Vines and wines

Sangiovese is most popular but Prosecco is increasing more

Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Catarratto, Merlot and Tuscan Trebbiano are together more than 30% of Italian vines. Among these the red wines are increasing but the white are decreasing

Read for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Donatella Cinelli Colombini holding Sangiovese

A very interesting article in the “Corriere Vinicolo” reveals which varieties are cultivated in Italy. The autochthonous varieties dominate the scene while the trinity of most popular International varieties – Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay – detains only 11% of the total. Some are surprised, because of the bell pepper aroma in many blends and sometimes even in the mono-varietal appellations ….but the figures (Istat) are figures and we must consider them fact until the contrary is proven
There is an incredible decrease, and I would like to say thank goodness, in the Trebbiano toscano which practically halved, the Catarratto bianco, the Barbera and Negro Amaro.

92/100 to Brunello 2007 Riserva from Wine Advocate

The last tasting from the Montalcino area by Antonio Galloni for Wine Advocate, and it regards Brunello vintage 2008 and riserva 2007: for us 89, 90 and 92/100

read for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Brunello di Montalcuino 2007 Riserva Wine Advocate

This is practically a goodbye from Antonio Galloni who will continue his career as a taster on his blog and leaves the sceptre as super taster for the most influential wine magazine in the world – Wine Advocate belonging to Robert Parker – to Monica Larner. Monica will bring to the ratings a touch of feminine taste, a market in expansion. She is clever and tireless. She knows Italian wines very well and has always shown a great interest for the identifying traits and for autochthonous varieties which clearly is favourable for Italian wines made in thousands of ways.

Let’s see Antonio Galloni tasting for Brunello 2008 and riserva 2007.

The most important wine word today is “autochthonous”

Indigenous, that is the key element in wine according to Matt Kramer editorialist for Wine Spectator

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Matt-Kramer-Wine-Spectator

Since 1985 Kramer writes regularly for the most influential wine magazine in the world and has an analytical ability and a knowledge regarding wines which are extraordinary. Listening to his opinions is consequently a must for those who want to understand where the wind blows for wine. In his article dated June 30th he began with this phrase <<Do you think that at this moment the most important word in wine is “natural”? Or “authentic” Or better still “commercial” None of these. The most important word in wine today is “autochthonous ” (indigenous).>> With his usual understandable explanation he gets across that all that happens in the Vineyard and the cellar is important but not fundamental, not as much as the 3 key elements: microclimate, soil, grape variety. No matter how hard the producer may try to characterize his Cabernet Sauvignon, it will always remain a Cabernet Sauvignon. But, what is the identity or indigenous character as Kramer calls it?

In vino veritas and Brunello also becomes a mystery

CSI the very lucky TV series from the USA which unites suspense and science this time investigates expensive wines and Brunello is among them. [caption id="attachment_8199" align="alignleft" width="259" caption="CSI Crime Scene Investigation"][/caption] The great wine from Montalcino again on TV with the 13th episode of the 13th series of Scene Investigation, with a story full of suspense called “In Vino Veritas”. This was the introduction <<While the team tries to solve a homicide case connected to prestigious wines, Mac Taylor arrives in Las Vegas from the New York police laboratory and discovers that his girlfriend has disappeared….>>. The episode was viewed in...

The best wine buyers are online and half of them are women

They spend on average 14€ more per bottle, they buy more often, they are more competent and more International than those who buy wine in a traditional manner.

Violante, Donatella's daughter with a chef in Alberta, Canada

Read for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

The profile of the online buyer comes from Vente-privee.com (reproposed by WineNews) an e-commerce giant with 18 million rapports all over the world and 30 million in the wine business during 2012. The sector, according to them is just starting, and seems destined to expand enourmously.

The Brunello riserva 2007 is among Wine Spectator's preferences

Sanderson super taster of for the Wine Spectator chooses 29 preferences among the 170 Brunello rated this year and Donatella's is one of them [caption id="attachment_8171" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Brunello Riserva 2007 Wine Spectator 94"][/caption] Bruce Sanderson is probably the man who most Tuscan and Piedmont producers are scared of. A life spent tasting wines, and for the past twenty years at Wine Spectator. He is one of the six “Senior Editor” of the magazine and the director of the “tasting department” but, what is more important for us, it is he who tastes Brunello. Every winter he comes to Montalcino and carries out...

In 2013 again the harvest will be scarce

[caption id="attachment_8164" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Fattoria del Colle winery - June 2013"][/caption] The wine maker Valérie Lavigne, that for the past four years advises Donatella Cinelli Colombini, has been in the Brunello and Orcia Doc vineyards and says <<not many grapes>> This time the Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda (southern Chianti) super consultant's visit concentrated on the vineyards. After eight months of rain the colour of the leaves, especially the young vines, shows how hungry the plants are. The attempts to give them nourishment through the leaves have in fact nearly [caption id="attachment_8165" align="alignright" width="300" caption="the agronomist and the...

