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News

Massimo Penna - The Scarlet Pimpernel of Piemonte

Written By Craig Thompson - June 17 2020

Massimo Penna - The Scarlet Pimpernel of Piemonte

About 10 years ago while on a visit to Torino to meet my wife’s cousins, I was tasked to find a suitable present for them. I wandered out of our inner city hotel doing my usual “leave it to providence” routine. I found my way to a bar owned by a quite drunk Belgian who I was eventually able to get to understand my quest. He enthusiastically referred me to a bottle of Massimo Penna Sori Tec. “Buonissimo” he whispered. He was right, the Italian cugini loved it.

Italian Wine – From Laggard to Leader in a Generation

Written By Craig Thompson - February 17 2020

Italian Wine – From Laggard to Leader in a Generation

About thirty years ago, I attended an Italian wine dinner in Sydney. At the time, I thought I knew a fair bit about wine – and being of Barossan background, was undoubtedly biased. And I knew that I didn’t like the Italian wines served at the dinner. My memory of them was of being poorly made, with many oxidised and not attractive on the nose or in the mouth. I didn’t know what brettanomyces was back then but upon reflection, I must have been tasting that as well.

Vinitaly Pilgrimmage 2018

Written By Craig Thompson - April 14 2018

Vinitaly Pilgrimmage 2018

I always set myself a pretty ambitious start to the annual Vinitaly pilgrimmage. A smart person would alight at Milan airport after 24 hours in a steel tube hurtling through space at 800km/hr........breathing dubiously recycled air, and get a hotel room for the night. Me, no. Not smart. Bad. ( I'm chanelling my inner Trump!)

The best restaurant experience in Australia ?

Written By Craig Thompson - February 07 2017

The best restaurant experience in Australia ?

When my good friends in the Barossa, Dan and Tarnya, mentioned that a new Asian restaurant had opened in Tanunda it didn’t really raise any expectaions for me. I must admit my vision was of bain marie’s, sweet and sour pork and BYO. How wrong could I be!

The new Asian restaurant was fermentAsian and over the last 5 years it has become one of the great dining experiences in the free world. Period.

What's the point ?

Written By Craig Thompson - January 03 2017

What's the point ?

As humans we have a fascination with rating with numbers. Think university entrance scores, movies, holidays, restaurants and cars. Now, even service providers want you to rate them so that they can work towards a favourable Net Promoter Score (whatever that is). Internet apps make this ratings frenzy as easy as thumbing a button.

And so it is with wine.

Will's World

Written By Craig Thompson - November 24 2016

Will's World

It is really hard to write about Will Berliner, the life force behind Cloudburst in the Margaret River. So such much has already been written about this intriguing man. Wine writers the world over have been fascinated by the philosophy of a wine newcomer who has forged a very individual path and created some extraordinary wines.

The Long History of the Wonderful Il Palagio Estate

Written By Craig Thompson - August 25 2016

The Long History of the Wonderful Il Palagio Estate

Il Palagio Estate is a gorgeous villa that sits just outside Panzano in Chianti, a town located directly between Florence and Siena in the Conca D’Oro (Golden Valley) of Tuscany.

Exciting New Arrivals....from Italy and the Barossa

Written By Craig Thompson - June 24 2016

Exciting New Arrivals....from Italy and the Barossa

It is always exciting when new wine arrives.

Given the delay factor between when I order from Italy and when the physical wine arrives, it is easy for me to forget that there is some exciting new stuff coming in.

What is Chianti Classico ?

Written By Craig Thompson and Alexandra Thompson - June 15 2016

What is Chianti Classico ?

What exactly is Chianti Classico? How did it become what it is today? How does a wine become a Chianti Classico? How can you recognise the taste, mouthfeel, colour and aroma of this prestigious wine?

A Day with Mariano Buglioni

Written By Craig Thompson - May 31 2016

A Day with Mariano Buglioni

If you have followed my blog you would know that I have been coming to Vinitaly in Verona for 4 years. In that time I have formed a great relationship with the bartenders at Osteria del Bugiardo (Tavern of the Liar). This bar has it all. Fantastic exposed brick and timber beams, great staff, simple but awesome food. And limited selection of wine…just 9. All from the winery that owns the Osteria, Buglioni.

VinItaly 50 - Day 4, the Carnival is Over

Written By Craig Thompson - April 15 2016

VinItaly 50 - Day 4, the Carnival is Over

You would think that a 4 day wine festival would drag on, but it doesn't. It goes very fast. And before you know it Day 4 arrives and you feel that there is so much more still to do.

VinItaly 50 - Day 3 "Right Under My Nose"

Written By Craig Thompson - April 14 2016

VinItaly 50 - Day 3

This is my fourth time to VinItaly in Verona and yet I have never been to a winery in this region (Veneto) nor have I ever imported a wine from here. This is a glaring error....this is the land of Valpolicella, of Amarone and Ripasso. This needs to be sorted.

VinItaly 50 - Day 2, Moving Day

Written By Craig Thompson - April 12 2016

VinItaly 50 - Day 2, Moving Day

Day 2 at VinItaly I call "Moving Day"..... that is, if you don't get moving today you will start to find that you are running out of time to get things done. So I had a plan to check out some new producers.

VinItaly 50 - Day One

Written By Craig Thompson - April 12 2016

VinItaly 50 - Day One

I'm always nervous day one. Don't ask me why, must be the anticipation....of seeing my producers...of trying to speak some form of intelligible Italian...of not wasting time and of wanting to find some new and exciting wines.

VInItaly 2016 - The Tyranny of Jet Lag

Written By Craig Thompson - April 10 2016

VInItaly 2016 - The Tyranny of Jet Lag

Getting to VinItaly in Verona is my own version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

I left home about 1.00pm for a 3.50pm flight....I hate lines and I love getting value out of my Qantas Club Membership.

The flight to Dubai is pretty good....if you think that 14 hours upright in a steel tube that somehow gets off the ground weighing 580 tonnes (thanks for pointing that out captain), 10kms above terra firma with 400 assorted friends, staring at the back of your chair is fun. I don't mind flying, but there are times during that 14 long hours where I question the absurdity of the whole thing.