Three numbers—1-9-4—appearing on every Heritance wine label describe its heritage, explained winemaker Bernard Portet to wine writers over dinner at Corduroy in D.C. last Thursday. It marks the efforts of one family’s nine generations of winemaking, which now extends to four continents—Europe, North America, South America, and Australia. Born in the same room as his…
White Grapes
Ferrari Sparkling Wines: Luxury in a Glass
Last week, wine writers and educators gathered for a lunch at Ristorante Tosca here in D.C. to meet with Matteo Bruno Lunelli and taste some exquisite Ferrari sparkling wines-not to be confused with the car company. Produced by his family’s Trentino, Italy-based winery, the Ferrari winery makes a lineup of first-rate traditional-method (bottle fermented) sparkling…
Cupcake Vineyards’ Generous Portfolio
What does it mean to call a wine “generous” or “giving?” Ask Cupcake Vineyards’ winemaker Adam Richardson, who uses those words to describe his growing portfolio of wines. According to Richardson, Cupcake wines all share a similar appeal: a balanced style that makes it easy for new wine drinkers to transition from one Cupcake wine…
Showcasing Portugal’s Alentejo Wine Region
When you think about Portuguese wine, Vinho Verde—the crisp and often prickly white wine—or Port wines might come to mind. But a recent event hosted by the Alentejo Wine Commission at the Portuguese embassy in D.C. showcased a much more diverse portfolio. Alentejo—a southern region best known for producing about half the world supply of…
Napa Talent at Williamsburg Winery
If you haven’t sampled many Virginia wines in recent years, you should. The industry here has truly come a long way in the past several decades. Like any infant wine region, Virginia wines had humble beginnings, and many local wine lovers initially were not impressed. Some complained that the prices were too high. And many…