Violante Gardini is the youngest regional president of the Movimento Turismo Vino

28years old, born in Montalcino, studies regarding business economics and wine marketing, Violante Gardini – Cinellicolombini Jr-  has wine tourism in her  DNA [caption id="attachment_8098" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Violante Gardini in the family winecellar"][/caption] Violante Gardini takes into her own hands the presidency of the Movimento Turismo del Vino for Tuscany, and her first objective is  Calici di stelle. This is a wine festival that takes place on August 10th in the Città del vino and in the wineries members of MTV. Together with Violante on the board of directors of MTV Toscana are Federico Taddei, Alessandro Bindocci, Augusto Monaci, Baldino Terenzi, Emanuela...

Never come between a man and his wife, not even for some passito

Passito IGT Toscana 2011 from Traminer grapes from Fattoria del Colle by Donatella Cinelli Colombini for her husband who adores sweet wines.

Passito 2011 from Donatella Cinelli Colombini winery

Here for you the apple of discord! The passito!
Donatella Cinelli Colombini does not like sweet wines, her heart beats faster for red wines apt for long ageing.
On the other hand her husband Carlo is fascinated by them. So Carlo, helped by Barbara Magnani the cellar master, who just like hem adores these amber nectars, is able to produce small but delicious selections of Passito regardless his wife’s protest.
The Traminer grapes from the small vineyard above the Chapel at Fattoria del Colle received assiduous attention from the two accomplices. The had great care of the crates where the drying out of the grapes took place, as if they were baby’s in their cots. Putting the crates in the sun in the morning and moving them in the afternoons, putting them away so as to preserve the humidity in the evening and the races to save them from rain.

Rock star success for Brunello in Moscow

Great enthusiasm for Brunello who, in the workshop, was charged by restaurateurs, sommeliers and importers all wishing to taste and buy it

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Violante during the Brunello tasting in Moscow

My journey to Russia with Violante began last Sunday with a series of hiccups: an error in the visa with an hours delay in customs. Summer temperatures with winter clothes in our suitcases. A fraud of a taxi driver who tries to make us pay double for the journey from the airport to the hotel. Definitely we started off on the wrong foot!
Luckily the dinner with our distributor, in a refined Italian restaurant, is a real success. The city is spectacular, with respect to 8 years ago when I was last here, it seems another place. Well kept and well lit buildings and elegant restaurants, and many young people, in fact only young people. In fact along the roads no elderly citizens and no dogs.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini new president of the Doc Orcia

The Doc Orcia is maybe the most beautiful areas in the world and one of the youngest and smallest but it has great expectations.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini holding Sangiovese

Donatella Cinelli Colombini has been called upon as President practically by popular acclaim by the producers who see in her a person who can bring about changes in this wine denomination. <<The esteem proven by my colleagues moves me deeply. I will really do my upmost to succeed in this very difficult challenge>> To understand the situation it is sufficient to say that for the 10 positions on the board there were not enough candidates, in other words the consorzio has little funds and many expectations.
<< The wines are really good and express all the effort and passion of the producers who in the majority of cases in their estates do everything themselves: from the vineyard to sales>> In other words in a globalized world in the Doc Orcia area the wine is still a family product even though there are excellent agronomists and wine makers as consultants.

Super sommeliers from al lover the world at Casato Prime Donne

Brazilian sommeliers together with Roberto Rabachino, and wine lovers from Germany together with the 1998 world champion and Master of Wine Markus Del Monego

Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino Donatella and Brazialian women in wine

Among the Brazilians who visited us there were some super VIP’s who had arrived with their own private jet such as Deunir Luiz Argenta owner of the first winery and the most beautiful cellars in Brazil “Argenta”. Guided by Roberto Rabachino and his wife Gladys Torres, two forces of nature, able to divulge the wine culture and spread enthusiasm. Rabachino teaches, for the Università di Torino, these aspiring Brazilian tasters. He is one of the great thinking minds of FISAR an association of sommeliers that in the Siena region has one of the “Historical leaders “  Nicola Masielllo. FISAR sommeliers served, with their usual elegance, the wines during the tasting and a light faming-style snack served in the Casato Prime Donne hall. A wonderful meeting for the making of new friends and the final promise of a” wine makers Exchange” between Violante Gardini, the Cinellicolombini Jr, and a contemporary Brazilian producer who will each spend some time in the others winery.