Author Archives
Kathy Merchant
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Kathy Merchant on
11/09/2023 12:36 PM
How many Grand Cru vineyards are there in Burgundy? The Burgundy Grand Crus answer is not as straightforward as you might think. This is France, after all, where complexity rules the day! First, Remington Norman MW (author of Grand Cru: The Great Wines of Burgundy, 2011) and Sylvain Pitiot (author of The Wines of Burgundy […]
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Kathy Merchant on
09/11/2023 12:15 PM
What Are the Best Tuscan Wine Pairings with Food? Tuscan cuisine is based on “cucina povera,” a rural style based on seasonal and natural ingredients. Olive oil, unsalted bread, wild mushrooms, vegetables, and salt-cured or grilled meats form the base of this cuisine. So what Italian wines pair best with this rustic cuisine? ...
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Kathy Merchant on
08/02/2023 2:50 PM
Italy offers some of the best wines in the world and is also perhaps the world’s most complex wine-producing country. In Italy, there are: 20 major regions, over 400 designated quality appellations (denominazione), and nearly 1,000 important wine grapes. Tuscany has more quality appellations (52) than any other Italian region except ...
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Kathy Merchant on
11/28/2017 11:32 AM
Where Can You Find the Best Nebbiolo Wines of Italy? Nebbiolo wines of Barolo are among the finest in the world. Critics love their full-bodied texture and deep flavors. The Nebbiolo based red wines of Barbaresco are underappreciated gems. Generally softer and more approachable than Barolo, due to warmer climate and shorter barrel ...
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Kathy Merchant on
11/14/2017 2:41 PM
Expert Advice on How to Pair Piedmont Wine & Food Piedmont is one of Italy’s most iconic wine regions. It is notable for producing the powerful, age-worthy red wines, Barolo and Barbaresco—known as the “king and queen” of Piedmont wine. Both are made from the Nebbiolo grape. Though these are the most notable there are […]
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Kathy Merchant on
11/02/2017 11:13 AM
Barolo vs Barbaresco: How to Tell the Difference Let’s examine the question: “Barolo vs Barbaresco, how do you tell them apart?” They are nearly identical twins from the Piedmont region, so it can be a challenge. The differences are subtle. Here are the top 5 differences between Barolo vs Barbaresco: Soil: Tortonian ...
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Kathy Merchant on
10/25/2017 11:28 AM
Finding a wine you like can be confusing, no matter where in the world you live or shop. Most retail shops organize wine by country, but some use grape variety or style as the theme. Mastering Italian wine is a formidable task. There are about 2,000 different indigenous, traditional, and international grape varieties. Consumers have ...
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Kathy Merchant on
09/19/2017 11:44 AM
Using “super” as an adjective, as in super smart, is super common in everyday writing and conversation. There’s data to support this notion. Use started increasing in the 1930s. It took off in the 1970s and surged by 500% into commonplace status from 1994 to 2012. The term Super Tuscan was way ahead of this […]
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Kathy Merchant on
07/18/2017 1:54 PM
Montalcino is one of six breathtaking medieval hill towns dotting the Tuscan horizon. The towers of their 13th-century fortezzas (fortresses) beckon visitors to explore some of Italy’s finest food, wine, and Renaissance architecture. Etruscan ruins from more than 1,200 years ago are a must-see for avid historians. History Montalcino ...
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Kathy Merchant on
06/21/2017 11:18 AM
New Italy Wine Tour featuring Tuscany and Piedmont Welcome to a spectacular new Italy wine tour curated by French Wine Explorers: Treasures of Tuscany and Piedmont. Award-winning French Wine Explorers is best known for prestigious tours to the major French wine regions. For several years, they have offered private and custom Italy ...
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