Author: Kerin O'Keefe

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Freisa

If you like fragrant, spicy reds with structure and personality, you’ll love the dry varietal wines made with native grape Freisa.

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Cellar Gems and Fails #5

Brunello di Montalcino and Toscana IGT 2004: Twenty years On (or Gone)?

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Barolo 2020 Vintage Report

Kerin O’Keefe evaluates the 2020 Barolo vintage

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Cellar Gems and Fails #4

Are your precious bottles of Italian wine holding up or not?

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FIVI: Trust in Italy’s Grower-Producer Wines

As a wine critic, I’ve long noted that some of my highest-scoring wines across the denominations bear the FIVI logo

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Cellar Gems and Fails #3

When should you drink your old precious bottles of Italian wine?

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Top 100 Italian Wines of 2023

2023 proved to be an amazing year for Italian wines: it was incredibly hard to choose only 100, but here are the best of the best.

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Cellar Gems and Fails #2

When should you drink your old precious bottles of Italian wine?

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Addio Michele

My tribute to the great Michele Chiarlo

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Cellar Gems and Fails

When should you drink your old precious bottles of Italian wine?

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Brunello di Montalcino 2019 Vintage Report

Brunello di Montalcino 2019: Everything you need to know about the vintage and the wines

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Langhe Nebbiolo and Nebbiolo d’Alba: What’s the Difference?

Here’s everything you need to know about Nebbiolo d’Alba and Langhe Nebbiolo.

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Three Decades of Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello Pianrosso

A riveting, age-worthy Brunello with class, energy and longevity.

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The Raddest producers in Radda

Here are two of the best Chianti Classico producers from Radda that should be on every wine lover’s radar.

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Etna Bianco: Stunning Whites forged on the slopes of Europe’s highest active volcano

Etna Bianco: Here’s everything you need to know about these exciting whites.

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Riesling Rising in the Langhe

Although Piedmont’s ancient varieties steal the limelight, one outsider has shown impressive results in the Langhe: Riesling.

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Pieropan Soave Classico Calvarino 2021-1987

On April 27th, Andrea and Dario Pieropan hosted me for what was a memorable vertical tasting of the their Soave Classico Calvarino. While...

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Paolo Scavino Bric del Fiasc Barolo Vertical

Held at the winery for kerinokeefe.com on April 11, 2023 Kerin O’Keefe June 2023 ©kerinokeefe.com...

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Don Fiorino 2016 Barbaresco Riserva (free access)

An ode to Barbaresco’s late parish priest Don Fiorino Marengo who in 1958 united 19 growers and founded the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative cellar, the wine is a blend of grapes from the best vineyard sites.

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Barbaresco 2020 Vintage Report

Barbaresco 2020 vintage report by Kerin O’Keefe.

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Barolo 2019: The Definitive Report

Kerin O’Keefe evaluates the 2019 Barolo vintage

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Valle d’Aosta’s Savory Secrets

Italy’s smallest region in terms of size and population, mountainous Valle d’Aosta turns out high quality, delicious wines, mainly reds...

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Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2017

Vintage report on Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2017 Here you find my vintage evaluation of Brunello di Montalcino 2018, updated with new...

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Remembering Barolo Trailblazer Luciano Sandrone

My tribute to the great barolista Luciano Sandrone

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Enrico Serafino Barolo and Barbaresco back to 1949: Indestructible Wines

Tasting decades-old fine wines is always a humbling, often memorable experience. Tasting a selection of older vintages of Enrico...

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Top Italian Wines of 2022

Picking my top 50 was extremely difficult as I tried so many extraordinary wines, but here they are: 30 reds, 10 whites and 10 sparklers that excelled in 2022 and that showcase the class, stellar quality and unrivaled diversity of Italian wine. Enjoy!

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Franciacorta Rising

Franciacorta turns out world class Metodo Classicos that get better every year

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Brunello di Montalcino 2018 vintage report

Brunello di Montalcino 2018: here’s everything you need to know about the vintage and the wines.

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Metodo Classico, Metodo Ancestrale, Asolo, Lambrusco di Sorbara and more

Just in time for the holidays, here are some of Italy’s top Metodo Classico and a few Metodo Ancestrale too from – Lessini Durello...

