Palm & Vine - Savor - Sip

6 min

Rare Varieties

Piedirosso – Blessed by the Tears of Christ Under Mount Vesuvius

In 79 AD, the massive, destructive eruption of Mount Vesuvius brought tragedy to Campania in Southern Italy. The eruption infamously destroyed and buried Pompeii in volcanic ash, freezing the ancient…

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5 min

Rare Varieties

Tempranillo Blanco – A Rare Mutation Results in Top Wines

Tempranillo Blanco is a relative newcomer to the world of wine. In 1988, a viticulturist discovered a mutation amidst his Tempranillo vineyard that was about to be uprooted in Murillo…

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5 min

World of Wine

Ninety Plus Cellars Makes World Class Wine For The People

Drinking high quality wines from the world’s most sought after wine regions should not be a luxury reserved for those with fat wallets. After all, the beauty of wine is…

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4 min

Rare Varieties

Maturana Tinta Makes A Comeback from near Extinction in Rioja

When I started this series on rare varieties, my intentions were twofold. First, I was curious to discover the lesser known varieties of the world. Due to the fact that…

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4 min

Rare Varieties

Graševina – A Grape of Unknown Origins Thrives In Croatia

Though not a common wine on the international scene, Graševina is the most widely planted grape in Croatia. Actually, Graševina claims something like every fifth vine in the country. As…

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3 min

Rare Varieties

Pušipel – A Grape of Many Names

Have you ever heard of Furmint, one of the varieties behind Hungary’s famed Tokaji wines? Well, in Croatia, Furmint is known as Pušipel. Actually, Furmint was called Šipon in Croatia…

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3 min

Rare Varieties

Babić – A Powerful And Fresh Croatian Red Wine

If you’re looking for a harmonious, balanced and unique red wine, then look no further than Babić. Grown only in northern Dalmatia, this Croatian variety accounts for just 1% of…

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11 min

World of Wine

On Being a Winemaker at a Cantina Sociale

Not all winemaking gigs are created equal. A winemaker’s responsibilities vary greatly depending on the type of winery for which he or she works. Producing wine at an estate winery…

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3 min

Rare Varieties

Grk – The Most Obscure Wine I’ve Tasted Yet

What’s the most obscure variety you’ve ever tasted? For me, it’s Grk. This indigenous Croatian variety grows exclusively on the island of Korçula in Lumbarda. Actually, this village is the…

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3 min

Rare Varieties

Limnio Embodies The Potential of New Greek Wines

This week’s Rare Varieties feature takes us back to Greece to discover an ancient variety first mentioned by Homer. Actually, Homer wasn’t the only famous ancient Greek writer to talk…