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Crushed Grape ChroniclesCrushed Grape Chronicles
Adventures in Wine Exploration
the stories behind the vines
  • CGC Home
  • The Stories
  • the places
    • Australia
      • Hunter Valley
      • Mudgee Wine Region
      • Shoalhaven Coast
      • Southern Highlands
    • California Wine, Wine Makers & Winery’s
      • Los Olivos, California
      • Paso Robles, California
      • Santa Barbara County
      • Napa Valley
      • Sonoma Valley
      • Temecula Wine Country
    • Central Coast Wine Country, a flash trip in 6 days
    • France, the wine regions
      • France, Alsace region
      • Champagne 101, the region
      • Côtes de Bordeaux
      • the wines of Alsace, France
      • the wines of Bordeaux, France
      • the wines of Champagne France
      • the wines of Languedoc Roussillion
    • Discovering Italy the Wine Regions
      • Abruzzo on Italy’s East Coast
      • Italy-Friuli-Venezia Guilia & the Colli Orientali
      • Vini di Valtellina
    • Oregon Wine Country
      • Willamette
    • Yakima Valley Wine
      • Red Willow Vineyard
  • the Philosophies
    • Biodynamics in Wine Production
    • Champagne & Sparkling Wine
  • Food & Wine Pairing
    • Tempting Spoonfuls: Pairing single bites with glorious wines
    • Food & Wine Pairing Recipe Videos
  • from dirt to glass
    • Wine Basics
      • the grape vines
      • the grapes
      • the seasons
      • the Wine harvest
      • the winemakers
      • Wine Faults
    • Crushed Grapes & Open Minds, Event
    • 12 Days of Wine, a holiday Wine list 2019
    • 12 Days of Wine, a holiday Wine list 2020
    • 12 Days of Wine, a holiday Wine list 2021
    • Uncommon Wine Festival at Vista Hills Vineyard 2018
    • Top Places to Taste Wine in California!
    • The Scenic Route 2021
    • The Scenic Route, a Flash Wine tour
  • Videos
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The Scenic Route Episode 3 - Youngberg Hill in Oregon's McMinnville AVA
The Scenic Route Episode 3 Youngberg Hill
The Scenic Route Lenné Estate One Site
The Scenic Route Lenné Estate One Site
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 9 Utopia 2016 Pinot Noir Paradise
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 9 Utopia 2016 Pinot Noir Paradise
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 8 Bailey Family 2018 Chardonnay
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 8 Bailey Family 2018 Chardonnay
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 7 Trella Vineyards Barrel One, Umpqua
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 7 Trella Vineyards Barrel One, Umpqua
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 6 Trisaetum 2020 Coast Range dry Riesling
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 6 Trisaetum 2020 Coast Range dry Riesling
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 5 River’s Edge Cascade Pet Nat Rose of Pinot Noir
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 5 River’s Edge Cascade Pet Nat Rose of Pinot Noir
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 4 Bradley Family 2018 Skin contact Gewurztraminer, Elkton
12 days of Wine 2021, Day 4 Bradley Family 2018 Skin contact Gewurztraminer, Elkton
The Scenic Route 2021 Day10 & 11, L'Ecole, Lenne Estate, Bells Up, Utopia
The Scenic Route 2021 Day10 & 11, L’Ecole, Lenne Estate, Bells Up, Utopia
The Scenic Route Day 5, Umpqua Valley part 2
The Scenic Route Day 5, Umpqua Valley part 2
The Scenic Route Day 4, The Hundred Valleys of the Umpqua - Discovering the wineries of the region
The Scenic Route Day 4, The Hundred Valleys of the Umpqua – Discovering the wineries of the region
The Scenic Route Day 3, 2021, Troon & into the Umpqua
The Scenic Route Day 3, 2021, Troon & into the Umpqua

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Tempting Spoonfuls: Pairing single bites with glorious wines (On Sale Now on Amazon)!

