Wine journalist from Italy Communication and P.R. expert Silver Pin Certified Sommelier North American Sommelier Association / World Sommelier Association Founder and Owner LA COM P.R. and Marketing Wine Agency lauradonadoni.com Los Angeles, California
Along the picturesque Adriatic coast of central Italy—surrounded by Le Marche to the north, Lazio to the west, and Molise to the southeast—lies the historical, charming region of Abruzzo. Dating back to the Etruscans in the sixth century BC, winemaking has played an integral role in the agricultural landscape of Abruzzo; however, there is additional … More Abruzzo: a small region with a huge wine diversity
I just came back from one of the most exciting U.S. wine competition I have ever attended. The 20th edition of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition has been a huge learning opportunity for me in terms of palate training and exchange of views and opinions with the other wine judges. This year the largest … More SF Chronicle 2020: behind the scenes of the largest North American wine competition
For the first time since the 1980s, University of California, Davis, researchers have released new varieties of wine grapes. The five new varieties, three red and two white, are highly resistant to Pierce’s disease, which costs California grape growers more than $100 million a year. The new, traditionally bred varieties also produce high-quality fruit and wine. … More New year, new grape varieties for California after 20 years genetic research at UC Davis
If you would have told me, ten years ago, that in 2020, I would have tasted (and enjoyed) a glass of sparkling wine made in England, I would have laughed hard: too cold, too rainy, no-one would ever be so foolish to grow grapes there…But here we are, in 2020, drinking champenoise method’s wines from West Sussex, Great Britain. So, what is happening to the viticulture with this so discussed climate change? And what can happen in the next decade? … More How will the next decade wine geography look like?
The Ferrari Camp is a four days event with the Ferrari winery in Trento to discover what’s behind their award winning Metodo Classico sparkling wines and to know viticulture, history and gastronomy of the Trento Doc area. Seminars, tastings, Michelin star dinners, helicopter tour, harvest and pic nic in the vineyards are only some of the amazing activities I experienced, read and watch more here… … More Ferrari Trento Doc: the fine mountain bubbles of Italy that outpaced Champagne
It’s no surprise that in the last decade Oregon has become the benchmark for New World’s Pinot Noirs. I tasted several very very good wines, nothing less than the French over famous (and sometimes over priced) Burgundy’s. Is Willamette Valley going to be the future of high end world class Pinots? … More Willamette Valley: the international epicenter of New World’s Pinot Noir
It’s no secret that Direct to Consumer online sales have been thriving in the last two to three years, but did you know that the 36 per cent of the DTC sales are performed through a Wine Club? … More Why are Wine Clubs so popular?
Because of Maremma’s coastal location, there is an overall temperate climate with a consistent breeze that further ameliorates the effects of any harsh summers or brutal winters. Additionally, the soils present here include a sandy clay soil and a silty clay soil comprised of a very fine gravel—both of which impart nuances to the characters of the grapes grown here and the wines produced in this Bolgheri wine region. … More Guado al Tasso: the Antinori legacy and the quality of Bolgheri terroir
Shipping overseas can be a risk and not an easy path, but if your target is an educated and curious consumer, Europe, and in this case Italy, can be an opportunity. … More What if Italy could be American new rising export market?
In the attempt to find an identity for this little wine region, so peculiar from a climatic and geological point of view and inspired by the Super Tuscan movement, the most prestigious Riparbella’s wineries decided to focus on international varieties … More Riparbella, the coastal Super Tuscans’ kingdom
