Wine Tastings
Call today to schedule an enjoyable & informative wine tasting experience for you, your friends, employees or business clients.
Our customized wine tasting events are typically informal affairs presented in a relaxed, walk-around setting. Wine tastings should be informative but also pleasant, convivial events shared with good friends and engaging conversation. However, more structured and formal sit-down wine seminars and tastings can also be arranged.
For more information about scheduling a wine tasting, contact Richard at winetasting@winewordswisdom.com or call 703-627-7643.
Wine Reviews & Musings
This section of my website goes beyond my Wine of the Month selections. Here you will find wide-ranging wine topics that explore what it is about Italian wine that is so compelling and memorable and to keep current on current developments across the Italian wine scene. Topics include reviews of wines from specific Italian wineries, discussions of specific Italian wine varietals or wine regions, interviews with Italian winemakers, discussions of my favorite types or categories of Italian wines, Italian wine trends and markets and other wine-centric topics as the spirit moves me. View reviews and musings »
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Wines for the month of June, 2009
Duca Carlo Guarini, “Vigne Vecchie” Primitivo Salento IGT 2004 (about $19)
This relatively inexpensive wine comes with a pedigree. The Duca Carlo Guarini estate in southern Puglia dates back to the 10th century and the Guarini family can trace their ancestry back to a knight in the First Crusade. The estate is dotted with historic buildings and ancient fortifications dating back centuries.
The Duca Carlo Guarini estate is located in Scorrano, a little town... read the article »Tasca d’Almerita (Regaleali), “Rosso del Conte” Conte Di Sciafani 2004 (about $40)
Tasca d’Almerita is another aristocratic wine estate with deep roots, so to speak. Founded in the 1830’s, it has served as a benchmark for Sicily’s finest wines for over 100 years. Even in the 1950’s and 60’s when Sicily developed a well-earned reputation for producing dull and insipid wines in bulk for use for blending, the Tasca d’Almerita estate swam counter to this tide of mediocrity and continued to produce wines of quality and distinction. Obviously, today with Sicily producing some of the most compelling wines in all Italy, the quality bar has been raised but Tasca d’Almerita wines continue to garner awards.... read the article »
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The Best Italian Wines – Gambero Rosso’s 2009 Tre Bicchieri ("Three Glasses") Winners
Since it’s initial release by Stefano Bonilli in 1986 in the form of an eight page newspaper insert, Gambero Rosso’s Vini d’Italy has grown into what is universally recognized as the authoritative source of information on Italian wines. By annually tasting and reviewing over 25,000 different wines from over 2,200 producers, Gambero Rosso unravels the diverse Italian wine scene and has become the definitive standard for evaluating Italian wines for wine shops, restaurants and wine-savvy consumers ... read the article »
Italian Wines
of the month
I taste quite a few Italian wines every month. While some are just OK, many are good and some are really great wines. In the spirit of sharing my wine experiences with you, each month I will select two as my favorite Italian Wines of the Month: one under-$25 and the other over-$25.
Since I’m a value-focused wine consumer, many of my monthly wine selections, even the over-$25 selections, will be relatively easy on your wallet. However, every so often I have a chance to taste a really pricey wine that I think is truly outstanding, and if it has a high value-to-price ratio, then I will include it in my Wines of the Month selection. But be warned — some selections may be well north of $25. view wines of the month selections »
I want to emphasize that I’m independent and have no financial incentive to push any particular wine. I buy my wines the same way most of you do — that is, I pay the full retail price at local wine stores. While I do have some favorite wine shops, I visit at least two different wine stores a week to assess their pricing and wine selections.
Where to Stay, Dine & Taste Wines in Italy
Explore travel itineraries in Italy that will appeal to intrepid souls who wish to explore on their own, and who combine their love of travel with some wine country or vineyard tours, wine-friendly restaurants and enoteche (wine bars), or just plain interesting or historically significant places. This site should appeal to both wine enthusiasts and those new to the world of fine wine. read the article »
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Interesting and Informative New Travel Guide for Sardinia
I want to call your attention to a recently-published guide and travel overview for the island of Sardinia (Sardegna). The travel guide is called simply “Sardinia” and is written by local travel writer Eliot Stein. If your Italian travel plans include a visit to Sardinia or if you’re simply an armchair traveler that just wants to learn more about this interesting island, you may want to consider buying a copy of this informative and interesting travel guide...read the article »
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INTERVIEW WITH FRANCO oGHITTU, CHEF AND CO-OWNER OF LA BARRIQUE FOOD AND WINE IN CAGLIARI, SARDINIA
I recently had a chance to spend some time with Francesco (Franco) Oghittu, chef and along with his wife Michela, owner of La Barrique Food and Wine, a restaurant and wine bar in Cagliari, Sardinia that specializes in traditional and innovative Sardinian cuisine. Their restaurant has received favorable reviews in Gambero Rosso’s 2009 Viaggiare Bene and the 2009 guide 365 Migliori Ristoranti Italiani. Franco also knows something about wines, having been certified by the Associazione Italiana Sommelier (AIS) as an official taster and sommelier...read the article »
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topItalian Wine Values: Twelve Great Italian Red Wines Under $12
Italy is a complicated wine country that produces a lot of wine each year, both red and white. Some of Italy’s wines are well known and highly-regarded by the international wine community. They also are frequently quite expensive. But a lot of Italian wine comes from less well-known varieties grown in regions other than Tuscany or the Piedmont that are generally less familiar to American consumers.
Listed below alphabetically by producer are twelve noteworthy red wines that generally retail for $12 or less. These are wines of some character and distinction at wallet-friendly prices. Even though I’ve listed a vintage year for each wine...read the article»