montalcino that I recommend you to visit. He produces excellent wines and Grappa. Paolo's daughter, Ester, attended the event and it was nice to see her represent the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona brand so well. She showcased her professionalism and passion for wine!
She presented the Rosso di Montalcino Rossofonte 2014 which I found it to be a great Rosso. Try it, you will love it!
 The one that grabbed my attention the most was the Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso 2010. Incredible wine! It shows delicious aromas and flavors such as berries, flowers, mint, spices, and leather. Big Brunello!
P.S. - Tasting it was a great experience  but I would recommend waiting several years.

ALLEGRINI

Allegrini always makes fantastic wines! Marilisa Allegrini presented her Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2012 and Veronese Palazzo della Torre 2013. Both spectacular but the Classico 2012 definitely stands out. It is ready to enjoy but also has potential to age. This Amarone expresses dark fruit such as blueberry, plum, spices, chocolate, tobacco and coffee. Beautiful Amarone that you can drink alone or pair it with your favorite dish because it is ready to drink.
Bravo!

CASTIGLION DEL BOSCO

Castiglion del Bosco has a beautiful property in Montalcino. I visited years ago and it definitely gives winos a memorable experience. The two bottles presented at the event were Brunello di Montalcino 2012 and Brunello di Montalcino Millecento Riserva 2010. The 2012 is a delicious wine with great fruit, balance and finish. I enjoyed it but I would recommend waiting a few (2-3) years. The Millecento Riserva 2010 was one of my favorites. I tried it in 2016 at the Vinitaly fair with Massimo Ferragamo, during my interview with him, and the structure of the wine impressed me. Elegant wine! The bouquet expresses beautiful aromas of red fruit, cherry, plum, cassis, licorice, flowers, cinnamon, mint, and tobacco. On the palate, perfect balance with spectacular finish.

P.S. - You can check out Massimo's Vinitaly interview in my website: www.patriciashapiro.com

SAN POLINO

Luigi Fabro and Katia Nussbaum own San Polino. I met Katia years ago and I was always fascinated with her wines. San Polino focuses on having a biodynamic vineyard. Wine collectors, keep an eye on San Polino Brunello wines for your cellar  since they are unique and you won't be disappointed! The wines presented were Brunello di Montalcino 2011 and Brunello di Montalcino Helichrysum 2012. Both were delightful but Helichrysum 2012 stood out to me. The wine has excellent structure, fruit, acidity, and a lovely finish. I truly recommend you to try it but be patient because it is young.
Great things come to those who wait! Cheers

PETROLO

I met Luca years ago and Petrolo seems to be one of those brands that always gets it right. If you are a wine enthusiast that loves Italian wines you are probably already acquainted with the brand. The two wines that were presented in the event were Valdarno di Sopra Galatrona 2014 and Valdarno di Sopra Rosso Boggina 2014. Galatrona 2014 is a 100% Merlot and it's in the list of one of my favorites in Italy. Don't miss out on the opportunity to get one since it's a small production, only 7000 bottles.

PRINCIPE CORSINI

Duccio Corsini is the owner of Principe Corsini and he has been making a variety of great Italian wines. Costa Toscana Birillo 2013 and Chianti Classico Don Tommaso Gran Selezione 2013 were presented at the event. I want to highlight his Don Tommaso Gran Selezione 2013. A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. It shows delicious aromas of dark fruit, flowers, and spices. Powerful on the palate, that expresses mocha, black cherry, with well integrated tannin and long finish.
For the foodies reading this blog, this Chianti Classico Gran Selezione pairs marvelously with risotto!

VALDICAVA

It was a great surprise to see Sofia, another young millennial, representing the Valdicava brand alongside her dad Vincenzo Abbruzzese. For those of you that have read my previous blogs, you already know I'm a big fan of Valdicava wines. They never disappoint! Vincenzo and Sofia presented their Brunello di Montalcino 2007 and Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2010. The 2007 is ready to drink and presently enjoyable. The Madonna del Piano Riserva 2010 is a perfect wine! It is evident why James Suckling gave it a 100 points. Valdicava only comes out with Madonna del Piano Riservas on excellent vintages, such as the 2010. Age it a few years in your cellar.
A true gem!

