The Luxury Report

05/20/2025

➤➤➤Do you know ther Marciarelli Winery in Abruzzo?⁉️

Cradled between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine Mountains, Abruzzo is a tapestry of altitudes, climate pockets, and soil types that lend themselves to viticultural alchemy.

Known as the "green region of Europe," Abruzzo boasts three national parks and unparalleled biodiversity.

Limestone, clay, loam, elevation shifts, ocean breezes, and glacier-fed air currents all work together to shape distinctive vineyard characters.

Masciarelli reads the nuanced language of this landscape like a native tongue. With over 60 vineyard plots across all four of Abruzzo’s provinces (Chieti, Pescara, Teramo, and L’Aquila), the estate articulates a comprehensive story of the region

A Family with Deep Roots

Founded by Gianni Masciarelli in 1981, the winery started with a bold vision: to elevate the wines of Abruzzo from rustic anonymity to world-class refinement.

Founded by Gianni this winery is in Abruzzo

10/29/2024

➤➤➤Great Saint Emilion wine tasting in New York.

10/09/2024

🍷Topic: Exploring Cantine di Nessuno

🍷If you ever fantasized about what an old-fashioned Sicilian winery looks like, I saw it firsthand on my visit to Cantine di Nessuno. Its owner is Seby Costanzo, a handsome Clint Eastwood lookalike, with charm and energy to spare.

The exterior of this relic is all stone and rough-hewn wood, existing more for ambiance than utility. Mr. Costanzo had purchased this old vineyard and others like it to save some of Mount Etna’s historic vines.

From this historic wine house, we followed Mr. Costanzo up a very steep hill, more typically seen in the Northern Rhone. Though I was wearing flat shoes, the steep hill and six-inch-wide path made it quite difficult to scale. I wondered how the workers would fare during harvest, since the rocky steep path was more accessible for goats than humans.

After the vineyard walk, we visited Mr. Costanza’s sleek modern tasting room a five-minute car ride away.

Cantine di Nessuno. owned by Seby Costanzo, is an ancient wine estate located on Mount Etna in Sicily producing great wine.

10/08/2024

🍷During the visit, the air was crisp. The sweeping views of blue skies and soaring birds set the perfect scene for our tour. It was an amazing transformation, considering that just five minutes earlier at the Nicosia showroom on the flatlands, the air was grey and wet with rain.

As we walked through the vineyards, I could see that the grapes were ripening for the mid-September harvest. I couldn’t resist tasting a few of the grapes straight from the vine. They tasted sweet and juicy. I was mindful that soon, they would be transformed into some of the finest wines this region offers.

During the tour, I discovered that Monte Gorna had been farmed for over a few centuries for its prized grapes. After the devastation of phylloxera and then the world wars, the vineyards had been forgotten. But starting a quarter century ago, these vineyards and others around Sicily are now experiencing a vibrant resurgence.

Monte Gorna is one of the crown jewels of Nicosia’s vineyards, in the municipality of Trecastagni, site of Mount Etna’s extinct craters.

10/07/2024

🍷Topic: Pinot Grigio delle Venezie

In a recent gathering at the elegant Royalton Park Hotel in New York City, wine enthusiasts and members of the wine trade enjoyed an enlightening lecture on Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, presented by the renowned wine educator and journalist, Wanda Mann.

This immersive session introduced the audience to the sophisticated world of Pinot Grigio from the delle Venezie DOC through a tasting of eight distinctive wines, each showcasing the diverse expressions of a grape varietal,

Pinot Grigio from this Italian DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin) is renowned for its versatility and charm.

Thanks Ieem Wine

Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC is a newer DOC created in 2017. Growers produce delicious Pinot Grigio wine suitable for many dishes.

10/04/2024

Topic: Do You Know the Graci Winery Mount Etna>

✔️One of the highlights of my visit to Mount Etna to explore new wineries and meet passionate winemakers was my time at Graci Winery. It is owned by the dynamic Alberto Aiello Graci.

Alberto, with his effortlessly stylish Milanese flair and aristocratic looks, was incredibly down-to-earth. Despite his fashionable exterior, his deep connection to the land and his “peasant’s passion” for winemaking is clear. The first part of the visit was the tour of the nearly 200-year-old winery. It was inspiring to see someone so rooted in both tradition and innovation, bringing new life to a winery steeped in Sicilian history.

