Women in Wine Marching to a Different Beat
The world of wine is being revolutionized by a surge of talented women winemakers. These passionate innovators are crafting unique and delicious wines using sustainable practices and minimal intervention throughout the winemaking process. From meticulous vineyard management to exploring new fermentation techniques, they're bringing a fresh perspective that's pushing the boundaries of what natural wine can be. This rise of women in natural wine is not only exciting the industry, but also offering wine lovers a diverse and ever-evolving selection of delicious wines to discover.
First Woman to Share the Helm Of a Historic Winery
We sat down with Luisa Corino, the first woman to take the helm with her brother Guido as the sixth generation of historic natural winery estate, Case Corini in Piedmont Italy. Get to know what makes her “tick,” what she does behind the scenes, her family and her hopes for the future of Case Corini. Check out this exclusive interview with this woman of wine in this article.
The Makings of a Great Woman Winemaker
Hilde Petrussa, inheriting a generations-long legacy of winemaking in Friuli, Italy, carries the torch with passion and respect. From her grandfather's farm to her mother's pioneering spirit, Hilde honors tradition while embracing sustainability. Witness her meticulous care for the vines, her dedication to Schioppettino, and her innovative use of air-dried grapes. Discover her love for Richenza and Schioppettino di Prepotto, and get a glimpse into the future of Vigna Petrussa – a commitment to green practices and crafting wines that express the unique terroir. Dive deeper and savor the taste of her story.
Backyard to Table: Foraging and Cooking Straight from the Wild
While farm-to-table is the rage, have you thought about upping it to backyard-to-table?
What wild foods are growing in your backyard, or neighboring fields and woods, that you can add taste and originality to your dishes? And not only - backyard-to-table takes sustainability to the max!
We talked with master forager and vegan chef Beatrice Calia to learn how she cooks with wild foods in her kitchen. Get her tips and tricks in this article.
A Southern Italian Woman’s Journey into Wine
Meet Rosanna Melchionda, a native from Apulia (aka Puglia), in Southern Italy, whose passion for history led to passion for wine. What drives her is her love and commitment to her family and her region. Read this exclusive interview as she takes us through the history, culture and beauty of Puglia, and what is unique about her family estate’s terroir for wine making.
Ukrainian Woman Takes on Native Varieties & Pet Nats at Modena Winery
This is the story of a Ukrainian woman, farm raised who winds up immigrating to Italy and heading up a winery in the mountains surrounding Modena, called Frignano. Upon meeting Irene Balim, we were struck by her commitment and passion towards the unknown native grape varieties in her area and to making traditional and natural styles of sparkling wine, trailblazing in the heart of Lambrusco land. This woman in wine and farm girl at heart has an inspiring story. Read it in her words in this exclusive interview with this woman winemaker.
A Wine Gift Guide for Everybody on Your List
You want to give wine for gift, and you want it to be special, either something they don’t have already, or something that will surprise, and impress them, yet something that they will also like the taste of. That seems like a tall order for what seems like a simple task, especially with the myriad of wine selections out there.
We’ve made it easier for you to gift for wine lovers with our first wine gift guide, that we are introducing just in time for the holiday gifting season.
For the wine lover on your list, be it a friend, colleague, customer, family member, or significant other, use our wine and olive oil gift guide to find a wine in line with their wine taste preferences, whether it’s bold red wines, old world wine, natural wine, orange wines, rose wines, champagne style wines, pet nat wines, even EVOO, use our list to find the best wine for gift giving and build your own wine gift baskets.
The Language of Wine
Do you love wine but then struggle finding the ‘right words’ to describe it? Or are you on your way to becoming a wine expert and need a de-brief on terminology for wine tasting?
What does complex mean? Or what is a primary aroma? What is a smooth wine?
We are on a mission to teach you how to fish… for wine!
Here is a wine glossary of terms you can use during your next wine tasting or wine pairing to work your way to becoming a wine pro. Then put these descriptive wine words into practice by buying the wines which fit each definition. Then have wine tasting home party with your wine loving friends. Sooner rather than later you will master wine speak!
Get started by learning the wine description words inside.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side of Tuscany
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.
The Story Behind a Woman-Led Natural Wine Agricultural Startup
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.
Under Le Marche Sun
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.
The Woman with Barolo in Her Blood
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.
Ups and Downs as a Women in Wine Partner
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.
Meet Schioppettino: An Outlaw Grape
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.
How to Find Good Wine
Ever wonder what the secrets are to finding good wine?
Vero came about because we unlocked the secrets! Find out in this article.
The Secrets to the Best Olive Oil
Why do they call extra virgin olive oil ‘extra virgin’? What is so special about it?
Find out the secrets to making delicious olive oil from the olive oil maker of La Maliosa farm in Tuscany.
Super Natural Wines: the Super Heroes of Sustainability
What makes a wine a ‘natural wine’? How can I know I am buying a wine that is made sustainably? Explore the various approaches to sustainability in wine, from farming to production in this article
Talk About a Reslient Woman: From Orphan to Head of Roman Empire
Galla Placidia defined Resilience in her day and age in Ancient Rome. She was daughter of an emperor, orphan, hostage, wife, and widow all before 30. She rose above all to become Empress of Rome, and, yes, influenced wine as we know it today.
Mother-Daughter Winemaking Teams
What’s it like to work with your mother or daughter? What unique challenges do Mother-Daughter teams face in business partnerships? We sat down to interview two Mother-Daughter winemaking teams from Ojai Pacific View and Vigna Petrussa to find out!
1 Year after Covid Lockdowns with Four Women Winemakers: How has the Last Year Changed You?
After a year of Covid, we sat down with four women winemakers to see how they have adapted to the new and unique landscape, and their feelings about the future going forward.