This week, starting tomorrow - what sounds like a great event - at the Villa Bardini:

The Villa Bardini is here - and it looks like this event officially is at the restaurant MoBa, at Costa San Giorgio 4/a. On the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of July, from 5:30 to 10:00. It seems like it is €10 to enter, plus €15 to taste - so a total of €25 if you want to drink.

Website: http://www.vinoingiardino.it

The producer list is strong:

Alepa Altesino Argentiera Barone Pizzini Bersi Serlini Castellare Castell'in Villa Castello di Fonterutoli Castiglion del Bosco Coltibuono Cupano Corzano e Paterno D'Ambra Eredi Fuligni Felsina Fontodi Guido Berlucchi I Favati Il Borro Il Mosnel Jermann Joaquin La Massa Le Corti Le Pupille Le vigne di Zamò Lis Neris Livio Felluga Lo Sparviere Marco Felluga Mastroberardino Mirabella Monte Rossa Montevertine Monzio Compagnoni Moris Farms OT - Oliviero Toscani Paternoster Rocca di Frassinello Rocca di Montegrossi Ronco delle Betulle Russiz Superiore Salvatore Molettieri San Giusto a Rentennano Sassotondo Schiopetto Tenuta Marsiliana Tenute Folonari Torreggiani Venica & Venica Vestini Campagnano Vie di Romans Villa Russiz

"Classic è" or "Classico is" a week long event celebrating Chianti Classico - the region, the food, and of course especially the wines. There are tastings and talks, dinners, etc. spread throughout the Chianti Classico zone for 8 days - May 29th to June 5th - check out the official website for all the details: Classic è

I am targeting the tasting in Radda on Friday afternoon - it is close to Florence but not a place I know well - and/or - the street food festival on Saturday June 5th in San Casciano.

Please read the whole post on Vinography:

Are You A Wine Lover? Then Call Your House Representative. Now.

I've been known to spout an opinion now and again about the Three Tier alcohol distribution system in this country, and the maddening array of ridiculous regulations that govern our ability to purchase alcohol. Mostly, however, I stay out of the fray because I'd rather write about, and I'm sure you'd rather read about, fantastic wines.

But something happened yesterday that sent chills down my spine, and made it imperative that I broadcast to as many of you as possible the urgent need to call your Congressional Representative immediately. When you get one of their aides on the phone here's what you need to say:

Under no circumstances should they vote for a house bill HR 5034: The Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act of 2010.

While this would be bad for us personally and what we are trying to do here, it is nothing compared to what it would mean for millions of consumers and entrepreneurs in the U.S.

Enoteca Bonatti is a historical wine shop in Florence, on Via Gioberti past Piazza Beccaria (enough out of the center that you are not paying tourist prices and can find a wonderful selection - not just Tuscan wines). I have been there a couple of times but today I shopped seriously as a way to get over not attending VinItaly this weekend. Here is a little video of the wine they delivered a couple of hours ago:

Enoteca Bonatti a Firenze dal 1934
Via V. Gioberti 66/68r 50121 Firenze
lunedì 15,30-19.45
dal Martedì al Sabato 9,30-13,00 e 15,30-19.45
Tel +39 055 660050
Fax +39 055 6529321
info@enotecabonatti.it

I focussed on wines from the Alto Adige/Sudtirol region, especially those of the three producers below. I have had several of these already. I am crazy about Unterortl - the wines are fantastic, the prices are fair, and they use screw caps (!). This is a place I would really like to visit one day.

• Azienda Agricola Unterortl
• Cantina Terlan
• Andrianer Kellerei

Late last fall I got an email from Howard Hewitt (that is Howard with Arianna Gelpke from Corzano e Paterno in the photo) - he was going to be in Tuscany and was looking for an alternative wine tour. He had found Florence Wine Merchants somewhere on the web, and we started an email dialogue that ended up with us taking a trip to the wineries/agriturismos of Corzano e Paterno and Fattoria Rignana, with a stop for lunch in Greve in Chianti for good measure.

