It’s hard to remember a year more difficult than 2020. The loss of my parents marked the most sorrowful years for me personally, but collectively this is the most difficult year I can remember. The bad news has continued since February and the worst may not be behind us. Coronavirus, COVID-19, stay-at-home and social distancing became part of my everyday […]
Today we are sipping four wines from Tasca d’Almerita’s Tenuta Regaleali. It is difficult to decide which qualities I appreciate most in these wines. All four are made using varieties indigenous to Sicily and all are 100% varietal wines. These wines are extremely versatile and will take you from summertime sipping all the way into winter. Then there is the […]
Lodi calls itself the Zinfandel capital of the world and deservedly so. According to the Lodi Winegrape Commission the region produces 40% of California’s premium Zinfandel. But the region is also home to more than 100 wine grape varieties. Nero d’Avola is now among those grape varieties thanks to Lange Twins Family Winery & Vineyards in Acampo. The 2014 Lange […]
The Locations I4 – Italian Red Wine is yet another example of winemaker Dave Phinney’s skill as a blender. With this wine he has chosen to blend grape varieties from southern and northern Italy. Negroamaro and Nero d’Avola are sourced from vineyards in Italy’s southern region, Puglia. Both varieties are known for their tannin structure, dark fruit flavors and body. Barbera, from Alba in Italy’s Piedmont region, was chosen for its acidity and lighter tannins. The result is this delightful red wine that, in true Italian fashion, will accompany a meal in style.
I am always drawn to a wine with an interesting backstory. And while every wine has a story my personal bias is going to take me in the direction of family winemaking and organic or biodynamic viticultural practices. Or in the direction of a winemaker resurrecting a forgotten style of wine. Winemaking in Old World wine regions using indigenous varieties will catch my eye […]
I admit to not thinking much about Sicily with regard to wine and winemaking. True, I knew Marsala was Italian, but honestly did not know it was made in Sicily. A bit of reading about Sicily lead me to discover the island is a leading wine production region in Italy, right in there with Veneto and Puglia in terms of […]
We enjoy wine, food and travel. Pull That Cork is a chronicle of our wine adventures, the food and wine pairings we create and our travels which are increasingly organized around wine.