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Barolo 2019: A Sneak Peek

Kerin O’Keefe evaluates the 2019 Barolo vintage

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Barolo 2018: Finesse, fragrance and freshness

The 2018 Barolos boast elegance, energy and enticing aromatics. Defined by extremely refined, well-integrated tannins and balance,...

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Barbaresco 2019 Vintage Report: A Hallmark Vintage

The stunning 2019 Barbarescos shine a spot light on what was a fantastic vintage in the Langhe. And even though how a given vintage unfolds...

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Alta Langa: The Classy Sparkler from the Piedmont Hills

Italy makes world-class bottle-fermented sparklers, aka Metodo Classico, and some of the very best come from the hilly slopes of Piedmont...

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Alto Adige: Italy’s White Wine Wonderland

Italy’s northernmost wine producing region, Alto Adige makes some of best white wines in the country. Part of the Trentino-Alto Adige...

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Brunello di Montalcino 2017: concentrazione, alcol ed alcune stelle lucenti

Il 2017 è stato uno degli anni più caldi e secchi mai registrati, e questo si riflette chiaramente nella maggior parte dei Brunello di...

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In cima al mondo dei vini bianchi: Alto Adige

In cima al mondo dei vini bianchi: Alto Adige di Kerin O’Keefe You can find the original English version of this article here: On Top...

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Brunello di Montalcino 2016: finezza, longevità e…l’elefante nella stanza

Dopo l’incredibile successo del Barolo 2016 che ha debuttato lo scorso anno, la frenesia intorno ai Brunello 2016 appena usciti è...

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Olivio Cavallotto 1930-2021: pioniere del Barolo e della viticoltura biologica

Olivio Cavallotto 1930-2021: pioniere del Barolo e della viticoltura biologica

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Olivio Cavallotto 1930-2021: Pioneer in single-vineyard Barolo and organic viticulture

Olivio Cavallotto 1930-2021, pioneer in single-vineyard Barolo and organic viticulture

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Barolo 2016: A Modern Day Classic

Between March and April 2020, I reviewed 359 Barolos from the fantastic 2016 vintage. The reviews, out now in the latest issue of Wine...

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Barolo 2016: un moderno Classico

Tra marzo e aprile di quest’anno, ho recensito 359 Barolo della fantastica annata 2016. Le recensioni, ora disponibili...

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Un tributo a Renato Vacca, grande vignaiolo di Barbaresco

ll 14 marzo, Barbaresco ha perso uno dei suoi viticoltori più appassionati, Renato Vacca. Titolare della cantina Cantina del Pino, Vacca...

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A tribute to Barbaresco grower-producer Renato Vacca

On March 14, Barbaresco lost one of its most passionate winemakers, Renato Vacca. Owner of the boutique winery Cantina del Pino, Vacca was...

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Brunello di Montalcino 2015: il buono, il brutto e il cattivo (e il grande)

Per fortuna, nonostante le sfide, un buon numero di produttori hanno azzeccato tutte le mosse ed hanno realizzato Brunelli 2015 eccezionali con frutta succosa, freschezza ed equilibrio. Mentre alcuni mostrano un buon potenziale di invecchiamento, la maggior parte dei migliori vini avrà bisogno solo di qualche anno per arrivare al momento ideale per essere goduti, ma dovrebbero mantenersi bene per ulteriori 8-10 anni.

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Barolo 2016 preview

Living just an hour drive from Piedmont, I spend a lot of time in the region, and travel there for days at a time at least nine or ten...

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Il momento migliore per bere quel Barolo? Forse proprio adesso!

Uno dei più grandi equivoci sul Barolo è che bisogna aspettare decenni prima che i vini siano pronti da bere. Sebbene una volta questo...

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Col Fondo: il nebuloso caso del vino torbido

Se sei un appassionato del Prosecco Col Fondo, il tradizionale Prosecco che subisce una seconda fermentazione in bottiglia ma invece di...

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Col Fondo: The Murky Case of the Cloudy Wine

If you’re a fan of Prosecco Col Fondo – the traditional Prosecco that undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle but instead of...

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Bunch thinning – too much of a good thing. Diradamento: sicuri che sia una cosa buona?

The English version of this article has been published here: https://www.winemag.com/2019/03/14/is-there-really-a-benefit-to-crop-thinning/...