✔️The Graci winery is located in Passopisciaro, on the north slope of Mount Etna.Campore Winery on Mount Etna This is an area where viticulture has thrived for thousands of years. The winery sits at an impressive altitude of 600 to 1,000 meters, where the conditions are ideal for growing native Sicilian grapes.

Graci Winery.on Mount Etna is owned by the dynamic Alberto Aiello Graci. It produces delicious wine from native grapes.

10/01/2024

🍷Topic: Do you know the wines of Abruzzo?⁉️

Excellent wine talk today organized by Ieem Wine and delivered by Eric Guido at the gorgeous Manhatta restaurant in the Financial District.

Though I’d visited Abruzzo a few times over the length of my career in wine, Eric’s talk brought new excitement! I envied the way he was able to visually recreate those ancient cellars, the talks with producers in the vineyard, and the overall magical aura of Abruzzo!

Abruzzo's unique terroir excels in producing exquisite wines from the Trebbiano and Montepulciano grapes in an area between sea & mountains

09/24/2024

🖐️Do you know Statella Wine⁉️T

Calogero Statella, an oenologist of considerable renown, welcomed us to a tasting of his wines with a warm smile. His passion for his craft was clear in his every gesture as he shared his story.

"Mount Etna," he began, his voice carrying the weight of generations, "is a land where my wife Rita and I were both born. It is a place of unparalleled beauty, where the volcanic soil and unique microclimate create the perfect conditions for viticulture."

He poured us each a glass of his Statella Etna Bianco, its pale golden hue reflecting the sunlight.

"But," he continued, "it is also a land of challenges. The traditional artisanal approach to winemaking is the only way to truly express the terroir of Mount Etna and its native grape varieties, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio."

Calogero Statella, an oenologist of considerable renown, makes delicious wine on Mount Etna from vineyards high on the mountain.

09/23/2024

Topic: Do you Know Torre Mora on Mount Etna⁉️

Torre Mora winery on the northern slopes of Sicily's Mount Etna in Sicily surprised me with its magical ambiance. Its vineyards, perched high on the mountain, capture the perfection imagined by artists glorifying the 'rustic life.'

It felt like walking through a paradise crafted by the forces of nature. As I stepped along the weathered cobblestone narrow bridge dividing two vineyards, my thoughts turned to the many generations of vignerons who had walked along this same bridge. I imagined their daily life, filled with the sight of this beautiful land and the wine from the grapes growing on it.

Torre Mora winery on the northern slopes of Sicily's Mount Etna in Sicily surprised me with its magical ambiance.

09/20/2024

➤➤➤Discovering the Heart of Etna at Terra Costantino

Perfectly situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the volcanic majesty of Mount Etna Terra Costantino reflects the deep connection between man and the land.

Soon after I arrived I was shown a “wall of stone” that exposes the dynamic soil types of this spectacular estate … a diversity of soils that along with other factors create the fabulous aromas and flavors I later tasted in the glass.

As the first organic winery on Etna, Terra Costantino has long been a pioneer in sustainable winemaking, and its story is one of passion, tradition, and a profound respect for the natural world.

Terre Constantino has long been a pioneer in sustainable winemaking in Mount Etna and the first winery to achieve organic certification.

09/19/2024

➤➤➤Topic: Do you know Pietradolce Wines from Mount Etna⁉️

On my first official winery visit to Mount Etna in Sicily I had the pleasure of visiting Pietradolce Winery. It lies on the northern slopes of Mount Etna between the Contrade Rampante, Zottorinoto, Santo Spirito and Feudo di Mezzo.

The exact geographical location is absolutely key in Mount Etna. These subdivisions of geographical locations are like the concept of “cru” in Burgundy. Each contrade has its own unique terroir that encompasses such factors as weather (including wind, rain, sun), elevation, and proximity to water.

From the moment I arrived at Pietradolce, I was captivated by the sleek, modern design of the winery, which perfectly blended into the side of the majestic volcano. Before diving into a tasting of their exquisite wines, we embarked on a breathtaking tour of the ancient vineyards led by the vineyard manager, Angelo.

These unique vineyards represented a scene straight out of a paradise—lush with flowers and framed by ancient stone walls, the vineyards were like stepping into a living history book.

Pietradolce winery lies on the northern slopes of Mount Etna between the Contrade Rampante, Zottorinoto, Santo Spirito and Feudo di Mezzo.

09/18/2024

🍒Topic: Do you know Bodegas Salentein's high elevation San Pablo geographical area in the Uco Valley⁉️

Salentein is one of the most well-known and highest quality wine producers in the Uco Valley (Argentina) with fabulous wines.