Simon Reilly
- Jun 23, 2016
- 3 min
Is terroir bollocks?
Terroir is probably the most commonly used word in wine these days. Terroir is a French word which has no direct translation into English. It basically refers to everything about a specific site that makes it unique. The climate, the soil, the altitude, the direction it faces, etc. Winemakers talk about vineyards having a great terroir as if it is the holy grail. The be all and end all. They also talk about using winemaking methods with minimal intervention to allow the terro
Simon Reilly
- Jun 5, 2016
- 6 min
North Piemonte’s baby Barolos grow up in the Alps
I love Nebbiolo. Like many, most of the Nebbiolos I have tasted are from Langhe in South Piemonte in Northern Italy. Langhe is home to the world famous Barolo, and the slightly less famous, but in my view equally good, Barbaresco. It also makes some fantastic Langhe Nebbiolo, an earlier drinking wine generally made from younger wines with less time in oak. A Langhe Nebbiolo from a good Barolo or Barbaresco producer is a top tip for a good value introduction to the grape. Try