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Brunello di Montalcino 2014: un’annata dall’eleganza facilmente approcciabile

La 2014 è stata una delle annate più fredde e piovose della memoria recente in Italia e Montalcino non ha fatto eccezione. Tuttavia, grazie alla competenza dei produttori più dedicati, ci sono alcuni deliziosi Brunelli di questa annata appena rilasciata,  vibranti e carichi di finezza, con poche eccezioni si possono già godere ora e nei prossimi anni. Offriranno puro piacere e bevibilità mentre si aspetta che i 2013 si sviluppino pienamente.

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Gianfranco Soldera, grande produttore di Brunello, muore a 82 anni

Gianfranco Soldera, uno dei vignaioli simbolo di Montalcino – noto per la produzione di eccezionali vini di notevole finezza ed...

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Vini italiani: i miei top 30 del 2018

Un’annata di assaggi sicuramente molto gratificante, i grandi rossi italiani hanno dimostrato tutto il loro potenziale suscitando...

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Addio Giuseppe Rinaldi (in italiano)

Giuseppe “Beppe” Rinaldi, uno dei produttori più rispettati delle Langhe, è scomparso domenica 2 settembre all’età di...

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Addio Giuseppe Rinaldi

One of Barolo’s most outspoken and respected producers, Giuseppe “Beppe” Rinaldi passed away on Sunday, September 2nd, at the age of...

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Brunello di Montalcino 2013: un’annata classica e splendente, da mettere in cantina

Se volete sperimentare l’energia, l’eleganza e la struttura che per secoli ha attratto appassionati e collezionisti al vino di...

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2013: Radiant, cool climate Brunellos for the cellar

If you want to experience the energy, elegance and age-worthy structure that first drew wine lovers and collectors to Brunello di...

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Bruno Giacosa è deceduto a 88 anni

Oggi il mondo del vino italiano ha perso una delle sue leggende, Bruno Giacosa, all’età di 88 anni. I Barolo e Barbaresco di Bruno...

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The Volcanic Wines of Italy

What sets apart some of the most exhilarating Italian wines today? New benchmarks for complexity and longevity have one thing in common:...

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I Vini vulcanici d’Italia

Alcuni dei vini Italiani più interessanti e intriganti hanno una cosa in comune: le origini vulcaniche dei loro terreni. Mentre i vini...

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Traveling Back in Time With Nebbiolo

On November 18th, I traveled in a virtual time machine: a vertical tasting of 8 Nebbiolo-based wines from Alto Piemonte from 1842 to 1970....

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Alto Piemonte: the “Other” Nebbiolo

If you’re a fan of Nebbiolo – the sole grape behind Barolo and Barbaresco – you’ll love the radiant, mineral-driven Nebbiolos and...

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2012 Brunello: a return to finesse and age-worthy structure

If you love wines with elegance, fragrance and longevity, then you’ll love the just-released 2012 Brunellos. And even though I’m one of...

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The Terroir-Driven Food of Italy

Terroir isn’t just about wine. Chefs in Italy are looking local for their ingredients, from Caffè Cibrèo in Florence to Osteria...

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The wine writer (by Jessica Bordoni)

Passion and knowledge. These are the keys to the success of Kerin O’Keefe, one of the world’s most influential wine critics. Born near...

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Scrivere di vini (di Jessica Bordoni)

Passione e competenza. Sono queste le chiavi del successo di Kerin O’Keefe, tra le firme più autorevoli e influenti del giornalismo...

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Producers Strike Down Piemonte Nebbiolo DOC

After a meeting between producers and their consortia of the Piedmont region that lasted for more than four hours yesterday (September 12),...

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Why You Should Be Worried About Piemonte Nebbiolo

If you love Barolo, Barbaresco and other wines made with Nebbiolo, brace yourself for the worst proposal I’ve heard in years, and one...

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Italy’s Amphora Wines: Back to the Future

Searching for the best way to make pure, terroir-driven wines, a few brave producers in Italy have traded in their temperature-controlled...

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Italy’s Great Pinot Grigios

Wine snobs may look down upon Pinot Grigio, but I’m proud to say that I like it—as long as it’s the good stuff. There are extremely...

