Happy World Animal Day

Happy World Animal Day…with the friends of Torre Raone.

All the labels are inspired on the animals that inhabit the vineyards, creating a strong connection to the land and the natural environment.

The Squirrel – Trebbiano d’Abruzzo – The industrious and nimble spirit of the squirrel is captured in this lively wine. Quick on its feet with a bright, nutty character, it’s a perfect everyday sipper. Notes of apple, pear, and yellow peach make it an ideal partner for light meals and conversation. It’s a testament to the vibrant, busy life that thrives in the vineyard.

The Deer – Trebbiano d’Abruzzo senza solfiti-  A wine of nobility and grace. Just as the deer moves with quiet elegance through the forest, this wine is refined and beautifully balanced. It offers notes of green apple, apricot, pineapple and almond aftertaste. This wine is more about finesse than power, a testament to the quiet, dignified beauty of the reserve.

The Shepherd – Pecorino – A wine that speaks of tradition and careful guidance. Just as the shepherd watches over the flock, this Pecorino is a classic and reliable expression of the land. It offers a gentle, refreshing character with clean notes of green apple and white flowers, a timeless taste of the region.

The Fox – Cerasuolo – The cunning and clever fox is the perfect symbol for this crisp, aromatic rose’. This wine is nimble and bright, with a vibrant acidity with notes of cherry, strawberry, yellow plum and mango.

The Hare – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo –  lively and quick-footed rosé, is perfectly captured by the hare. It’s a burst of energy in a bottle—full of bright red fruit flavors like strawberry and raspberry. Zippy and refreshing, it’s a wine that invites you to enjoy life’s quick, fleeting moments.

The Boar – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo senza solfiti – A bold, rustic red that embodies the untamed spirit of the wild boar. Much like the boar forages for truffles, this wine unearths deep, earthy notes of dark cherry, leather, and spice. It’s powerful and concentrated, a true expression of Abruzzo’s character.

The Wolf – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva – The alpha of the vineyard. This wine is a riserva, aged to perfection, showing a more complex and structured profile. It’s a true pack leader—powerful and elegant, with layers of dark fruit, cocoa, and a hint of forest floor. A wine that commands attention.

The Ox – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Terre dei Vestini – A symbol of strength and patience. This wine is a testament to the hard work of the land. It is a robust and full-bodied creation, with an immense depth of flavor and a lasting finish. It’s a wine to savor slowly, a testament to endurance and powerful character.

Icardi’s Vini Buoni awards

Icardi’s Vini Buoni awards.

The results of the Vini Buoni d’Italia (Touring Club Italiano), edition 2026 have been published. 
Glad to share Icardi‘s results with you.

2 SOULS, ONE COMPANY

Early in the Sixties Mr. Pierino began producing his own wine starting off a quality trend that remains a key feature of our company nowadays. Pierino’s son and daughter, Claudio and Mariagrazia, are now managing the company in their father’s footsteps.

Mariagrazia and Claudio Icardi

The Winery is located in Castiglione Tinella, within the Province of Cuneo, between the Lower Langa and the Monferrato Regions. Rolling hills almost completely covered in vineyards are visible as far as the eye can see and make Castiglione Tinella one of the liveliest towns in Italy. The cliffs running down towards the valleys Tinella and Belbo frame the vineyards and the wood patches, creating a unique landscape.

The extension of the vineyards allows ICARDI’s production to cover all types of wines available in the South of Piedmont. Icardi’s style is renowned around the world for its significantly fruity, refined, clean and elegant wines. The balanced flavour of both regular and “more important” wines can be appreciated immediately after production.

More info?
Take a look at their website and social media

Luca Maroni: nice awards for Cabert

Luca Maroni: nice awards for Cabert.

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“Elegant and characterful, with notes of exotic fruit, sage, green pepper, and a hint of vanilla. Savoury, harmonious, and long-lasting.”

