Ep. 1585 Ben Little | Wine, Food & Travel With Marc Millon

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Puru Manvi, owner of the Manvi winery together with his wife Sudha in the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano area. Puru and Sudha left their career in the banking sector in Switzerland, Canada, and India (among other countries) to move to Italy and become vignerons, acquiring the winery in 2015. Manvi is the smallest winery in the Consorzio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and its owners are very much focussed on quality and they have been organic since its previous owners. Puru tells Monty about the location of his vineyards and some changes he brought about in the wine-making, for instance the use of French oak barrels instead of barrique. Tune in to learn more about a beautiful spot in Tuscany and Puru and Sudha’s Italian dream come true!

12 Juli 201914min

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Diana D’Isanto, whose family owns I Balzini Winery in Barberino Val D’Elsa in Tuscany. The winery specializes in IGT Toscana and Supertuscans and all its workers are women, including I Balzini’s consultant-oenologist Barbara Tamburini. Tune in to learn more about their signature wines—I Balzini White Label and I Balzini Black Label—the tufo soils which are ideal for their Merlot grapes, and the main markets!

9 Juli 20196min

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Simona Fino. Simona and Gianfranco own the Gianfranco Fino winery in the Manduria region of Puglia. Simona tells Monty about how her adventure in wine started and the winery’s focus on old vines which are from 60 to 90 years old. Simona and Monty talk about the winery’s signature Primitivo di Manduria, the Es 2012, and their main markets. Tune in to also learn about typical dishes to pair with Primitivo.

8 Juli 201910min

In this episode Monty Waldin hosts three special guests: Alessandro Carucci, the creator of the Carucci Barbera Chinato; Gianluca Cariniti, export manager at Pico Maccario, the winery which produces the Barbera wine used to make Alessandro’s Chinato; Alessandro’s wife and business partner Ilaria Gambino, who also owns the Cugini di Campagna Bar in Nizza Monferrato where the Barberatonic cocktail was born. Tune in to find out how these people work together in the name of Barbera. In the interview Gianluca talks about the Barbera d’Asti “Lavignone” used for Carucci’s Barbera Chinato; Ilaria talks about the multiple ways in which Barbera Chinato can be tasted, both as an aperitivo or as a digestivo; and Alessandro reveals some of the “secret” herbs and spices used to make his Chinato. Alessandro also gets mixing and prepares some Barbera Tonic cocktails live in our podcast studio. Listen to the story of this fantastic collaboration coming from the Barbera d’Asti area in Piemonte and join us for a cin cin with Barberatonic! www.barberatonicofficial.it/

2 Juli 20198min

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Tommaso Chiarli whose family owns the historic Cleto Chiarli winery in Modena, Emilia-Romagna. Cleto Chiarli is the oldest winery in Emilia-Romagna and famous producer of Lambrusco wines. Tommaso talks about the Lambrusco varieties vinified by Cleto Chiarli—Lambrusco Salamino, Lambrusco di Sorbara, and Lambrusco Grasparossa—and explains the origin of the grape names. Tommaso also presents a typical four-course meal from the region paired exclusively with Lambrusco. Tune in to also learn another local white variety, Pignoletto, and the potential of Lambrusco wines in the international markets.

1 Juli 201919min

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Veronica Ruggeri whose family owns Le Colture winery in Valdobbiadene, in the heartland of Prosecco. We were also joined in studio by Veronica's brother Alberto. Monty and Veronica talk about the climate and soil characteristics of the area and discuss the origin of the name Cartizze, one of the crus of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene appellation.Veronica tells Monty about her family history and her father’s passion for viticulture and wine-making. Veronica introduces Le Colture’s wines and the main foreign markets for their products. Tune in to also learn more about the term “Rive” which designates Prosecco crus and is used in association with Conegliano or Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore. Join us for a lesson in all-things Prosecco and discover also some yummy food pairings (vegetable risotto, rabbit and chicken). Tune in to to also learn how to spell and pronounce V-A-L-D-O-B-B-I-A-D-E-N-E after a glass of Prosecco!

25 Juni 201918min

24 Juni 201912min

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Martin Foradori Hofstätter, owner of the J. Hofstätter Winery in Tramin/Termeno, in the Trentino-Alto Adige region. Martin is the fourth generation of an iconic winery in an area which is the home of the Gewurtztraminer grape. Martin and Monty chat about the winery’s main markets outside of Italy: USA, Japan, Russia, and UK. Martin also discusses the Alto Adige terroir and factors which affect vine growing such as exposure (east/west facing), altitude, soils, and microclimates. He also talks about local grape varieties such as Gewurtztraminer, Lagrein, Schiava and traditional varieties such as Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. Tune in to learn more about a major producer of Trentino Alto-Adige as well as some local food pairings with wines from native grapes!

18 Juni 201919min