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Interview

O’Keefe: ageability key to Soave’s success (by Darren Smith)

Communicating the ageing potential of the wines of Soave is crucial to the rebuilding of the region’s winemaking reputation, Kerin...

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Barolo 2012: Balanced, Approachable and Enjoyable

Having recently returned from Barolo where I blind-tasted over 300 of the just released 2012s, it’s time to weigh in on the vintage,...

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Italiano

Trento e Trentodoc, ci scrive Kerin O’Keefe (di Angelo Peretti)

È purtroppo un bel po’ di tempo che non vedo di persona Kerin O’Keefe, che ritengo una delle wine writer internazionali più attente e...

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Trentodoc: Italy’s Mountain Sparkler

I’ve written a lot about Italian bubbles over the last few years, and with good reason: They just keep getting better and better. And the...

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Make it a Double in Montalcino: 2011 Brunello and 2010 Riserva

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage facing the just-released 2011 Brunello vintage – awarded four out five stars by the Consorzio – is...

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Italian Legend Giacomo Tachis Dies

The wine world is mourning the loss of Giacomo Tachis, one of Italy’s most celebrated enologists, who passed away on Saturday, February...

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Discover Italy’s Old Vine Wines

You’ve no doubt seen the term “old vines” on many wine labels (think Old Vine Zinfandel) but in Italy, the term takes on a whole...

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Italy’s Most Collectible Wines

Thanks to a string of outstanding vintages over the last two decades, Italy’s most celebrated wine regions are on a roll: Barolo...

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Italiano

Barolo e Barbaresco, il re e la regina dei vini italiani raccontati da Kerin O’Keefe (di Roberto Giuliani)

Kerin conosce molto bene il vino italiano, lo ha ampiamente dimostrato con precedenti pubblicazioni come “Franco Biondi Santi. Il...

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Walter Massa Timorasso 1990–2012: The most famous unknown wine

Kerin O’Keefe explores the recovery and rise of Timorasso, the indigenous varietal that has achieved eminence in obscurity thanks to the...

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The Superiority of Prosecco Superiore

Discover Conegliano Valdobbiadene, home to Prosecco’s most celebrated vineyards. I’m not a big fan of slogans, but after a recent...

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Tasting the native wines of Sardinia

The idyllic island is not just a vacation destination: Consider it your new go-to region for compelling Italian wines. Situated off the...

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Book Reviews

A measured, informative and very readable tour of Barolandia (by Nicolas Belfrage)

O’Keefe is a Bostonian wine journalist and author (published books include Franco Biondi Santi: The Gentleman of Brunello and Brunello di...

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Barolo and Barbaresco: A Conversation with Kerin O’Keefe (by Evan Dawson)

The best wine writers are willing to offend if it means telling the truth. That’s easier said than done. When a writer publishes an...

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The Great Debate: To Decant or Not?

Forget about arguments for or against trendy topics like Natural Wines and the existence of terroir, because nothing causes more debate...

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Hot Italian Wines: Is 15% abv the New 14%?

No one can deny that Italian wine has benefitted from a great string of very good and outstanding vintages over the last fifteen years....

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Brunello 2010. Some fantastic wines alongside under performers

After the wild success of the 2010 vintage in Barolo and Barbaresco, Bolgheri and Chianti Classico, all eyes are on Montalcino. Although...

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Book Reviews

Barolo and Barbaresco: the King and Queen of Italian wine (by Charles S. Taylor)

I would have welcomed O’Keefe’s profiles when I started my Barolo Odyssey. Her accurate profiles of producers I know make me...

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Book Reviews

Books of the year 2014 + Debunking Barolo myths

This is another fine study from one of the great wine commentators on Italy and is in the frame for wine book of the year. Walter is also a...

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Book Reviews

Books of the year 2014: Drink, from wine to gin (by Henry Jeffreys)

Barolo and Barbaresco: The King and Queen of Italian Wine by Kerin O’Keefe (University of California Press, £25) had me reaching for...

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Book Reviews

A New Book on Barolo & Barbaresco (by Tom Maresca)

The University of California Press has just published Kerin O’Keefe’s Barolo and Barbaresco: The King and Queen of Italian Wines (346...

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Book Reviews

A bounty of books about wine and spirits

The great wines of Italy’s Piedmont have become important enough that it’s surprising a book like Kerin O’Keefe’s “Barolo and...

