For many, Etna is currently the most exciting wine-growing region in Europe. Because what has happened here in the past two decades is simply phenomenal. For a long time, Sicilian wines were seen as Italy’s answer to the New World. However, after the boom in international grape varieties, winemakers are now focussing on local varieties. Particularly in the Etna hotspot, but also in other...

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Gambero Rosso Vini d’Italia: Since 1988, the most important Italian wine guide has provided an irreplaceable, annually updated reference work for all those who like to take an in-depth look at the multifaceted world of Italian wine. This impressive book with its many pages is the result of the excellent work of a team of over sixty tasters. These experts select the top wines of the Italian...

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In the autumn of 2024, the tasting team from the gourmet magazine FALSTAFF turned its attention to the vintages currently available on the west coast of Tuscany: “Bolgheri and the surrounding areas on the coast of Tuscany are among the most outstanding wine-growing regions in Italy. Thanks to the high intensity of light and the mild climate, wines with intense fruit and polished tannins are...

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We are not the only ones who eagerly await this report year after year: Eric Guido, Vinous.com’s Italy specialist, writes about the latest developments in what is probably Italy’s most dynamic wine region. “At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I can’t help but be excited about the constant improvement in the quality of Sicilian wines. I believe that part of this leap in quality...

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For the 21st time, wines from all over the world were judged by leading wine experts at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). This year, the number of blind-tasted wines is once again impressive: a total of 18,143 wines from 57 countries were tasted, including 2,557 wines from Italy alone. With this result, the Decanter World Wine Award has once again set a record for the highest number of...

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When Eric Guido (Vinous.com) talks about the current status of the Veneto wine region, he rightly calls it “a constant process of development”. He writes: “Whether it is Valpolicella, Soave or one of the smaller production areas in the region, Veneto has undergone an enormous change in a seemingly very short period of time – mostly in a positive direction. However, in a region like...

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At the beginning of the year, we present the top wines from leading international critics. The second part of our short series features Antonio Galloni, who runs a “modern-day wine platform” with his team at Vinous.com, which involves readers in the communication process. The founder can look back on a proud career as one of the most influential critics in the wine world, including as...

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Over the next few weeks, we will be presenting the top wines from leading international critics. We will start with Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, in which the world-renowned sommelier Monika Larner has been rating wines according to the 100-point system for years. The trade magazine “The Wine Advocate” (TWA) was founded in 1978 by Robert M. Parker Jr. The American Parker is regarded as one...

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Bibenda is a renowned Italian wine guide that is one of the most influential annual wine publications alongside Gambero Rosso and the Veronelli Guide. Bibenda’s rating principle is based on a scale of 1 to 5 grapes, with 5 grapes (Cinque Grappoli) being the highest award. This rating is only awarded to wines that stand out for their exceptional quality and distinctive character. Discover our...

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As every year, Antonio Galloni dedicates a separate tasting report to the exciting Tuscan west coast. And as always, we have brought you the wines available with us from this exciting report “The new wines from the Tuscan coast will give readers much pleasure. The 2020 vintage is somewhat uneven, but the best wines offer remarkable freshness and aromatic intensity, with less weight than is...

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Italy’s wine island of Sicily has enthralled us for over 20 years. The constant activity of the volcano, the renewal of the fertile volcanic soils, the unique microclimate, the rainfall and the sky-high elevations make Etna a powder keg for agriculture and viticulture. The volcano is the lifeline for one of Italy’s most fertile regions, with vines, some still rooted and over 100 years old,...

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Dott. Daniele Cernilli, internationally renowned Italian wine journalist, co-founder and long-standing editor-in-chief of the renowned Italian wine guide Gambero Rosso, has had a new project close to his heart for a few years now: “Doctor Wine” - a very active and successful online platform about Italian wine, which is also published in English. In October 2014, his 550-page “Guida...

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When a new star has been rising in the wine critic firmament for 10 years, it is only a matter of time that we present the profound tasting notes and ratings to you as well. The wine critic and sommelier world champion Luca Gardini (born 1981) revealed his outstanding talent early on. He is now also known by the synonym “The Wine Killer” and publishes his profound tasting notes and rankings...

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The Slow Wine guide, first published in 2010, emerged from the Slow Food movement after they parted ways with the Gambero Rosso publishing house. The well-known Italian wine critics Giancarlo Gariglio and Fabio Giavedoni were able to recruit around 200 experienced tasters for their new project. The success after more than 10 years proves the editors right, because in all regions of Italy,...

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When Monica Larner, Italy taster for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, publishes her extensive notes on the current collections from Piedmont, it is a highly comprehensive and exciting affair every year. This year, too, she has tasted almost 1,000 samples since spring and has therefore only published the first two major Piedmont rankings in the last few weeks. And a third will follow after the...

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At the end of February, Monica Larner published for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate her first ratings of the Brunello di Montalcino 2017 and Riserva 2016 that came on the market this year. She rightly asks in her article and also immediately gives the answer: “And what is the soul of Brunello? The ideal is elegance. Few wine regions in the world have the potential to produce wines with such...

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Friuli lies in the far north-east of Italy, bordering South Tyrol and Austria to the north, Slovenia to the east, Venice to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Many small family wineries still cultivate ancient, little-known grape varieties and, of course, international varieties from Chardonnay and Sauvignon to Cabernet and Merlot have long been completely normal in the larger...

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This is what we call a hat trick: After we were able to enjoy the very well-balanced, fruit-driven and almost perfect 2015 vintage last year, the appellation is now doing it again. In terms of elegance, complexity and finesse, the 2016 vintage brings wines to the market that are more comparable to the great 2010 vintage. Compared to the fruity, warm and very harmonious style of the rightly...

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“It is a vintage full of strength and purity, the result of a long growing season without extreme events. One that was warmer than 2014 and with much less rain, yet the water reserves were high due to the rainfall during the winter months. These reserves helped the vines through the dry, warm and sunny summer months, supplemented by cool night temperatures and just the right amount of rainfall...

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“The 2015 vintage is a historical year for Brunello di Montalcino that nobody should miss. The wines show impressive precision of vivid fruit, fine tannins and freshness in acidity despite their ripeness and richness which makes them some of the most exciting in years. Winemakers in Montalcino were never better prepared to produce outstanding wines in a year like 2015 with their exactness in...

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