Wine Spectator April 30, 2020

Italy’s rich history and culture draw millions of American visitors each year to immerse themselves in the country’s alluring lifestyle. Within Italy, that lifestyle expresses itself very differently across many distinctive regions. In this issue, we take you to six important Italian regions, from Piedmont in the north to Campania in the south, and spotlight some of the experiences, artisans and products that make each one special. For each region, we first present the local wines, recommending producers that are historical benchmarks and quality leaders. These overviews will serve as reliable guides when you’re looking for a true taste of terroir. Then, we profile standout local artisans in and around a destination city in each region—from cheese producers to milliners, from rice growers to knifemakers, mostly family-run businesses backed by generations of experience.…

Vintner Remembered I was deeply saddened by the passing of one of California’s pioneers of Zinfandel: Jay Heminway, longtime owner-wine-maker of Chiles Valley–based Green and Red Winery. He was a very special man. When tasting at two other rural wineries 10 years ago, we were told that if we liked Zinfandel, we “should go see the Zin-master,” Jay. They were absolutely right. He always personally poured our tastings and chatted with us—we never were rushed to taste and he always had both fun and serious topics to share. Wayne House Lake Forest, Calif. Monk Matching I thoroughly enjoyed Bruce Sanderson’s column “My Dinner With Thelonious Monk” (Jan. 31 - Feb. 29). My addiction to Monk’s brilliant compositions began some 60 years ago. His music is very complex, lively and stimulates the senses. Quite the same…

A recent Wine Spectator poll asked readers about their impressions and drinking habits when it comes to Italian wine. Nearly 2,500 respondents chimed in. Below are some of the most interesting results among the data we collected. 59% Italy was respondents’ favorite among Old World wines, sweeping 59% of the vote across age and gender. 66% Diversity was cited by 66% of respondents as Italian wine’s greatest strength, followed closely by value. 23% Barolo was respondents’ favorite Italian wine at 23%, edging out Brunello at 22%. Chianti followed at 15%. 16% Pinot Grigio and Prosecco are the favorites of 16% of women, more than three times as much as for men (4%). 36% Among respondents 51 and older, 36% typically spend $50 or more on a bottle of wine from Italy. 62% Women spend less for…

Which is healthier, Dry January or year-round moderation? A new study out of Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found that adherence to a healthy lifestyle, including moderate alcohol consumption, exercising, eating a healthy diet and not smoking, is associated with a longer life expectancy. For the study, published in The BMJ, Harvard professor of nutrition and epidemiology Dr. Frank Hu and a team of researchers from Chicago, Switzerland, the Netherlands and China analyzed data from the 34-year Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and 28-year Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), which together collected health information on nearly 112,000 participants, specifically health professionals. At the study’s start, the NHS cohort consisted of female nurses ages 30 to 55, while the HPFS group was male health professionals ages 40 to 75. Questionnaires…

EU Wines Spared 100% Tariffs In the early evening hours of Feb. 14, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (USTR) issued a decision in his review of the ongoing trade war between the United States and the European Union over subsidies to plane manufacturer Airbus, opting not to raise tariffs on European wines for the time being. However, the 25% tariffs on French, Spanish and German still wines under 14% alcohol remain in place. The fight stretches back almost two decades, to U.S. objections concerning government subsidies that France, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom has given to Airbus. On Oct. 2, the World Trade Organization gave the U.S. the green light to impose duties on $7.5 billion worth of European goods after the EU was found guilty of providing unfair subsidies. The…

Bordeaux Stars Buy in Napa Daniel and Florence Cathiard, the owners of Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte in Bordeaux, are branching out to California’s Napa Valley. The couple has purchased the Flora Springs estate, which straddles the Rutherford and St. Helena AVAs. The sale price was not disclosed. The deal includes 280 acres (58 planted to vines) and the winery. Flora Spring’s owners—the Komes and Garvey families—will retain the brand and tasting room in St. Helena. “My sister Julie and I founded and grew Flora Springs from the ground up, but the wine business has changed since we began,” John Komes said. He will retire from his role at Flora Springs while continuing to work on the Jon Nathaniel brand that he started with his son Nat. Bonny Doon Vineyard Sold Randall Grahm, the innovative founder of…