A Visit to Cantina Bianchini

Wine tasting at the Bianchini winery in Umbria
Bianchini Winery, Selci, Umbria The Bianchini winery is in the small town of Selci, situated just north of Città di Castello in the Upper Tiber Valley, Umbria.  I went there yesterday with a group of trainee sommeliers to learn how to prune vines and, of course, toRead more

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2011 Release

Wine tasting at the release of 2011 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Last week I went to the Tuscan hill town of Montepulciano to try the latest release of Vino Nobile, the town's famous red wine. There were around forty wineries at the event and most had brought several wines including whites. Wine tasting at theRead more

A Visit to The Pucciarella Winery

Sparkling wine made from pinot nero grapes
The Pucciarella Winery, Umbria Last night I visited the Pucciarella winery in the village of Villa near Magione. I went as past of a group studying for the first level of the Italian Sommelier's Association and we were given an in depth tour of the cellar. MagioneRead more

Ursula Gritti – Vineyard Owner In The Niccone Valley

Ursula Gritti in her vineyard in the Niccone Valley, Umbria, Italy
Ursula Gritti & I Girasoli Di Sant'Andrea Ursula Gritti is the owner of the only commercial vineyard in the Niccone Valley, I Girasoli di Sant'Andrea. Ursula moved to the Niccone Valley in 1996 with her husband Carlo Massimilliano Gritti. They bought a house called Sant'Andrea located closeRead more