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“Intense straw yellow color, with refreshing aromas of citrus, fruits, lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, passion fruit, elder and notes of sage. Mineral.”

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“Floral and fruity aromas of acacia and hawthorn accompanied by aromas of dried fruit, almonds and hazelnuts. You can perceive mineral and flint notes linked to the cultivation soil. On the palate it is decisive, mineral, warm and enveloping.”.

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“Straw-yellow in colour, tending towards green. Scents that remind of sage, elderflower, alfalfa hay, fruity hints of apricot and the typical hint of bitter almond. Soft, dry and harmonious flavour.”

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“Highly aromatic, floral bouquet, with marked smell of roses”

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“Fairly full-bodied and well-balanced on the palate. It offers a wide range of floral aromas such as gentian, acacia and spring flowers, white peach and pear. In the background, herbaceous sensations of summer haymaking and medicinal herbs accompanied by a stony and saline minerality.”

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“Fruity and floral, fresh”

THE STORY
Founded in 1960, in Bertiolo, Italy, CABERT has been synonymous with authenticity and the tradition of wine for over sixty years.

THE TERRITORY
The wines of the north-east of Italy are frontier wines, with a special identity having its roots in the commercial spirit of Venetian merchants, and in the challenges that winemakers have always had to face in this area, quickly learning to innovate, adapt and improve.

THEIR PHILOSOPHY: LOVE, LAND, TRADITION & INNOVATION
CABERT wines are born from the love we have for our land, and from a long wine-making tradition integrated with cutting-edge technological innovations. The result is extreme attention to detail throughout all stages of production, and a deep respect for the terroir, our vines, and all their peculiar qualities. The fruit of passion, commitment and love, we dedicate our wines to all those who already appreciate them, and to all those who will soon discover them.

More info?
Check their website and social media

Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championship

Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championship:

Nice ratings for De Faveri, Cantina Puianlello, Masottina and Monzio Compagnoni.

GOLD
Monzio CompagnoniNV Franciacorta Cuvée Alla Moda

SILVER
Cantina Puianello: NV Lambrusco Reggiano Contrada Borgoleto
De Faveri2024  Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Nera
Masottina: NV Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Contradagranda Extra Dry
Monzio Compagnoni2021 Franciacorta Satèn
Monzio Compagnoni: NV Franciacorta Pas Dosé Alla Moda

THE COMPETITION:
The Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships (CSWWC) is the only international sparkling wine competition judged by sparkling wine specialists, for the new generation of sparkling wine consumers who enjoy sparkling wine on any occasion and recognise its exceptional versitality when partnering food at the table.

Slow Wine: La Guida 2026

Slow WineLa Guida 2026: all the winners of Best Buy, Moneta, Bottle, Chiocciola and Novità are published.

BEST BUY – TOP WINE

The “Best Buy” is the symbol given to Top Wines that have a very good price compared to their denomination or reference type.

WINNERS among our associated producers

LA MONETA

The “Moneta” is the symbol assigned to wineries whose wines, presented for tasting, have expressed excellent quality and an optimal quality-to-price ratio.”

WINNER among our associated producers

Cantina LaSelva

LA BOTTIGLIA

The Bottle is the symbol assigned to wineries whose wines, presented for tasting, have expressed excellent quality.”

WINNERS among our associated producers

Cantina Paltrinieri
Massolino

LA CHIOCCIOLA

A mark of excellence from the Slow Food, assigned to wineries for the way they interpret values (organoleptic, territorial, and environmental) in harmony with the Slow Food philosophy, combined with excellent quality. A Snail’s wines also meet the criterion of a good quality-to-price ratio, taking into account when and where they were produced.”

WINNER among our associated producers

Cantina LaSelva

NOVITA’

The novità (new entry) symbol is assigned to Wineries not reviewed in the previous edition of the guide. 