Howard was kind enough to write up some of our experiences that day (New Year's Eve day 2009!) and also explain what I am trying to do here with Florence Wine Merchants in a new article that just went live on the Palate Press: "Small Italian Wineries Struggle to Crack U.S. Market"

I can't thank him enough for his help in spreading the word. Check out his blog Grape Sense - A Glass Half Full when you get a chance.

Free wine tasting today at Enoteca Alessi:

ENOTECA ALESSI

...your wine shop in Firenze...

 

Free Wine Tasting

Dalle ore 17:00 alle ore 19:00

From 5 pm to 7 pm

 

GIOVEDI' 11

Azienda Tormaresca

la Puglia in un Calice!!!

Bocca di Lupo '06 - Aglianico

Masseria Maime '06 - Negroamaro

Torcicoda '07 - Primitivo

 

...vi aspetto numerosi come sempre...

Alder at Vinography tastes the Tre Bicchieri, so you don't have to! :(

After a short hiatus the free tasting at Alessi will be starting up again in March - below are the dates released so far (March and April 1 - hope that one is for real):

ENOTECA ALESSI

Calendario Degustazioni Gratuite

Free Wine Tasting

Dalle ore 17:00 alle ore 19:00

From 5 pm to 7 pm

MARZO

 SABATO 6

Azienda Vinicola San Felice

Il Grigio '07 - chianti classico riserva

Rosso di Montalcino '07 - Campo Giovanni

Brunello di Montalcino '04 - Campo Giovanni

 

GIOVEDI' 11

Azienda Tormaresca

Bocca di Lupo '06 - Aglianico

Masseria Maime '06 - Negroamaro

Torcicoda '07 - Primitivo

 

SABATO 20

Azienda Vinicola Marchesi Mazzei

Chianti Classico Fonterutoli '07

Tenuta Belguardo Poggio Bronzone '07

Zisola Nero d'Avola '07

 

GIOVEDI' 25

Azienda Vinicola Guado al Tasso

Vermentino '08

Scalabrone '09

Bruciato '07

 

APRILE

GIOVEDI' 1

Azienda Vinicola Inama

Soave Classico '08

Soave Classico Vigna du Lot '07

Last week was the Chianti Classico Collection at the Stazione Leopolda here in Florence. This is a Chianti lovers dream tasting event, with hundreds of wineries presenting their new wines, many of them with barrel samples or wine that was just recently bottled. I spent a lot of time with Franceso Gioffreda from Casa al Vento whose "Aria" won a Top 100 Wine award this year, and right next to him was my friend Fabrizio Benedetti from Casa Emma, makers of one of my favorite Chiantis (the wineries are presented in alphabetical order).

I am not a professional sommelier and honestly can't taste many more than a dozen wines before losing my palate a bit - but this article (in several parts and with some video) from Intravino sums up many of the wines - I don't agree with all their scoring - but what is amazing was something that a friend mentioned: there really is no bad wine at an event like this. The overall quality of the region couldn't be higher - and it is really coming down to your personal preference when choosing a wine with the Black Rooster on the neck. Personally, my palate has been gravitating for some time to simpler wines, the Classicos over the Riservas, wines that respect their localities and microclimates, and that are not over aged or over oaked. I will try to talk about a couple of specific wines this week in following posts. Salut!

This event is billed as trade only, but if you are resourceful you should be able to get in :) (I am not telling you my techniques, sorry!)

The Black Rooster Reigns at the "Leopolda" in the 2009 Chianti Classico Collection.

On February 17 and 18 the Stazione Leopolda in Florence hosts the customary Chianti Classico event for the wine press and trade.

148 producers presenting 358 different Chianti Classico labels and 70 barrel samples on hand for tasting, from previews of the 2008 to the Riserva 2006, for an event that offers an all-around look at the famous Tuscan DOCG.

Looking forward to seeing all of our favorites producers and people there, and to hopefully find some new ones too.