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Diary 69: Nebbia e Luce, a great Nebbiolo project

Nov 27, 2024 | winefriend.org | David Way

I am delighted to start work this week for Nebbia e Luce, a Nebbiolo-focused company headed by Simon Farr and Chiara Ovaleo Pandolo. The company’s name means ‘Fog and Light’, encapsulating its Piemontese roots. It has been buying and storing Nebbiolo wines from various parts of Piemonte. It will then release the wines when they are fully mature and ready to drink. Very few collectors or restaurants have the space, cashflow or patience to cellar wines today.
Diary 68: Piemonte in Texas

Oct 4, 2024 | winefriend.org | David Way

I was hugely honoured to present ‘Piedmont: off the beaten track’ at Texsom in a tasting/seminar in Dallas. If you had told me even a few years ago that I would present Piemonte in Texas, I would not have believed you. My session was on the Monday of the two-day event and was followed by a ‘meet the author’ session mainly for the Académie du Vin Library authors. Texsom is an annual conference, perhaps the most important wine event in the southeast of the US.
Diary 66: review of the year–Piemonte reaches Turin, Dallas and Lisbon - Winefriend.org

Sep 29, 2024 | winefriend.org | David Way

It is a year since I wrote to you about the publication of The Wines of Piemonte. It has been a full and exciting year. Here are the highlights in a review of the year: The Classic Wine Library which published my book has a new home. The Académie du Vin Library bought the company, founded by the esteemed Stephen Spurrier. The big deal for us writers is that AVL has a much bigger staff including a marketing department.
Is Piemonte becoming a white wine region?

Sep 10, 2024 | winefriend.org | David Way

David Way is a researcher and wine writer with a focus on Italy and France. He writes study guides for the WSET Diploma in Wines. This is his personal website.
Diary 65: Mascarello Monprivato vertical

Jun 23, 2024 | winefriend.org | David Way

Giuseppe Mascarello is one of the storied names of Barolo. I recently had the pleasure of tasting a Mascarello Monprivato vertical which merely confirmed the greatness of these wines. Mauro Mascarello, now approaching his 90th birthday, decided back in 1970 to bottle Nebbiolo from the Monprivato vineyard as a separate wine. What a great move that was as confirmed by our tasting. The superficial image of Mascarello is that the estate is hyper traditionalist.
Diary 63: Cadgal, revived Moscato specialist

May 21, 2024 | winefriend.org | David Way

It is always a pleasure to visit new producers. I have commented on Emanuele Gambino before, a winery only set up in 2016. He makes a very good dry, still Moscato, a rarity in the Asti area. I visited his winery and boutique hotel outside Costigliole d’Asti in May 2024. This allowed me also to taste his Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, the first vintage of Nebbiolo and the latest releases of his Barbera wines. They are all worth seeking out.
Revisiting Alto Piemonte

May 20, 2024 | winefriend.org | David Way

I spent quite a lot of time in Alto Piemonte in 2022 researching for my book, The Wines of Piemonte. I couldn’t go to the big annual tasting and press trip in 2022 as my good friends were getting married at exactly the same time. But this year it fitted in well and gave me the chance to revisit Alto Piemonte. At the beginning of the week, I gave a presentation on themes from my book in Alba and then travelled to northern Piemonte.
Schiava becomes Vernatsch

Apr 24, 2024 | winefriend.org | David Way

There are not many tastings which show that your understanding of a grape variety is completely wrong. But Schiava becomes Vernatsch or new generation Vernatsch was one such event. Organised by Walter Speller of Decanter, he persuaded nine producers who make new style Vernatsch to come to London from Alto Adige/Südtirol to show their wines. The first flight was all 2019 wines which in itself was remarkable as Schiava is generally used to make light, early-drinking wines which don’t age well.
Nebbiolo Prima Academy 2024

Feb 22, 2024 | winefriend.org | David Way

Nebbiolo Prima is the by-invitation-only tasting of the latest releases of Nebbiolo wines held in Alba each January. The current releases were Barolo 2020, Barolo Riserva 2018, Barbaresco 2021, Barbaresco Riserva 2019, Roero 2021 and Roero Riserva 2020. The wines are served blind. Those who are invited are principally those who score the wines for magazines and websites around the world. I was honoured to be invited to Nebbiolo Prima 2024. This year there was a new format and a new venue.
Diary 61: Two days in Caluso

Feb 18, 2024 | winefriend.org | David Way

This year I had the honour of making a presentation on themes from my book, The Wines of Piemonte, at the annual producers’s meeting. This is hosted by Vignaioli Piemontesi/Piemonte Land of Wine in Turin. It was conveniently timed leaving just a long weekend between it and the trade show which features the new releases of Barolo, Barbaresco and the other wines of the Langhe. Janet and I took advantage of this to travel 40 minutes north of Turin to the Canavese area.