There is an area of Tuscany, off the beaten track of cypress trees and postcard Tuscany. It has a wild and natural beauty that calls to nature lovers, yet is steeped in history, beauty and hidden culture. This is the Maremma.

Where is Maremma, Tuscany? Why visit Maremma?

Travel with us to discover its towns perched on tuff stone cliffs, vineyards, and ancient roads cut deep into the rock in this article.

During our last VeroTalk with Antonella Manuli, founder of La Maliosa farm and winery, we learned how she took the road less traveled with her vision turned to reality of starting her own farm and making natural wine in the wild west of Tuscany, Maremma. Read Antonella’s story here, and the twists and turns she took, in taking a walk on the wild side making natural wine and organic olive oil in Maremma.

Let’s face it: Natural Wine is having a moment. Everyone in the wine world is talking about it in some way or form. But what is natural wine? What’s the deal with natty wine? Is natural wine organic? Is natural wine better for you? What defects are their in natural wine and how can you identify them? Become a natural wine expert in this article.

Pieces found of 8,000 year old amphora clay wine jars show what an ancient winemaking technique amphora was for Georgians, Armenians, Greeks, Romans and other ancient cultures. The ancient tradition of making wine in amphora, or a clay jar/vessel, fortunately still continues, like with 200 year old family estate winery in Spain Bodega de las Estrellas which craft natural wines using amphora from the 19th century. Amphora is a great way to make natural wines, thanks to the characteristics of clay and the shape of amphorae clay jars.

Discover for yourself the uniqueness of clay amphora in winemaking as we explore in this article the history of amphora wine, how to make amphora wine, and why it's a great choice for making delicious, harmonious natural wine.

So what’s up the acidity? Why do wine professionals avoid the ‘A’ word when describing a wine? Does it conjour up negative images of sourness and drinking vinegar? Yet, acidity is the necessary ‘evil’ in wine. In fact, in these days of global warming, with northern and colder weather climates trending, guess why that’s so?

Yes, it’s because of acidity. It is the ‘tough love’ element of wine, that which makes a wine interesting and sometimes thirst quenching. And it’s what we reach for as the warmer months come upon us. What exactly causes acidity to occur in wines? How do professionals evaluate acidity in wine? Find out in this article.

Burley Tuggle is an entrepreneur and wine expert who is making inroads in her adopted home town of Newark, New Jersey to bring wine education and wine culture to the local community. How did she get to where she is today? Well, if you’ve been reading our recent Women in Wine life stories, it was not a straight line. Find out in the article.

In this next ‘Women in Wine Partners’ article, we get to know Claudia Pagliotti of Quercia Scarlatta.

A bit like a movie plot, Claudia took a chance with her husband and family when they had the opportunity to buy a countryside farmhouse. What started as a vacation home, then became the family business, farm and winery Quercia Scarlatta, making wine, olive oil, and other natural products.

Read Claudia’s journey in our latest blog article.

This is the second in our ‘Women in Wine Partners’ series which highlights a handful of the many women who hold the winery together, often ‘behind the scenes’, with their male partner who is the main face of the winery’s brand.

In this article we are bring the wife of Aldo Clerico to the forefront, Valentina, who, like Aldo, is born and raised in the Barolo wine country and also comes from a well known Barolo family dynasty: Conterno. Hear her story directly in this exclusive interview as she recounts her earliest memories of winemaking as a child, and her experience of running a family winery with her husband, Aldo Clerico.

First in our series on ‘Women in Wine Partners’, of women ‘behind the bottles’ of select Vero producers, we are featuring Gretel Meys Compton of Southern California estate winery Clos des Amis. In this exclusive interview, she shares her discovery of wine, how she came to work in wine, with partner Bruce Freeman, her role in the winery, and her joys and struggles.

Grab a buta of nebbiolo vin, some sugar and eggs, and whip up some sambaiun for a quick dessert… or perhaps if you are feeling a little bit of goi for a galuperia! Wait… what?! This is kitchen talk in Piedmont, Italy what the locals speak in the local dialect in the Langhe.

In this article, get behind the scenes in a real trattoria’s kitchen, learning Italian and, better yet, Italian language food. Practice with this authentic Italian trattoria recipe for Zabaglione, an easy, creamy custard from the area.

Tender beef filet is one of the most prized cuts of meat, giving depth of flavor, tenderness and juiciness like few other cuts. It seems only fair then, to pair it with a King of Italian wine: Barolo. This recipe for Filetto al Barolo comes from one of the most favorite trattoria’s in the Langhe, Piedmont, Italy, and it pairs wonderfully with the Barolos of Aldo Clerico.

What to find the secrets to making a really good Risotto? Better yet, how about an authentic a recipe from a chef who works at one of the most favorite trattoria’s in the Langhe, Piedmont, Italy? It’s a fragrant purple risotto, made from Barolo winemaker, Aldo Clerico’s, red wines.

It was forbidden to grow the Schioppettino grape only until recently.

Then Hilde Petrussa, 2nd generation owner of estate winery Vigna Petrussa, in Friuli, northeastern Italy, stepped in.

And thank goodness for that. With wine critics, like Ian d’Agata, calling Schioppettino “one of Italy’s most noble grapes” making “ unforgettable wines.” What are you waiting for?

Learn about this up-and-coming grape in this article.

Confused about wine terminology, like natural wine, biodynamic wine, native yeast, col fondo, orange wine? While some terms are well defined, others can have alot of gray areas, so you’re not alone! When we seek out small, farm-to-glass wineries, we do vet them out based upon certain criteria. We put together this list of wine lingo that we use and are happy to share with you.

We sat down with Francesca Mecchia, the daughter of second generation woman winemaker Hilde Petrussa, owner of Vigna Petrussa estate winery in Friuli northern Italy. She recently decided to change careers, and her life, by going from architect to joining her mom in the wine business. Find out what it’s like to grow up in a lineage of women making wine and the role it plays in her life.

Natural wine and sustainability in the vineyard were important passions to the late natural wine legend, Lorenzo Corino, of Case Corini. After spending a day with his son, Guido, we see the legacy continue with the 6th generation. Discover Guido’s approach and philosophy sustainable farming and winemaking and he carries forward, along with his sister Luisa, a rich heritage of cherishing their land and nature’s bounty of the fruits of their craft.

Never buy store-bought broth again with this easy, traditional Bolognese recipe passed down from generation to generation. Great to sip alone, or use a base for soups with pasta, like tortellini in brodo, this broth is delicious. Learn how to make a good broth, and pick out the right ingredients to make it tasty, and healthy too.

Ancient Rome has long inspired active imaginations with crazy banquets and exotic foods. Learn about ancient Romans customs, food and traditions and get a real recipe used in ancient Rome which will surprise you!

One might say the Sanzovo brothers Carlo and Fabio have Prosecco in their blood. After 2 generations of farming and making the bubby classic from Valdobbiadene, they have taken the reins of the family business. Read about their story, wines, and above all the love of their land.

Did you know that in the ‘olden times’ sparkling wine was not made intentionally? The bubbles would just appear in the spring after the wine was harvested and bottled. Hence where the ‘ancestral method’ of making wine came about. This style of winemaking is ‘all the buzz’ as of late with the popularity, especially amongst ‘wine explorers’, of pet nat and col fondo sparkling wines. Read up in this article.