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The grape variety we are looking at  today is Montepulciano. The Varietal The origin of Montepulciano is documented and recognized as being from the Peligna valley or Peligna basin at the foot of the Maiella mountain massif in Abruzzo where for centuries it was isolated and then spread to the rest of the territory and to central and southern Italy. Historically Montepulciano is a varietal full of charm, so much so that Ovid, a Roman poet born in Sulmona, describes his pains of love by recalling the bond that binds the elm to the vine in his "Metamorphosis"; and this is how he claims the...

Sangiovese is one of the best known wine varietals in the world and one of the most cultivated in Italy. It is the basis of Brunello di Montalcino (100% Sangiovese) and many other famous wines: Rosso di Montalcino (100% Sangiovese), Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (70% Sangiovese), Morellino di Scansano (85% Sangiovese), Chianti (80% Sangiovese), Montecucco (60% Sangiovese) and others. In Italy it is mainly cultivated in Tuscany and Umbria. It was introduced abroad in California, Argentina and other countries, but it is still little cultivated today. Wines based on Sangiovese have a high acidity and tannicity that make them suitable for...

Primitivo is a centuries old varietal grown mainly in Apulia and Campania, which gives rise to medium-bodied or robust red wines. Zinfandel is a varietal that has been cultivated in North America for over 150 years and is considered one of the most representative grapes of America. It produces excellent robust red wines and sweet rosé wines. For years, the similarities between the wines obtained from Primitivo and Zinfandel were observed, until in the 1990s a study on the DNA of the two grape varieties conducted in California showed that they are exactly the same grape. The traces of the movements of...

Pinot Noir is a grape originating from France and grown all over the world. It is mainly produced in France and in the USA, but is now also widespread in Germany, Italy, Australia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand. It is a varietal that is vinified and consumed as red still wine, or it is vinified as a white and used for the production of excellent Champagne sparkling wines. It is considered a difficult varietal to cultivate due to its delicacy and low yield and, but if treated with the right care, it can give rise to exceptional wines for elegance and complexity of bouquet. As...

The sense of smell in the early human beings was a sense much more utilized than today. One of its uses was to recognize others (each person has a unique smell) and perhaps to understand mood, illness or other factors. This can be likened to when dogs smell each other to understand more about each other upon meeting. It is fascinating to look at how some gestures that we still use today in society probably have roots in our prehistory and had their own practical utility linked to our olfactory abilities, and not just a ceremonial function. For example, it...