Tempting Spoonfuls: Pairing single bites with glorious wines Paperback – August 29, 2022

Tempting Spoonfuls: Pairing single bites with glorious wines Paperback – August 29, 2022

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Davide Fasolini’s energy is palpable. Tall with Davide Fasolini’s energy is palpable. Tall with ginger hair, a beard, and glasses that seem held up by the ends of his smile, you can feel his energy, excitement, and passion as he waits to tell you about his wines. His smile and energy are contagious. He is one-half of the founders of Dirupi. He and his partner Pierpaolo Di Franco were childhood friends who met again as they finished university with degrees in enology. As we tasted the wines, Davide wanted me to know more about the sub-region the vineyards were in. The altitude, he said, was very important. Vineyards range between 270 and 700 meters above sea level, and the altitude is important in keeping the freshness in the wine. On their website, each tech sheet has a sketch of the vineyard blocks on the terraces indicating their altitude. In early November, they will have 10 different tanks from 20 different vineyards in their cellar, each different and amazing in its own way. You could tell he couldn’t wait! Learn more about Dirupi and their wines of Valtellina at CrushedGrapeChronicles.com. @dirupivaltellina @vinivaltellina @zephyr_wine #Italy #WMC2022 #Valtellina #chiavennasca #nebbioloofthealps
We used to do our monthly Chi O Alum bookclub at @ We used to do our monthly Chi O Alum bookclub at @marche_bacchus. Views of the lake, and we would start with lattes and end with wine. Catching up today was a dream. We were so involved catching up that I missed a photo of the lake AND of us! Here's to catching up more often (and to bottomless mimosas!) #sistersonpurpose #oldfriends
La Spia – ‘The Spy’ The name for this winery La Spia – ‘The Spy’ The name for this winery comes from the ridge behind the family vineyard in the Sassella sub-zone of the Valtellina Valley in Northern Italy. The ridge was called ‘La Spia’ as it was a strategic military observation point during military clashes in the region. The labels are the first thing to catch your eye with these wines. They are designed by Milanese artist Luca Pignatelli, who is known for his large-scale works, often painted on mixed media. As eye-catching as the labels are, you then catch the name of the wine. The names are a type of abbreviated code honoring Michele Rigamonti, the owner’s parents. PG40 is the name of their Sassella for his mother, Giovanna Paganoni, who was born in 1940. The label design represents Aphrodite, a symbol of timeless beauty. Likewise, their Valtellina Superiore is PR28 for his father, Paolino Rigamonti, born in 1928. This label shows a train locomotive in motion, pushing forward. In addition, they make a very interesting Nebbiolo Bianco from grapes grown in the Costiera de Cech municipality on the far west end of the valley. Read the whole story and see our tasting on CrushedGrapeChronicles.com @laspia_wines @vinivaltellina @Zephyr_wine #valtellina #nebbiolo #chiavennasca #lombardia #italianwine #nebbioloofthealps
Involt Agnelot paints outside the box when it come Involt Agnelot paints outside the box when it comes to Valtellina wines. While their wines are based on Nebbiolo, they don’t adhere to DOC or DOCG guidelines, instead labeling their wines Alpi Retiche IGT, which is the Indicazione Geografica Tipica for the Valtellina region. They have 6 hectares of vineyards. Each of their wines is made in an identical manner. The difference between the wines comes from the soil. The soil for the ‘Li Curt’ is primarily clay, for ‘La Purscela’ is a blend of clay and rocky soil, and for ‘Le Carline’ is stony rocky soil. The difference in the wine is noticeable. These wines are produced without wood. No barrels or barriques. The wine is fermented without pressing and rests for 2 years in Stainless Steel before shifting to 1000-liter terracotta amphorae for 1 year. Read the article for all the details, and see the video of the tasting on CrushedGrapeChronicles.com @involtagnelotvini @vinivaltellina
In my glass tonight! This is a Chardonnay (Robert In my glass tonight! This is a Chardonnay (Robert Young clone) aged 1 year in barrel. This is Chase's Venture label. While you smell a bit of oak on the nose, this wine has great tartness. It has body to fill my mouth, that then swirls in tropical fruits. We will pair it with breaded shrimp and chicken and some delicious scalloped potatoes. The richness of the wine melds well with these foods and the tartness cuts through the heaviness. What's in your glass tonight? #whatsinyourglass
In October of 2022, we spent 21 magical days in It In October of 2022, we spent 21 magical days in Italy. Part of our time there was with the Wine Media Conference, held in Desenzano Del Garda. We attended a post-conference press trip to Valtellina hosted by the Consorzio in Valtellina. Valtellina is located between the Alps in Northern Italy. Nearby is Lake Como to the Southwest and St. Moritz Switzerland to the Northeast. While there, an afternoon was spent with a collection of Valtellina wine Producers tasting their wines in a cellar beneath the streets of Sondrio. Today we begin our series of conversations with the winemakers and producers we tasted with that day. We begin with La Societa Agricola Fay or Sandro Fay. Sandro Fay began in 1971 when Sandro redeveloped the small vineyard that his family owned in Teglio in the Valgella sub-zone. Today his children, Marco and Elena, manage the vineyards. Elena poured for us. We tasted their Cà Moréi Valtellina Superiore DOCG Valgella, and their Ronco del Picchio Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG 2019 grows 200 meters further up the slope from where the Cà Moréi is grown. Learn more about Sandro Fay and their wines, and see our tasting with Elena at CrushedGrapeChronicles.com @sandrofaywine @vinivaltellina @Zephyr_wine #valtellina #nebbiolo #chiavennasca #lombardia #italianwine #nebbioloofthealps
