Trebbiano d’Abruzzo. Masciarelli. 2007

As it’s been a while since we last looked at Abruzzo’s top regional white wine, this seemed a fine opportunity not only to reintroduce you to Trebbiano, but also to pay tribute to the driving force behind this winery, Gianni Masciarelli, who died aged just 53 at the end of July this year…

…just as much care and passion has gone into producing this entry-level Trebbiano d’Abruzzo as into making wines costing five times as much…

(Click on the headline title above for more about this fine wine - and fine winemaker - with pictures)

Abruzzo October is a month of warm sunny days; a hint of Autumn in the evening air; and spectacular colours in the forests of the Majella National Park.

Last October we were too busy just arriving here - on the 9th to be exact - to take that much notice of what the weather was like. The day after we got here it rained. Then it was OK. And that’s about as far as memory takes me. This year, it’s been different…

(Click on the main headline title above to sample an Abruzzo October - with pictures !)

Vallee d’Aoste Petit Rouge. Cave des Onze Communes. 2006

What’s this ? A bottle with a label written in a mixture of Italian and French ? A wine from grapes grown within sight of Mt Blanc and just a few miles from the top Alpine ski resort of Courmayeur ? Surely a novelty at best ? Well…actually…no.

(Yes, the hills are alive with the sound of vineyards ! Click on the headline title above to find out - with picures !)