Tasting reports
💯🕰️ A 25 year vertical at Fattoria di Grignano
In this article I focus on the Chianti Rufina subzone and the aged wines of Fattoria di Grignano.
Paul Caputo
Wine writer, merchant, entrepreneur and creative strategist. I love sharing my passion for wine with the world.
Tasting reports
💯 Tasting: The Historical SuperTuscans
Earlier this year, I attended a rare tasting of wines from members of the Association of Historical SuperTuscans. Predominantly hailing from the 2016 vintage, these were a joy to taste and and a reminder that they remain some of the finest wines in the world. As Tuscany’s wine scene
Events
🇬🇪 Reflections on the Gurjaani Wine Festival
It’s mid afternoon in Eastern Georgia and an October sun loiters in the boundless blue sky. A shimmering heat haze lingers over the Alazani river plain, distorting the vast snow capped profile of the Caucusses. We’re just over 100km from Tbilisi, in the Kakheti region’s principle winemaking
Tasting reports
💯🌋 Tasting report: Etna Bianco
Etna’s evocative landscapes conjure thoughts of vibrant wines that bristle with energy, tart fruit and fiery acidity. The territory is in vogue right now and even with rapidly rising prices the wines are an easy sell. Reds from Nerello Mascalese have driven the recent renaissance, but I predict it
Wine
Heroic viticulture in the hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene
I look at the growing interest around single vineyard Prosecco and contemplate the significance of heroic viticulture. How important is terroir in the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG appellation and can we taste it in the glass?
Cellar
🗝️🕸️ From the Cellar: Millennium Riesling still going strong
Over the last decade or so I’ve built up a little cellar. It’s full of all sorts of wonderful things, but also plenty of wines that are surely past their best. ‘From the cellar’ is a new idea for a monthly column where I’ll raid the racks
Dining
🍽️ Fine dining: LÚ Cocina y Alma, Jerez, Spain
Juanlu Fernández, or Lu for short, frequently describes his approach to cooking as ‘rearguard vanguard’, a playful dichotomy that captures the essence of his first business venture, LÚ Cocina y Alma, an intimate restaurant space in the historical centre of Jerez de la Frontera. Off the back of a 10
Cellar
🗝️🕸️ From the cellar: Summer recess
From the cellar looks at old wines from various cellars around the world. The aim isn’t to find the most prestigious labels, but wines that might surprise and delight.
Articles
📝 Derthona 2.0: The Story of Timorasso and the Road Ahead
Timorasso represents one of the great comebacks of the Italian wine scene. All but lost to the archives of history it was rescued by winemaker Walter Massa and not only kept in circulation harvest after harvest, but elevated to the podium as one of the country’s great white wines.
Photo diary
📸 Photo diary: Sicilia En Primeur
Earlier in May I was in Sicily for Sicilia En Primeur. With groups of journalists heading all over the island for in depth tastings and visits, before reconvening in Taormina, the event represents a huge annual showcase of Sicily's continued evolution. I opted to go to Marsala, to continue my
Photo diary
📸 Photo diary: In Bordeaux for the start of the En Primeur campaign
Visiting Bordeaux for a few days for the panoramic tasting of the 2021 vintage.
Articles
📝 From ashes to elegance: exploring Falanghina in the explosive terroir of the Phlegraean Fields
Don’t let the romantic archaeological sites, coastal lakes, beaches, thermal springs, and nature reserves fool you. This is one of the most dangerous places on earth make to wine. Paul Caputo tastes through some of the Campi Flegrei’s best white wines and discovers an appellation growing in confidence,
Photo diary
📸 Photo diary: In Barolo
Between judging at 5 Star Wines in Verona and VinItaly I was able to find a few days of visiting and tasting in Barolo with Chris Barnes of Grape Collective in New York. Here are some snaps. Onwards to Caastello di Verduno.
Photo diary
📸 Photo diary: 5 Star Wines & Opera Wine 2021
I was a panel chairman during the 5 Star Wine competition held in Verona. Once the business of judging was over, it's a great chance to catch up with old friends and of course meet new ones. The Wine Spectator Opera Wine event followed as a prelude to VinItaly Out
Articles
📝 Fontanavecchia and the ageing potential of Falanghina Beneventana
Despite its historic pedigree, the Falanghina grape has spent recent decades in the doldrums. For too long it has resided on the periphery of Italian wine chat, and is generally considered to be one of Southern Italy’s provincial jug wines. Over the last few years however, it has arguably
Articles
Dancing in the dark
A collaboration with De Burris, producers of Amarone della Valpolicella.