2023 Wine Tour Recap
Italy and France were home for over 5 weeks in May and June as we guided friends, both new and old, through amazing meals, extraordinary wines, and visits with beautiful friends in Tuscany, Piemonte, Burgundy, and Champagne. Below is a basic recounting of the travels by number, and our following posts will offer insights into each of these unique and delicious adventures!
30+ Wineries Visited
200+ Individual Wines Tasted
5 Michelin Stars
Trip Highlights
May 21, 2023: Tasting at Podere Le Ripi, Montalcino, Tuscany
May 23, 2023: Dinner and tasting with Arnaldo Rossi at Taverna Pane e Vino, Cortona, Tuscany
May 25, 2023: Tasting at Gianni Brunello, Montalcino, Tuscany
May 28, 2023: Lunch at Enoteca San Guido, Bolgheri, Tuscany (Sassicaia)
June 1, 2023: Dinner at Borgo Sant’Anna (1-Michelin Star, Monforte d’Alba, Piemonte)
June 2, 2023: Tastings at Domenico Clerico and Giovanni Manzone, Monforte d’Alba, Piemonte
June 2, 2023: Dinner at Piazza Duomo (3-Michelin Star, top 50 Restaurants in the World)
June 5, 2023: Tasting with Chiara Boschis at E. Pira e Figli (Chiara Boschis), Barolo, Piemonte
June 9, 2023: Giant tasting at Fattoria Le Pupille, Maremma, Tuscany
June 11, 2023: Tasting at Querciabella, Greve in Chianti, Tuscany
June 15, 2023: Tasting in the cellar of Méo-Camuzet, Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy, France
June 16, 2023: Tasting at Marcel Lapierre, Morgon, Beaujolais, France
June 20-21, 2023: Champagne Tastings at Pierre Peters, Bollinger, and Vilmart & Cie
June 21, 2023: Dinner at Bistro Le Jardin, Reims, France
My Favorite Wines of the Trip
2019 Gianni Brunelli, Brunello di Montalcino: tasted 2 weeks after bottling, before labeling and release
2009 Emidio Pepe, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: at dinner at Taverna Pane e Vino
2019 Arnaldo Rossi, ‘Dodo’: multiple times in Cortona
1998 Giovanni Manzone, Barolo Riserva ‘Gramolere’: from magnum at villa dinner in Barolo
2006 Fuligni, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva: tasted with the winemaker at the cellar
2010 Avignonesi, Vin Santo: one of the world’s great sweet wines
2020 Sassicaia: at lunch at Enoteca San Guido
2018 Sandrone, Barolo ‘Le Vigne’: dinner at Borgo Sant’Anna
2019 Giuseppe Cortese, Barbaresco ‘Rabaja’: dinner at Piazza Duomo
2018 Vigneti Masse, Derthona Timorasso: dinner at Piazza Duomo
2013 Vignaiolo di S. Stefano, Moscato d’Asti: dinner at Piazza Duomo
2019 Chiara Boschis, Barolo ‘Cannubi’: at the estate
2019 Chiara Boschis, Barolo ‘Mosconi’: at the estate
2018 Casa E. di Mirafiore Barolo ‘Paiagallo: at the estate
2014 Fattoria le Pupille, ‘Poggio Valente: at the estate
2020 Querciabella, ‘Batàr’: at the estate
2020 Méo-Camuzet, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru ‘Les Chaumes: at the estate
2020 Méo-Camuzet, Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru: at the estate
Perrier-Jouët, Blanc de Blancs NV: at the Champagne Bar
Pierre Peters, L’Étonnant Monsieur Victor TB16 : at the estate
Bollinger, R.D. 2008: at the estate
Vilmart & Cie, Grande Cellier, 1er Cru NV: at the estate
Vilmart & Cie, Coeur de Cuvée 2015: at the estate
Vilmart & Cie, Émotion 2015: at the estate