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.

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.

What food should you serve with Prosecco?

A glass of a high quality, crisp prosecco is delicious with many food pairings.

Get food pairing ideas and our chef’s favorite risotto recipe in this article.

Learn all about Prosecco, its history, how it’s made, and where to find the best prosecco in this artlcle. Cin cin!

Ever wonder what the secrets are to finding good wine?

Vero came about because we unlocked the secrets! Find out in this article.

We reflect on Lorenzo Corino, who, according to a recent interview of him at Raw Wine Natural Wine Fair in New York by Heritage Radio Network: ‘Lorenzo is the epitome of a Legend – extremely knowledgeable, he creates wines of immense beauty, while also managing to be humble and generous to boot. He has given his life to viticulture and winemaking, and his wines are testament to his skill and love of the vine.’ Let’s learn about him, up front and close, along with his family’s wines in this article.

Travel through time, Montalcino from past to present, with wine ‘jack-of-all-trades’, Alberto Pagliantini and his family’s estate winery, Canalino in this article which sums up the interesting story of his family and their deep farming and winemaking roots just steps from the center of historic and picturesque Montalcino Italy and their commitment to sustainable practices in harmony with nature.