NINO FRANCO

It was a pleasure to meet Primo Franco at the event and his passion for making prosecco was evident. I have been a fan of his proseccos for a long time and I consider Nino Franco one of the top prosecco brands. He presented Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore Rustico and Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore Primo Franco Dry 2015. Both are excellent! The Prosecco di Vadobbiadene Superiore Primo Franco Dry 2015 shows beautiful fruit aromas that grabbed my attention. On the palate, nice acidity with fruit expression and clean finish. Perfect for the Florida weather!

BIBI GRAETZ

I met Bibi several years ago. You can find out how and why he started making wine as well as his philosophy on wine making in the Vinitaly interview I gave him in my website's gallery
( www.patriciashapiro.com ). In it, Bibi will give you better insight on the history of his brand and what makes his Colore stand out. He presented his Toscana Testamatta 2013 an Toscana Colore 2011. Both magnificent wines but my superstar pick was the Toscana Colore 2011. He produced a small quantity of bottles so don't miss out on the opportunity to try it.
Salute!

VITANZA

I met Rosalba Vitanza and Guido Andretta a few years back. They presented Andretta Brunello di Montalcino 2012 which is a new label and Vitanza Brunello di Montalcino Tradizione 2012. Both wines were great but I'm still more of a fan of Vitanza Tradizione style since I have been acquainted with it for several years.  It shows great personality with concentrated fruit and delicious finish.
P.S. - Try both of them and let me know what you think through my website.


BELLAVISTA

Bellavista is located in a great territory of Lombardia. I have been drinking Bellavista sparkling wines for a while now. They are very enjoyable! Bellavista presented Franciacorta Alma Gran Cuvée Brut NV and Franciacorta Teatro Alla Scala Brut 2011. My superstar pick was the latter. Franciacorta Teatro Alla Scala Brut 2011 has a composition of 72% Chardonnay and 28% Pinot Nero. It shows delightful aromas of fruit such as white peach, apple, citrus note, and pear. On the palate, it evokes delicious ripe fruit mixed with the feeling of soft delicate bubbles combined with perfect acidity and long finish.

Salute!

Winos lets connect on social media:

Twitter: @PshapiroWine

Instagram: @wine_and_more

facebook business: www.facebook.com/patriciashapiro.wineandmore

Also you can write me any questions you have or comments through my website!

For more recommendations on upcoming wine events go to www.patriciashapiro.com

Why you should attend Vinitaly (50th Edition)

 

Verona's Vinitaly Fair is coming up in less than a month and this year the fair is extra special because it will be its 50th Edition. Each year, Vinitaly attracts thousands of wine lovers to the beautiful city of Verona uniting wine consumers of all ages due to their love for Italian wine. One of the main reasons why this fair attracts so many wine consumers (whether in the wine industry or not) is its size, organization, and the one on one experience it provides with the wine producers themselves. Regardless of your reason for attending, with more than 4,000 exhibitors you will have a vast quantity of Italian wines and spirits to discover.

  

 Vinitaly starts Sunday April 10th and ends on Wednesday April 13th. During these four days of tasting and discovering new vineyards, thousands of people around the world acquire a deeper understanding of Italian wine as well as its supply and demand with the help of many events and educational seminars that the fair offers. The beauty of Vinitaly also lies in that it allows small vineyards who are not known worldwide to achieve broader exposure and be introduced to new markets. In general, Vinitaly allows all exhibitors a chance to market their brand, do business with importers/ distributors/ restaurants / sommeliers, acquire interviews with journalists, have their products spoken of and introduced to millions of people through the use of social media, and most importantly have their consumers have a deeper understanding of the message they convey for generations through their wine.
During the fair I will be posting several interviews, pictures, and wine reviews! And for the wine lovers that are unable to attend this year, hopefully the sneak peeks that I will be posting during the fair will encourage you to come next year and be part of this lively time in Verona.
Vinitaly is great for all wine consumers, but especially for the wine industry to connect with one another and utilize this time to do business with each other while taking advantage of the vast quantity of exhibitors that the fair brings together.

