Archive - October 2015

The Grape Debate – Vinifera vs. Hybrid Grapes

October 29, 2015

Chances are if you’re drinking wine from South America, Europe, Australia or California you’re having a Chardonnay or a Riesling. A Merlot or Pinot Noir or Malbec. But what about other parts of the world? Parts that don’t have climates conducive to grapes and yet produce wine? What’s that all about?

Understanding Two Types Of Grapes

In winemaking, in addition to the two types of grapes we’re used to, red and white, there are also two others: Vitis vinifera and hybrid. And these grapes are a favorite topic to debate by wine lovers off all kinds. In this post we’ll break them down so that you can understand and evaluate for yourself which side of the debate you’re on.

Oethical Oenology – A Look At Ethical Wine

October 6, 2015

Nancy Koziol

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A Look At Castello Banfi’s Groundbreaking Ethical Practices And Banfi Vintner’s Ethical Wine Offerings

During the Wine Bloggers Conference, we attended a session run by two professionals from Castello Banfi. Bill Whiting, Banfi’s Director of Wine Education, and Joe Janish, its Director of Public Relations educated wine bloggers about Lambrusco: a red grape used to make the insanely popular frizzante. From learning about the geography and grape to tasting a variety of lambrusco wines the session was great but what really piqued our interest were mentions of a variety of ethical practices to which Castello Banfi and its partners ascribe. We took some time to talk to Joe Janish and dig into exactly what Catello Banfi and Banfi Vintners do in the arena of ethical wine.

What is Banfi?

There are two things to which someone might be referring when they mention “Banfi”. There’s Castello Banfi, the vineyard making fine wines in Italy, and there’s Banfi Vintners, the importer and marketer of fine wines which is located in the sleepy New York City suburb of Old Brookville.