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Lidia
2008 Drank: 1997 La Spinetta ‘Lidia’ Chardonnay. Lovely complex and textured palate, lacking on the nose but still in good condition.
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Conto Rosso and the Bianco Notte
2008 Can you tell I have been too busy to write? We’ve processed a large proportion of the Moscato d’Asti already, which has been tiring seeing as we start at 5:30am in the morning. But the smell as...
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Under Stefano’s wing
2008 The last two days have been fantastic with work. The cellarmaster Stefano has taken me under his wing and I’m actually in the winery a lot more now and doing all things with him. This is such a...
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Bonding with the boys
2008 Today I was la regina di riempire le barrique (the queen of filling barrels). I did not spill anything which winemaking Andrea Rivetti informed me was a first for a person who is here for only...
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A glorious night out with the Czech Republic!
2008 Tonight we had a great time. Gianni, Andrea, Stefano and myself drove to Mango to a low-key trattoria where Stefano’s friend, Geoff Chilcott of New Zealand had friends over from the Czech...
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“Lasciate mi cantare”
2008 Last night Manuela, Ele and I went to Grinzane Cavour for dinner with Anja and Giorgio’s friends to celebrate their daughter Lidia’s first birthday. The party was held in the degustation room...
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Gallo
2008 The entrance to the Grinzane Cavour winery ‘Gallo’ I have been working at the winery in Grinzane Cavour called Gallo for a while now. The last of the Barolo has already been pressed off and we’ve...
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Dinner at Andrea Rivetti’s
2008 Drank: 1998 Sottimana Barbaresco Cotta’. Smooth tannins, great colour still, ready to drink now, delicious with pollo! 2001 Matteo Correggia Roero Arneis. Fresh flavours still, Chardonnay-like...
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Dinner with i ragazzi!
2008 Tonight was to be a night of hanging with the La Spinetta boys. After Gianni picked me up from work we went to Andrea’s house where we had a superb dinner with Stefano and un amico Alberto. We had...
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The greatest tasting of my life: Torno al Vento – Barolo e Barbaresco … dieci...
2008 Vintage work at the La Spinetta winery has been quietening down a lot lately, which means I made the right decision to leave on Monday to continue my travels around Italy. The cellarmaster and my...
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Oh how I missed you, Piemonte!
2009 This morning I grabbed my bags (plus 6 bottles of wine of Giorgio’s to pass on) and we drove to Cecina and had breakfast at the Principe Cafe. They took me to the station and I asked for a train...
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Mangia Krystina, mangia!
2009 Whilst the ex-boss and wife and child were still sleeping I got up and had breakfast on my own in the kitchen and dressed for lunch as they informed me we were going to the ristorante Bovio in...
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Back with the La Spinetta gang and the Pilates experience
2009 This afternoon I finally made my way to the Castagnole delle Lanze winery where the La Spinetta gang are based to catch up with everyone else that I missed on Saturday evening. I took the train...
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PDB Langhe Nebbiolo 2008
2010 May be a young wine still, but it drank a beauty last night. Mature fruit, less savoury but still Italianate because of the style, and really, really approachable tannins. Drank with Matt Harrop...
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Battista Rinaldi –“Barolo is a wine worth devoting yourself to”
2011 Allow me to present Giuseppe Rinaldi and his wines of Barolo in Piemonte, Italy. To his friends, he is simply known as Beppe. Giuseppe (Beppe) Rinaldi – Photograph by Gio’ Martorana “I could tell...
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The Moscato d’Asti ferment –“Bubble bubble boil and trouble”
2011 Have you ever thought about the risk involved in making a joyful beverage like Moscato d’Asti? Surprisingly for such an easy-drinking wine, it is one with a fair amount of winemaking technique...
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For the Baroliste: I present to ye, Signor Luciano Sandrone!
2011 Ah yes, twas yet again another fantastic session at the Prince Wine Store in Bank Street, South Melbourne. They held a tasting of eight wines from the meticulous producer Luciano Sandrone in...
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Il coraggioso Matteo Correggia e il Roero
2011 ABOUT MATTEO CORREGGIA The wine world lost one of its greats back in 2001 when the driven and ardent Roero vine dresser Matteo was taken unexpectedly in an accident in the vineyard. Prior to his...
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The wine tasting: Massolino wine masterclass- Rionda, Rhonda, Wanda…Eh?!
2011 Massolino, also known as Azienda Agricola Vigna Rionda, is the name of one of the small grape grower/wine bottling families in the Serralunga valley whose business is named after their most famed...
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The Massa Effect
2013 Some months ago I was in raptures during a meeting in Piemonte where I came face to face with a wine figure I admire greatly. He was softly spoken with gorgeous, blue-eyes. His name was Walter and...
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