Piemonte Girl

24/07/2024

We’re almost halfway through summer already. And I could be sad about it, but instead I am super excited. Do you know why? Because it’s mushroom season! And do you know what that means? Mushroom pasta, mushroom pizza, mushroom risotto, fried mushroom, mushroom consommee etc etc etc! You catch my drift. So, for the next, I don’t know how many weeks, I’ll be in the forest, hunting mushrooms.

https://piemontegirl.com/2024/07/24/wines-with-mushroom/

14/06/2024

Summer came and went in Norway already, but here’s to hoping it makes a comeback soon so we can start drinking some summer wine! Disclaimer: you’re allowed to drink a so called “summer wine” anytime. Don’t let the rain and cold discourage you. I’m sure you can find an occasion to open an Arneis regardless of the weather.

Summer came and went in Norway already, but here’s to hoping it makes a comeback soon so we can start drinking some summer wine!

28/03/2024

There’s not much that hasn’t already been said about Roberto Voerzio. But if I were to try and describe Roberto with one word, the word that comes to mind is “profound”. Yes, he’s a winemaker. Or, more aptly, a winegrower. But he’s so much more. He’s a farmer. A father. A grandfather. A wine lover. And it’s obvious he loves what he does. Hearing him talk about wine is like listening to a great piece of art. And I feel lucky to have had that opportunity.

There’s not much that hasn’t already been said about Roberto Voerzio. But if I were to try and describe him with one word, it's “profound”.

13/12/2023

It’s about time to start thinking about wines for Christmas! If I’m being honest, it’s a little late to start thinking about it, so hopefully you’re way ahead of me! The options are endless, but if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I tend to stick to certain areas. Since we don’t have a ton of time, I’m diving right in!

Wines for Christmas It’s about time to start thinking about wines for Christmas! If I’m being honest, it’s a little late to start thinking about it, so hopefully you’re way ahead of me! The options are endless, but if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I tend to stick to certai...

26/10/2023

Even though Thanksgiving is mostly an American (and Canadian) holiday, turkey is enjoyed by many. Now, it’s not so easy to find a wine pairing for turkey because of all the different side dishes. But I will do my very best. Over the years we’ve tried a wide variety of wines with turkey, and almost always one wine gets out on top.

It’s not easy to find wines for Thanksgiving because of all the different side dishes. But I will do my best to guide you to the right wine!

22/09/2023

It's long overdue, but I have finally updated my "guide" of where to eat, drink and sleep!

I'd like to add a disclaimer: this is not a complete list. I know that there are many other wineries, hotels and restaurants in the area. So please don't be upset if your favorite isn't on here ☺️

Here are some of my recommendations on where to drink, eat and sleep. Contact me for more recommendations and help planning your visit to Piemonte! What is the best time to visit Piemonte? Corte GondinaVia Roma 100, 12064 La MorraWebsite | Email: [email protected]: +39 0173 509781 | Fax: +39 0...

20/09/2023

Marengo is one of the few (that I know of) who makes both a Langhe Nebbiolo and a Nebbiolo d’Alba 🍷

Do you know what the difference is?

It’s not just geography. A Nebbiolo d’Alba has to spend at least 12 months in oak barrels, whereas the Langhe Nebbiolo does not.

If you’ve been following me for a while you know that one of my absolute favorite Nebbiolos is the Valmaggiore from Marengo. So if I had to choose between the two, you know which one I’d go for.

Has anyone else tried both? Thoughts?

06/09/2023

Summer came and went, and I realized (a little begrudgingly) that it’s time to find wines for fall. Fall in Norway typically means lamb, or different types of “stew”. You have the very traditional “Fårikål”, which is lamb cooked in sourcrout. It’s not my favorite, but it has been named Norway’s National Dish, which means a fair amount of Norwegian genuinely enjoy it! Lamb is in general a favorite in the fall. There’s rack of lamb, shank of lamb, lamb filet; really lamb in any capacity. Just remember: at some point lamb become sheep…

Summer came and went, and I realized (a little begrudgingly) that it’s time to find wines for fall. Red is a sure way to go, but there are other options as well.

02/08/2023

Barolo 2019 is looking very promising so far! It was a pleasure to taste with Cristian Boffa this past Easter. And it’s always fun to visit his winery, which is basically a garage.

I tasted some wines from the tanks/barrels, and we definitely have something to look forward to! While we wait for the good things to come, here are my tasting notes on the 2019 Barolo’s.

Cristian Boffa Barolo del Comune di La Morra 2019
Just like most of the 19’s I’ve tasted so far, it has a quite aromatic nose. Floral, fruity and mineral. A pretty typical La Morra Barolo nose. Quite drinkable, full bodied with a long finish.

Cristian Boffa Barolo Capalot 2019
Also quite intense and aromatic on the nose. A bit more complex, with a bit more aggressive tannins. Higher acidity. Very mineral in the mouth. Has a very good aging potential!

25/07/2023

I tasted the Luigi Pira Barolo 2019 ’s over Easter.

For those of you who are not familiar with Luigi Pira, let me just do a quick introduction. The winery was founded in the 1950’s by Luigi Pira. Today, it’s his son Gianpaolo who runs the show, with his wife Tiziana and their two daughters. It’s been a pleasure to see this winery grow and evolve, and in my opinion the wines just keep getting better and better.

The Luigi Pira Barolo 2019 's are impressive. Not surprising, as Gianpaolo and his family consistently make really good wines!

04/07/2023

Every visit with Chiara is incredibly educational and informative. Her knowledge of wine and winemaking is second to none, and you are guaranteed to learn something new every time you chat with her! And I always love to hear about her new projects. I am especially excited about this new one (stay tuned)!

I’ve often thought Chiara's wines remind me a little bit of her: beautiful, energetic, bold. And the Chiara Boschis Barolo 2019's are no different.

27/03/2023

Why would a 20 year old spend weeks out on then street, in the dead of Norwegian winter, in order to get their hands on wines from burgundy, when they don’t seem the slightest bit interest in wine at all?

Why would a 20 year old spend weeks out on then street, in the dead of Norwegian winter, in order to buy rare wines from burgundy, when they don’t seem the slightest bit interest in wine at all?

08/03/2023

08/03/2023

Today, there are tons of women in wine. Just typing this statement feels weird, because why would there not be women working in wine? But rewind about 50 years; it wasn’t that common.

We all know (and love) Chiara Boschis, who today is one of the most important winemakers in Langhe. When she first started out, she was “sort of an exotic fruit” because the fact of the matter was, “there were no women in the winemaking.” Thankfully, it’s not like that today.

Women in wine are working in every step from the vineyard to the wine stores. And although the actual winemaking is a very important job (otherwise we wouldn’t be drinking really good wine), the other aspects of this industry are also very important. Marketing, Sales, Shipping, Logistics, Design – these are all areas involved in getting the wine out of the winery and into our cellars.

In honor of International Women's Day, I'd like to take some time to appreciate some of the wonderful women in wine.