Lambrusco Day celebrated with a glass full of bubbly red sparkling wine from Italy

What is Lambrusco?

Two reasons for this Lambrusco post:  First, we’re sorry to all the customers who still continue to call or email and inquire if we will ever have anymore Della Robbia.  We will not, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a similar, just as delicious product out there!  Enter…

It’s Moscato Day!

Happy Moscato Day! Last year we went a bit into the history of Moscato d’Asti as a grape and the Piemonte region it hails from.  In that content, we spoke about how farmers enjoy Moscato with lunch because of its lower alcohol volume.  Since that posting we’ve spoken…

Understanding Italy: Abruzzo

The Abruzzo wine region resides due south of Marche along the Adriatic Sea on the east coast of Italy.  Home to possibly the most fun grape name to pronounce: Montepulciano.  One more time, Mon-te-pul-ciano!  Just makes you want to talk with your hands as it rolls off your…

Understanding Italy: Marche

Le Marche wine region in Italy.  Located on the central eastern coast of Italy, and home to Cesare Mondavi (Father of Robert and Peter), this is a region sadly somewhat overshadowed on a global stage by its neighbors Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Abruzzo, and Umbria, yet in no short supply…

Understanding Italy: Piemonte

Beautiful Piemonte, home to Barolo and Barbaresco.  Well, home to Nebbiolo more correctly.  Take it a step further, home to Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato, Cortese, and Arneis in addition to other local and international varietals. In addition to a plethora of grape varietals grown in Piemonte, the region produces…

Italian Chianti Classico wine bottles on a shelf

Understanding Italy: Chianti & Chianti Classico

In both Chianti and Chianti Classico, Sangiovese is the main grape.  So what is the difference between the two? No one would fault you if you believed (until reading this) that one is what it is and the other is the more “classic” expression of the wine.  Sorry,…

Conceptual creative map of Italy, Sardinia and Sicily formed of old wine corks in an artistic arrangement on an old wooden counter top with copy space , overhead view

Understanding Italy: DOC, DOCG, IGT & VdT

European wine labels can be confusing if you don’t speak the language they are written in, furthermore they have all types of different classifications from one country to the next without consistent naming or labeling even existing within the same country itself, and to make things even more…

Cabernet Franc

Happy Cabernet Franc Day! And it couldn’t be at a better time of the year.  Nothing sounds better than cozying up by the fireplace with a delicious glass of Cab Franc to help keep you warm. Cabernet Franc in the new world has an association with big heavy…

Image showing 12 bottles with their tops connected making a colorful and delicious circle

For Our Guests: About the Lot Series & More…

New customers are sometimes confused when they find out that a Lot wine is sold out “forever,” and not just awaiting the next vintage. Barring the rare occasion where we are able to source from the same winery again, the chances of finding that Lot wine you loved…

Decoded: Blends

Let’s talk blends, and what the language your local wine shop representative uses actually means. At the top of the blending language list we have Champagne and Bordeaux. The word Champagne is synonymous with being expensive, of quality, for celebrations, and from Champagne, France.  Champagne is generally made…