2020

S1.E1 ∙ The Sparkling Challenge

Sun, May 31, 2020

A magnificent land, a traditional high level method, Franciacorta is a world to discover. Guest of this episode of Wine Passport is Gegè, a French enologist married to a Florentine silversmith. With her, Francesca visits two of the most emblematic and famous cellars of Franciacorta: Barone Pizzini and Ca 'del Bosco. But this are just two ingredients of this engaging episode...the chef is waiting.

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S1.E2 ∙ The Nobles Wines from Trentino

Sun, Jun 07, 2020

In a late afternoon of April 1320, in a magnificent castle near Verona, Federico della Scala, Count of Valpolicella, proceeded to invest the first Knights of Recioto. This Order has come down to the present day and we will discover it together with Francesca and her guest, Xin, with whom she will also visit the cult winery where Amarone della Valpolicella was born, Bertani. Founded in 1857 by brothers it is a sacred name for all fans of the red Valpolicella and Valpantena. Bertani produced the legendary bottle of Recioto della Valpolicella Acinatico 1928 of which there are yet very few bottles. The story of Acinatico nearly myth. In 1928, following an exceptional quality harvest, Bertani brothers elected the best grapes grown in Valpolicella and Valpantena and vinified after prolonged drying. The wine was aged for more than ten years in large wooden barrels and then hidden, covering every single bottle of wax to ensure further protection, during World War II. Found in 1984 in perfect condition, it has become the historical heritage of the company and of the Italian oenology. After more than eighty years Acinatico is still one of the best wines in the world, sold at auction by Christie's at around 2,200 dollars per bottle.

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S1.E3 ∙ Gourmet Hunting in Umbria

Sun, Jun 14, 2020

Truflles hunting with Urbani Tartufi, olive harvest and tasting lesson with Monini, wine safari with Roccafiore and more in this new episode of Wine Passport, with Francesca and his guest, the sommelier Eugene, from Ukraine. Umbria is a land full of extraordinary treasures. Among these there is olive oil and Monini, which in 2020 turned 100 is a great producer that focuses on quality and sustainability. Among the olive trees of one of the estates of Monini, Frantoio del Poggiolo, Eugene and Francesca will compete in the olive harvest and then learn how to recognize a good oil from a bad oil. Then, thanks to Urbani Tartufi, they will experience the thrill of hunting for precious tubers and then they will go to relax in Roccafiore, cellars and wine resorts of Todi, where between a massage and a dip in the pool, they will also do a safari in the middle of the vineyards. hunting pigs that live in the wild on the farm.

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S1.E4 ∙ Soave a Landscape Wine to Discover

Sun, Jun 21, 2020

In this new episode Francesca is in Soave, Veneto, with Steve a photographer and model who contacted Francesca to better understand how to capture the soul of wine in his pictures. Their wine adventure will spread between a Medieval Festival, wine tastings, wineries and a restaurant where "to put their hands in pasta" and also the curious practice to play wine bottles. Soave DOC, Soave Classic DOC, Soave Superior DOCG, Soave Spumante DOC. A wine, four declinations, or even five if you want to consider the sweet version of the Recioto di Soave DOCG. Soave has many shades, it is the most long-lived white in Italy (it can age up to 20 years) and the most exported to the world, certainly one of the most modern - in its historicity - for its remarkable value for money and a mineral style but also pleasantly fruity, fully, in line with the taste of today's consumers. The Soave hills have been recognized as the first "rural landscape of historical interest" in Italy, inserting them into the "National Register of Rural Landscapes of Historical Interest, Farming Practices and Traditional Knowledge". In this landscape is located Rocca Sveva, a beautiful hamlet owned by Cantina di Soave, the largest production area in the area and one of the largest Italian wine cellars. As usual, Francesca and Steve will go to a renowned restaurant in the area to create the perfect recipe combined with the bubbles of the 18th Century 33. Called to respond to this task is the Hosteria del Durello with the good and cheerful chef Claudio Burato.

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S1.E5 ∙ The Knights of Amarone

Sun, Jun 28, 2020

In a late afternoon of April 1320, in a magnificent castle close to Verona, Federico della Scala, Count of Valpolicella, proceeded to invest the first Knights of Recioto. This Order has come down to the present day and we will discover it together with Francesca and her guest, Xin, with whom we will also visit the cult winery where Amarone della Valpolicella was born, Bertani. Bertani production is known worldwide for its uniqueness, consistency and coherence of recognition in the style of its products. Founded in 1857 by brothers Bertani, Bertani is a sacred name for all fans of the red Valpolicella and Valpantena: the winery has a unique collection of bottles of historic vintages from 1959 to the present, all affordable. Bertani produced the legendary bottle of Recioto della Valpolicella Acinatico 1928 too, of which there are (subkey) yet very few bottles. The story of Acinatico nearly myth. In 1928, following an exceptional quality harvest, Bertani brothers elected the best grapes grown in Valpolicella and Valpantena and vinified after prolonged drying. The wine was aged for more than ten years in large wooden barrels and then hidden, covering every single bottle of wax to ensure further protection, during World War II. Found in 1984 in perfect condition, it has become the historical heritage of the company and of the Italian oenology. After more than eighty years Acinatico is still one of the best wines in the world, sold at auction by Christie's at around 2,000 euro per bottle.

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