I have attended this fair for several years and in my opinion the organizers continue to find ways to improve the experience at the fair each year. One of the ways you can save time and organize your schedule while in Vinitaly is by using a combination of their App and map and become familiar with them before the fair starts. Within the App you can locate the exhibitors you are looking for, find out about the international wines that will be attending the fair, target regions of Italy you are focusing on, and most importantly be able to electronically exchange business cards.
Below, you can see a picture of the App so you can download it too. There's also a picture of Vinitaly's map which you can print by going to www.vinitaly.com/globalassets/pdf/mappa/mappa-vinitaly-2016.pdf

 

(Map of Vinitaly)

Also I want to point out that the fair has different entrances, which is another reason to find out ahead of time the halls you will mostly focus your time on in order to pick the entrance that will save you time.

Vinitaly offers several events and below I have listed the ones that caught my eye. For the whole list of events and more information on each one, go to www.vinitaly.com/en/events/calendar/

   - Vinitaly-bio "Exhibition dedicated to certified organic wine made in Italy and abroad" (9:30-6pm Sunday April 10th - Wednesday April 13th)
   
   - Opening Ceremony 50th Edition (11am   Sunday April 10th)
   
   - Vininternational (9:30am - 6:00pm  Sunday April 10th - Wednesday April 13th)

Vininternational focuses on foreign exhibitors. In Vininternational Hall you will be able to taste wines and do business with exhibitors from other countries besides Italy.

   
   - Wine as a Health Food = (9:30am  Monday April 11th)
   
   - Women in Wine - Present and Future of Wine with a Female Touch (3pm Tuesday April 12th)
   
   - Italian Wine: Safeguarding a Heritage  (3:00pm Tuesday April 12th)

Anyone that has attended Vinitaly on previous years knows that parking is difficult (due to the amount of people that go to the fair) and driving is exhausting due to the traffic, which is why I prefer to stay in hotels that are walking distance to the fair in order to avoid parking and traffic issues.
Below I have listed 3 hotels that are close to the fair making it easier, especially if you are going for business.

Hotel Fiera
www.hotelfieraverona.biz/

- Address: Via Ugo Zannoni, 26, 37136 Verona VR, Italia
-It has a restaurant called Et Voilá (offers lunch and dinner) and a cafe called 'dei Gavi
- Contact the concierge regarding availability (This hotel is very close to the fair so it gets full fast).

Hotel San Pietro
www.hotelsanpietroverona.it/en/home
Address: Via Santa Teresa, 1, 37135 Verona VR, Italia

 - This hotel is also very close to the fair. It does not have a restaurant but it does offer complimentary breakfast (7am - 10:30am) and free wi-fi.

 

Hotel Leon D' Oro
www.roseohotelleondoro.com/it/home
Address: 
Viale del Piave, 5, 37135 Verona VR, Italia

 

 

This hotel is near the fair but a bit further than the previous two hotels (About 10-15 minutes of walking). If you mind walking a little bit more, don't worry the hotel offers a shuttle that can take you and pick you up from the fair.
Hotel Leon D'Oro is my favorite hotel out of the three.
It offers a fantastic breakfast buffet that has many gluten-free options for those of you that have a gluten allergy like me. They do a great job accommodating their guests.
Also, they have a very nice restaurant, which is great when you come back tired and hungry from a long day at the fair.

If you want to have a taste of Veronese cuisine while your stay in Verona you should try the restaurants I have listed below. You will have a fantastic experience.

For more information and details on each of the following restaurants go to my website 

www.patriciashapiro.com 

click on the icon 

 'Great Wine & Spirit Destinations'

then click on 'Europe'

and scroll down to see the restaurants that I have recommended for Verona.

Ristorante 12 Apostoli 
www.12apostoli.com 

 

Trattoria Tre Marchetti
www.tremarchetti.it/en/

 

Borsari 36

www.palazzovictoria.com/restaurant-verona

 

 

Hope to see you in Vinitaly and have a safe flight wine lovers! 

 You will have a fantastic time one sip at a time!

If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me through my website www.patriciashapiro.com
and while you are there take a look at last year's Vinitaly videos in the icon 'Gallery' (more to come this year of course). 

Also lets connect through social media and spread the conversation on wine and our experience in Vinitaly Fair 2016!

Instagram: 
@wine_and_more
Twitter: 
@PshapiroWine
Fb personal for wine enthusiasts:  
www.facebook.com/wineand.more.3
Fb Business (click the 'Like' button):
 www.facebook.com/patriciashapiro.wineandmore
Linkedin:  
www.linkedin.com/in/patriciashapirowineandmore 

PS: Don't forget to go sightseeing while you are in Verona!