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Book Reviews

A Great, New Book on Barolo and Barbaresco (by Ed McCarthy)

O’Keefe began writing about Italian wine full-time in 2002, writing some excellent articles in Decanter, a British wine magazine; she...

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Italiano

Pinot Grigio e Prosecco. Termometri di un mercato in costante evoluzione (di Carlo Flamini)

Kerin O’Keefe è Italian editor per “Wine Enthusiast Magazine”, una delle riviste più influenti nel panorama della stampa...

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Italy’s long-lived whites

It’s generally assumed that Italian white wines are cheerful and made to be consumed during the first year after the harvest. And while...

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Making sense of Montalcino

Forget recent debates over new oak, excessively low yields and native grapes versus international varieties. Today, the hottest topic in...

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Tradition Rules at Giuseppe Quintarelli (by Paolo Tenti)

This hard-to-find Valpolicella estate is worth discovering, explains Paolo Tenti. When wine lovers hear the name “Quintarelli,”...

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Articles

2009 Brunello di Montalcino: Enjoy Soon

My tasting of the 2009 vintage revealed that it was another challenging year in Montalcino, and the main problem was weather. Scorching...

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Book Reviews

Sip and turn a page (by Eric Asimov)

Among the world’s great wine regions, the Piedmont in northwestern Italy, home of Barolo and Barbaresco, has lagged far behind in...

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Articles

Antonio Mastroberardino, Father for Campania Wine, Dies

Antonio Mastroberardino, the visionary behind the successful wines from southern Italy’s Campania region, died on January 28 from natural...

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Gianfranco Soldera – Case Basse (by Paolo Tenti)

Paolo Tenti catches up with the Brunello di Montalcino producer who lost most of six vintages when his cellar was vandalized. Gianfranco...

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“Shameful” Ruling Over Barolo Borders

The expansion of the Cannubi ‘cru’ could cast “doubt on the credibility of all the vineyard boundaries” in the...

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Bruno Giacosa: Pioneering Precision in Piedmont

No discussion of Barolo and Barbaresco would be complete without mention of Bruno Giacosa, one of Italy’s most esteemed producers. Paolo...

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Whole-Bunch Fermentation Spreads to Piedmont

The technique already divides growers in Burgundy, and now producers in Barolo and Barbaresco are arguing over it, too. While the debate...

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Moscato d’Asti: Rappers’ delight

Moscato’s rapid accession to the drink of choice for the hip hop crowd has propelled this delicate light sparkler into the spotlight....

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Bartolo Mascarello

The classically crafted Barolos of Bartolo Mascarello are cult favorites of Barolophiles around the world. Unlike many of today’s top...

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Barolo 2009 and Riserva 2007

This year’s annual Nebbiolo Prima tastings in Alba showcased Barbaresco 2010, Barolo 2009, and the denominations’ Riservas – 2008...

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COS: A Sicilian Success Story

A young trio who started making wine during a long summer break, spurred a viticultural renaissance in southeastern Sicily. Kerin...

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Addio Franco Biondi Santi

The Italian wine world lost an icon when Brunello legend Franco Biondi Santi, dubbed “The Gentleman of Brunello,” died over the...

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Biondi Santi

Drunk by the Queen, hidden from view during WWII: the wines of Biondi Santi. (The head of the renowned estate, Franco Biondi Santi, died...

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Interview

Kerin O’Keefe’s Montalcino subzones (by Walter Speller)

Just before the annual Tuscan en primeur tastings (on which I will report in detail later this week) last February, I met up with Kerin...

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Articles

Interview with Piero Antinori

There was little sign of the celebrated Tuscan sun in late February as I made my way through the rain-swept narrow streets of Florence...

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Articles

Harnessing the Power of Mt. Etna

Harnessing the Power of Mt. Etna His unorthodox winemaking methods and gripping wines have made him the area’s most talked-about...

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Articles

Brunello di Montalcino 2008 and 2007 Riserva

The latest releases from Montalcino’s cellars have had their first outing and they’re a mixed bag. The 2008 Brunellos and 2007...

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Articles

Q & A with Gaia Gaja

Gaia Gaja oversees the day-to-day running of her family’s prestigious 154-year old estate in Piedmont. Are you adjusting your...