WINNER among our associated producers

Cantina LaSelva

Falstaff: awards for Pinot Grigio Casali Roncali

Falstaff: awards for Pinot Grigio Casali Roncali

PINOT GRIGIO COLLI ORIENTALI DEL FRIULI CASALI RONCALI

Harvested in the morning, it is macerated for a few hours in the press and then fermented in steel tanks at a controlled temperature to enhance the fruity notes.

Floral and fruity aromas of acacia and hawthorn accompanied by aromas of dried fruit, almonds and hazelnuts. You can perceive mineral and flint notes linked to the cultivation soil. On the palate it is decisive, mineral, warm and enveloping.

CABERT
From tradition in the vineyard to innovation in the winery

THE WINERY: surrounded by large expanses of vineyards, the Cabert headquarters is located in Bertiolo, in the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Founded in 1960, Cantina di Bertiolo processes the grapes of 60 winegrowers who are, at the same time, the shareholders of CABERT. Our winegrowers have centuries of passion behind them, as well as a sincere attention for their vines, and a cultural heritage handed down from generation to generation.

Over the years, Cabert have established a production chain, from the cultivation of grapes through to bottling, where the use of technology has allowed them to integrate traditional methods of wine-making with the very best cutting-edge techniques.

The equipment used for harvesting and subsequent processing allow us to preserve all the quality and intrinsic qualities of the grapes. This breathes life into wines with a balanced character, a vivid aromatic profile, and a strong sense of terroir, wines offering the pleasure of good drinking, and created to be appreciated on any occasion.

The Casali Roncali line was created the aim of enhancing the excellence of the Friuli Colli Orientali area. From a careful selection by our winemakers, mineral, balanced and well-structured wines are shaped into a completely renewed packaging that reflects all the quality that you will find in every single glass.

Keep up with Cabert

Zenato received nice reviews by Robert Parker

Zenato received nice reviews by Robert Parker.

Amarone della Valpolicella Archivio Storico 2013

The project “Archivio Storico Zenato” was created to celebrate a history of caring, dedication and passion, which led to recognize worldwide the name of Zenato as a synonym of excellence and identity of a unique area: Valpolicella.

The first vintage, 2008, has rested for a decade in large oak barrels. The milestone of this project that underlines the link to a territory in which we have believed and invested since the beginning.

A story of care, dedication and passion, the decision to revive every 10 years a barrel so special that it deserves the wait.

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Sergio Zenato 2019

Produced only in top vintages, this graceful wine is made from a selection of Corvina and Rondinella grapes grown in the oldest vineyards in the township of Sant’Ambrogio in Valpolicella’s “classic” zone.

Following vinification, it undergoes long-term aging for at least 4 years in Slavonian oak casks.

It represents the very identity of the winery and its legacy throughout the world – a wine that can age and be enjoyed for more than 20 years.

With luminous and dense color, elegant complexity, and a wonderful touch of spice, it’s a wholehearted expression of the land where it is made.

When the dried grapes for the Amarone have completed their fermentation, a top selection of Valpolicella grapes “passes over” (ripassa) the Amarone pomace, thus resulting in a second brief fermentation.
This helps to obtain a higher alcohol content, deeper color, and rich flavor and aroma.
After aging in French tonneaux for 18-20 months, the wine is cellared for another 6 months in bottle before release.
The process makes for a refined and concentrated wine, extremely smooth and velvety, with vibrant red fruit aromas.
On the palate fruity notes and elegant tannin with hints of chocolate and spice. 

Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato 2022

This Lugana Riserva is the fruit of the Zenato family’s genuine passion and a reflection of their history in the appellation.

The grapes for this wine come from the oldest vines on their Podere Massoni farm. They are harvested slightly late, around mid-October.
Fermentation takes place in oak cask (70%) and stainless steel (30%).

Light brilliant gold in color, this wine delivers intense multi-faceted aromas on the nose, with floral and citrus notes, spices, white plum, and vanilla.
On the palate, it’s rich in flavor, with great depth and balance. An ideal white for aging.

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