Not Nebbiolo

It’s been an interesting spring and I was not really looking forward to the release of the 2014 Vintage of Barbaresco. I had experienced the weather first hand, had listened to the tales of woe and read the scribblings of the journalists who mainly focus on Barolo. After tasting 62 of the latest 2014 Barbarescos I have breathed a huge sigh of relief and bought a few. (more…)

The Grapes behind Italian Red Wines

Interesting article featured on Fix.com by Joe Roberts exploring the history of some of my favourite grapes, Barbera and Nebbiolo.

Fabrizio Battaglino-seriously!

For the first time in a while it’s raining and humid outdoors so I have been replenishing racks in the cantina and opening some boxes hidden in corners. It has  reminded me that during the past year  or so I have visited some excellent cantinas and have not mentioned them in a blog. So here are a few that have been added to my list of favourites. (more…)

Wine producer of the year-Giulio Grasso

2015 will be year I will remember for a long time, not just for the the quality of the harvest, that will produce excellent wines to be enjoyed for years to come, but also for new producers discovered and particularly the successes of our friends. Most notable was the accolade “Vitticoltore dell’anno” (Producer of the year) awarded by Gambero Rosso to Giulio Grasso of Cà del Baio, Treiso. (more…)

There was a dramatic increase in tourism to the area in 2015 which, whilst providing a welcome boost to local businesses, also had its negative effects on those of us who live here. Some of my favourite wines sold out quickly and I now have to consider making reservations in restaurants where I used to just turn up. (more…)

HO & me

First of all best wishes to everyone for a very merry Christmas and a healthy and lucky New Year from the Neive Baldwins. An exciting year with lots of celebrations but weird weather which has left lots of our neighbours scratching their heads. Damp periods have meant that it has been a year when everyone has worked extremely hard to maintain the quality of the grapes. Constant green pruning has left yields substantially down, particularly in Barolo which also suffered from hail. Attention to detail and September sun has generally maintained excellent quality in Barbaresco. (more…)

Neive

Barolo

Barbaresco

At last the Langhe and Roero area where I live has become the 50th Italian site to be added to the Unesco World Heritage List. The original submission was back in 2006 and the recognition of the beauty and importance of the area provides a useful invitation to those who have never heard of Piemonte to explore the zone rather than other more southerly regions. I have tried very hard in the intervening period to accumulate as much Barbaresco, Barolo, Barbera, Arneis, Favorita etc before wine tourists drive prices higher. I’m ready!

Tagliata at La Torre

Teppanyaki in Tokyo

On  a wet miserable day recently I started this update on the diet incorporating that week and other recent highlights. Friday started well with warm sunshine and work in the garden and a light lunch of jamon Iberico and asparagus sauted with chorizo, and the daily walk with the dogs and finished better with aperitivi (Scarzello 2011 Nebbiolo) at al nido della cinciallegra in Neive and a tagliatta at La Torre del Monastero also abetted by Nebbiolo. Thursday was a “fast day” with golf (helped by forgetting the carrots and celery) and salad for tea with just water. Wednesday ended with dinner at Stefano Paganini‘s and a superb Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano 2009 from Produttori del Barbaresco. (more…)

Roast Pigeon at Stefano Paganini

Bricco Sterpone

The 5:2 diet has been a lifestyle choice that has transformed our routine over the past 12 months or so and has been essential to combat the omnipresent temptations of life in Piemonte. When you are surrounded by the best wine in the world at affordable prices, and dozens of restaurants providing everything from the €10 workers’ lunch to Michelin starred fine dining it is difficult to maintain “la bella figura”. And despite my best intentions I find it difficult to write this blog regularly as I am either hungry and down or simply too busy. At the moment I’m neither so I’m going to attempt to catch up.

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Francone Chardonnay

Ca del Baio Riesling

The last few weeks have been a disaster as following a brief trip to the UK I returned with a cold that robbed me of my senses of taste and smell. I don’t particularly blame the UK nor my fellow airline passengers but I feel much safer here. It was only last week that I managed to fully appreciate what I had been missing as I tucked into a plate of spaghetti amatriciana/arrabiata and savoured the fantastic  Ca del Baio Langhe Riesling for lunch. Tea was a monkfish and prawn curry with a lightly oaked Francone “i Patriarchi” Langhe Chardonnay 2011: slowly but surely. HO is cooking Asian rabbit and pork which we will wash down with some old Bordeaux for some local Italian producer friends. Always saves a competition developing between them if you serve something “foreign”.

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