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Col d’Orcia

The first thing to do was to pull up tobacco and wheat; after that it was years of studying Sangiovese. All that work has paid off, says...

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Ornellaia and Masseto: A Tale Of Two Wines

Kerin O’Keefe delves into the background of the famed Italian wines Ornellaia and Masseto. When Lodovico Antinori founded his estate...

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Articles

Giuseppe Sesti: Brunello Written in the Stars

A medieval Montalcino castle inspires a stargazer to make his own wine. When Giuseppe Sesti, a historian of astronomy, purchased an ancient...

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Articles

Conterno: Tradition Underscores Celebrated Barolo

Barolo doesn’t get any better than Giacomo Conterno. Kerin O’Keefe explains why. The prized wines include Cascina Francia and...

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Book Reviews

2012 wine books – Italy (by Paul O’Doherty)

Kerin O’Keefe, who writes for Decanter and The World of Fine Wine, has compiled a fabulous read exploring what goes into making one...

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Articles

Police arrest suspect in Soldera wine sabotage

Police have arrested a former employee of Brunello producer Soldera in connection with the destruction of thousands of litres of wine. As...

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Articles

Tenuta San Guido

Sassicaia is the Italian wine world’s rock star, and not just because of the unusual rocky soils where the wine’s grapes are...

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Articles

Montalcino rallies round as Soldera’s Brunellos are destroyed

Vandals have destroyed thousands of litres of ageing Brunello in the cellars of cult producer Gianfranco Soldera. The cellars at...

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Articles

Angelo Rocca (1948–2012): Barbaresco’s free thinker

The adventurous producer of some of Piedmont’s most acclaimed wines, Angelo Rocca was also a much-loved and respected figure in the...

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Book Reviews

Brunello’s true believer (by Keith Levenberg)

O’Keefe dishes all the secrets about who’s on the hillsides and who’s on the flats; and for those who would find it fascinating to...

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Articles

Italy and the American palate: debunking the myth

Wine drinkers in the United States have long been pigeonholed as obsessed with dark, oaky, powerful wines, and this perceived preference...

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Book Reviews

The Grace Kelly of wine (byTim Crane)

Kerin O’Keefe’s authoritative book on Brunello is in the Broadbent/Coates tradition… …Brunello di Montalcino is a wine that...

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Book Reviews

The Best Brunello Book Yet (by Tom Maresca)

Kerin O’Keefe’s Brunello di Montalcino: Understanding and Appreciating One of Italy’s Greatest Wines (University of California Press;...

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Articles

Italian legend Aldo Conterno dies

Legendary Barolo producer Aldo Conterno passed away in Monforte d’Alba in Piedmont at the age of 81. Aldo Conterno, who played a crucial...

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Articles

Guess who’s coming to dinner?

Bardolino has finally stopped worrying about – or trying to emulate – its better-known neighbours. Its return to authenticity is...

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Articles

Modest maestros

From the shadows of Italy’s famous consultant winemakers, who drove the country into the spotlight with cult bottlings from international...

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Book Reviews

The Real Story of Brunello di Montalcino

In an era where there is so much misinformation about any number of wines and wine news, it’s refreshing to read the work of an author...

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Articles

Montalcino: time to get in the zone

Forget blending scandals and infighting over the make-up of Rosso – the biggest issue facing Brunello di Montalcino is the creation of...

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Articles

Lugana. World Class White with Finesse

Lugana is one of the most exciting white wines made in Italy thanks to its unique growing conditions, very old vines and native grape...

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Articles

Pio Cesare

Refusing to be pigeonholed as either traditionalist or modernist, this historic Piedmontese winery is a staunch believer in blended wines,...

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Articles

Barbaresco 2008 and Riserva 2006

More than an understudy to Barolo, these powerful, elegant wines are stars in their own right, says Kerin O’Keefe – especially now that...

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Book Reviews

Book Review: An Honest Look at Brunello

Kerin O’Keefe’s Brunello di Montalcino is not simply an enjoyable wine book; it’s one of the rare wine books that is truly important....

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Bruno Giacosa

This eminent Barolo producer has been around the block more than once since starting in wine 68 years ago. Kerin O’Keefe pays the great...

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Meet the mavericks

They’re wild, they’re wacky, they have unconventional ideas – and they make some of Italy’s finest reds and whites....