Here at Garagiste for the Legends by the glass cel Here at Garagiste for the Legends by the glass celebration! They are a semi-finalist for a James Beard Award! Eric, "The Legend" himself is pouring and greeting! I have a 2014 Trimbach Cuvée Frederick Emily Riesling in my glass! It is #rieslingday after all. More photos to come! They are celebrating until 10 pm, so get done here! #wine #jamesbearsemifinalists #fabulouswinebars
Discovering Vini di Valtellina – Chiavennasca – the Nebbiolo of the Alps Far in the north of Italy’s Lombardia region, tucked between the Rhaetian Alps of Switzerland and the Orobiche Alps in Italy, you find the east-west valley of Valtellina. Here, the Adda River flows from the Swiss Alps through the Valtellina Valley and then out to the west into Lake Como, past Milan, and eventually to the Po River. The Alps protect this region from storms. The rain shadow that is caused means they receive less than 900 millimeters of rain annually. The valley’s north side, which gets the southern exposure, has terraces of vines planted to catch the light. Vineyards here are steep. #discoveringwinecountry #crushedgrapechronicles #winetravel #italy🇮🇹 #valtellina #drinkwine #videographer #videoproductioncompany #winevideo #adobepremierepro #drinkwine #winestories #winetasting #wmc22
Celebrating Women in Wine on International Women's Celebrating Women in Wine on International Women's Day! While we were in Italy last October, we had the opportunity to meet some incredible women in the wine industry. We thought we would introduce you to a few of them as we celebrate International Women's Day. At the Wine Media Conference, Laura Donadoni moderated a session on Women in Wine in Italy with Cristina Scarpellini of Tenuta Scerscé, who is also the President of Fondazione ProVinea and Francesca Pagnoncelli Folcieri of Cantina Pagnoncelli Folciere and the President of Consorzio del Moscato di Scanzo. Francesca Mecchia, who, with her mother, Hilde Petrussa, runs Vigna Petrussa on the Slovenian border in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, met us in Milan to share with us the story of the strong women who have been the backbone of their winery. (You can find multiple short videos on our site from our interview.) Isabella Pelizzatti Perego hosted a Group of us in Valtellina. Her family winery ARPEPE is well known in the region with delicious wines of Nebbiolo, here called Chiavennasca. Nicole Vezzola is the daughter of Mattia Vezzola of Costaripa winery in Valtènesi on the shores of Lake Garda. Here they specialize in rosé, and she speaks passionately on this subject. Giovanna Pradini established Perla del Garda with her brother Ettore in 2000. In addition to producing beautiful wines in Lugana, Garda, and Valtènesi, she is also the President of Ascovilo, the Lombard DOCG, DOC, and IGT Wine Consortia Association. She was a gracious host and was instrumental in bringing the Wine Media Conference to Lombardia. In this photo, she was pouring her 2009 Sparkling wine for us, which was disgorged in 2020. #internationalwomensday @costaripa @perladelgarda.official @theitalianwinegirl @tenutascersce @fondazioneprovinea @moscatodiscanzopagnoncelli @consorziomoscatodiscanzo @arpepe1860 @vinivaltellina @vigna_petrussa @consorziovaltenesi #womeninwine
Recently I had the opportunity to attend a Masterc Recently I had the opportunity to attend a Masterclass on Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. This red wine comes from Abruzzo on Italy’s Eastern Coast, where parks protect 30% of the region. The region boasts beautiful mountain lakes, medieval towns, and the stunning and vast “transumanza,” the route by which the shepherds take their sheep to the mountains in the spring. The beautiful coastline is dotted by the “trabocchi” fishing huts, many of which are now restaurants. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is the beautiful red wine of the region. First, let’s make sure there is no confusion here. This is the grape variety Montepulciano. You may have also heard of Vino Nobile de Montepulciano, which is actually made primarily from Sangiovese in the Montepulciano village of Tuscany. Montepulciano is the 3rd most planted grape in Italy, sitting just behind Sangiovese and Trebbiano. While it is also found in Marche, Molise, and Puglia, it is most widely planted here in Abruzzo. At the Masterclass held by IEEM and funded by “The Charming Taste of Europe” Campaign, we learned about the region with Davide Acerra, and then Master Sommelier Brandon Tebbe led us through a tasting of 7 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC wines. Visit CrushedGrapeChronicles.com for details on the wines and the region. @charmeu_usa @vinidabruzzo @ieemwine @ieemusa @jasciemarchesani @cantinemucci @rosarubrawinery @pasetti_vini @tenutatalamonti @cantina_frentana @agriverdevinibiologici #abruzzowine #vinidabruzzo #Montepulcianodabruzzo #DiscoveringWineCountry
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