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US love affair with Italy

Why the US can’t get enough of Italian wine. Food and wine have always been important for Italian Americans, and today many star US...

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A Rosso by any other name

Rosso di Montalcino used to be a light, simple quaffer, not a rich powerhouse like its big brother, Brunello. So why are so many Rossos now...

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Brunello: 2005 now, 2004 Later

The tail-end of the vintage was a washout, leading some to write it off. Yet many smaller estates have made impressive Brunellos in 2005,...

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Chianti Classico divorce papers come through

The Chianti Classico Consorzio has confirmed that after 78 years of distancing itself from the Chianti denomination, the divorce is now...

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Cavallotto. The road less traveled

Kerin O’Keefe visits the close and passionate Barolo family that has for generations been producing naturally grown, traditionally...

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The Quiet Revolution

From its high as Italy’s flagship white, to its mass-produced, dilute low, Soave has improved quality, rebuilt its image and earned a...

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Rebels without a cause? The demise of Super-Tuscans

Once considered the future of Italian winemaking, Super-Tuscans might finally have run their course. Kerin O’Keefe considers the past,...

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Cult Barolo producer Teobaldo Cappellano dies

Teobaldo Cappellano, the respected and controversial Barolo producer, has died at 65.

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Brunello: no change in the rules, producers vote

Brunello di Montalcino producers have voted by a landslide to leave the wine 100% Sangiovese. In yesterday’s highly publicised assembly...

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Brunello: Image or substance, truth or dare?

“By law, Brunello di Montalcino can be made only with 100 percent Sangiovese cultivated in Montalcino. Otherwise, it’s not...

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Brunello on the brink

An overhyped 2003 vintage, a fraud scandal, and the threat of a US ban has left Brunello in crisis. Could subregions be the answer, asks...

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Sicily. A continent of wine

Once infamous for making industrial quantities of concentrated musts and uninspiring sweet wines, Sicily is fast shaking off its bulk-wine...

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Gaja Barbaresco over four decades: 1961-2003

Angelo Gaja, one of Italy’s most charismatic and successful  winemakers, is credited not only with drawing Barbaresco out of obscurity...

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Brunello’s Moment of Truth

While the notion of terroir has been both celebrated and ridiculed in some of the world’s greatest wine-producing areas, one of Italy’s...

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The Great Escape

It is rare today to find vines that have not been grafted to American rootstock to counter phylloxera, which destroyed so many of the...

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Italian and other producers turn back to large casks

Orders for traditional large wooden barrels are sharply increasing in Italy and abroad, as barrique imports fall dramatically, according...

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Barolo patriarch Bartolo Mascarello dies (by Paolo Tenti)

Italy’s Bartolo Mascarello – the patriarch of Barolo – died at his home in Barolo on Saturday at the age of 78. A teenage...

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ArticlesBook ReviewsItaliano

Kerin O’Keefe racconta Franco Biondi Santi, il gentleman del Brunello (di Franco Ziliani)

Kerin, che vive in Italia e ha sposato un italiano, è una wine writer che a differenza di tanti altri suoi colleghi di lingua inglese non ha abboccato alle sirene dell’ineluttabilità dell’internazionalizzazione del vino italiano, e dei vini italiani sa apprezzare e raccontare, con intelligenza, buon gusto e garbo, l’originalità e quella diversità che ne contribuisce a creare il fascino e la grandezza.

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Italian wine culture in danger of outsiders and ‘vultures’: Tachis

Giacomo Tachis, the most celebrated Italian winemaker, has outlined a bleak future for corporate-owned Italian wines – and says those who...

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Pioneer Luigi Veronelli dies

Italy’s most celebrated wine and food critic Luigi Veronelli died at his home in Bergamo yesterday after a long illness. He was 78....

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Trend vs. Tradition. Italian wine styles under siege

A modern-day war is being waged in Italy’s most renowned and treasured wine regions. Of course there are no real battlefields and no...

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Nebbiolo is viognier cousin, conference hears

Nebbiolo, one of Italy’s most famous black grape varieties, is related to the aromatic viognier, DNA boffins have found. The noble...

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Anti-Berlusconi label becomes collector’s item

A hand-painted Barolo label lampooning Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has become a collector’s item. The label scandal...

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