Wine With Jimmy

Wine With Jimmy Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Wine With Jimmy, Food consultant, 71 Townmead Road Fulham, London, London.

It’s the all-important infectious enthusiasm and passion for the world of wine that enables Jimmy Smith to communicate to his audience in a relaxed, welcoming and fun way.

18/06/2026

🇮🇹 San Gimignano series 🇮🇹

Part 1: Chatting to sisters Angelica and Benedetta Fenzi of in San Gimignano. Here they introduce the agritourism of the estate and the talk through the importance of the Vernaccia grape variety.

🏡 I had such a lovely time talking to Angelica and Benedetta. More than simply a winery or countryside retreat, Fattoria San Donato represents a living expression of Tuscany’s agricultural and cultural identity. Through its commitment to organic farming, preservation of historic architecture, and warm family hospitality, it offers visitors an opportunity to experience the landscape, flavors, and traditions that have defined the San Gimignano region for centuries.

Owned and managed by the Fenzi family since 1932, the estate is built around a remarkably preserved medieval hamlet situated close to the ancient Via Francigena pilgrimage route. Originating around a Romanesque church, the village has retained much of its original character, including a fortified villa, historic farmhouses, and a watchtower that today serves as a gathering space for guests. The setting provides panoramic views across vineyards, olive groves, forests, and the famous skyline of San Gimignano.

🍇The Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a white grape variety cultivated in Tuscany since ancient times. It is indigenous to this area. The first written record dates back to 1276 in the municipal archives of San Gimignano, where the wine was a valuable trade commodity, including by noble families like the Medici. As with other Vernacce, its name might derive from the Latin “ver” (spring) or “vitis vernacula” (local vine), as noted by Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella in De Re Rustica. The berries are medium-sized, round, and heavily pruinose, with thick, amber skins when exposed to sunlight. The vine is consistently productive and thrives in calcareous-clay soils and has good disease resistance. It is NOT the same as any other Vernaccia such as Oristano.

WSET L4 examination wines D4 (Sparkling) and D5 (Fortified) including a flight of Madeira. How did you do? Happy with th...
13/06/2026

WSET L4 examination wines D4 (Sparkling) and D5 (Fortified) including a flight of Madeira.

How did you do? Happy with the flights?

12/06/2026

🇮🇹 Chianti Classico Series 🇮🇹

Broadcasting from the ‘Il Poggio’ cru vineyard at in San Donato in Poggio, Chianti Classico. Please ignore the sneaky ‘t’ I throw into the wineries name 🫣

🏡Castello di Monsanto ‘Il Poggio’ is a prestigious, single-vineyard Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, made from 100% Sangiovese grapes grown in a historic vineyard in San Donato in Poggio, Tuscany. Known as an icon of the region since its first bottling in 1962 by Aldo Bianchi. This vineyard has grown from 2ha in the 1960s to 5.5ha today, and is a combination of galestro and alberese soils.

🌳Woodlands in Chianti Classico - why are these important?
* Natural barriers: Woodlands provide a barrier to other vineyards, offering seclusion, meaning that the possibility of organic grapegrowing (which is 60% in Chianti Classico) is more evident.
* Biodiversity: Woodlands provide habitat for birds, insects, mammals, and other wildlife, helping maintain a healthy ecosystem including beneficial insects and birds that live in woodlands help control vineyard pests, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
* Soil protection: Woodland roots hold soil in place, limiting erosion that could otherwise damage vineyards.
* Climate moderation: Forests can buffer temperature extremes, provide shade, and help maintain humidity levels, creating a more balanced local microclimate, especially with cooler airflow.

❓Have you ever tasted the Castello di Monsanto Il Poggio?



11/06/2026

🇺🇸 Discover Virginia Series 🇺🇸

Part 2 with Kirk Wiles: Why Virginia is expanding in the UK and other markets and why we should all be drinking Virginian wine.

Distinctive. Quality. Exploratory. 🍷

🏡Paradise Springs Winery is located in the historic town of Clifton, the winery was founded in 2007 by Kirk Wiles and his family on land that has been in their lineage since a 1716 land grant from Lord Fairfax. The name “Paradise Springs” is rooted in local history. Kirk views their winery, the closest to DC, as a ‘gateway winery’ into Virginia but discusses the importance of marketing Virginia outside of their own backyard.

Make sure you check these guys out as Virginia ROCKED IT at the this year. Import Virginia if you don’t already - I know a ready made market at school and that wants to drink it!



10/06/2026

🇮🇹 Chianti Classico series 🇮🇹

Fontodi Part 1 .agr.fontodi

Interviewing Giovanni Manetti of Fontodi, and president of the Chianti Classico organisation (consorizio). Here he discusses the location in Chianti, Panzano, and the various geology across the village.

🪨The Fontodi estate is located within the celebrated Conca d’Oro (“Golden Shell”), a natural south-facing amphitheater considered one of the finest vineyard sites in Chianti Classico. The combination of high-altitude vineyards, excellent sun exposure, well-drained galestro (schist-rich), albarese (clay-limestone) and pietraforte (calcareous sandstone) soils, and a favourable microclimate provides ideal conditions for cultivating Sangiovese.

🏡The modern history of Fontodi began in 1968 when the Manetti family, historically known for their terracotta business, acquired the estate. Under the leadership of Giovanni Manetti since the 1980s, Fontodi has become one of Tuscany’s most respected wineries. The estate has embraced sustainable and organic viticulture, focusing on low yields, meticulous vineyard management, and minimal intervention in the cellar to express the unique character of its vineyards. The winery is certified organic and has long been recognized as a leader in environmentally responsible wine production.

🍷 Fontodi produces a diverse range of wines, but it is best known for its world-class Sangiovese-based reds from the heart of Chianti Classico in Panzano in Chianti. Along with their Chianti Classico, they produce their iconic Flaccianello della Pieve, Vigna del Sorbo and Terrazze San Leolino.

09/06/2026

Some lovely feedback that makes it all worth while building the portal for Wine With Jimmy. Nice to be called a legend 😊

Have a wonderful day all!

09/06/2026

🇮🇹 San Gimignano Series 🇮🇹

San Gimignano gained its fame through its towers, resulting from a rivalry between two economically powerful families living in the town building better and higher towers to show their economic stability and power. By the end of the Medieval period, this trend had caught on, with every wealthy family building their own tower, resulting in 72 towers total. Although many towers were cut down or destroyed during World War II, 14 remain. The Torre Grossa, standing at 54 metres, is the tallest tower in San Gimignano. The tower’s construction began in 1300, built to enrich the town and become its symbol whilst functioning as a military watchtower and a civil bell tower. Visitors can climb the 218 steps to the top where they will be met with panoramic views over the town and the Tuscan countryside, making for a great photo opportunity 📸

07/06/2026

🇺🇸 Discover Virginian wine 🇺🇸

Williamsburg Winery Part TWO with Mike Weatherly

🥚’Working with Albariño and Sheldon the Egg’ 🥚

Here I talk to Michael Weatherly of in the Tidewater area of Virginia about the Virginia Peninsula AVA and the focus on Albariño. I especially ask him how Albariño is cultivated in Virginia, to reduce disease pressure, and also dive into to the topographical diveristy of this beautiful state.

🏡Williamsburg Winery, located on the historic Wessex Hundred farm in Virginia’s Tidewater region, was established in the 1980s by entrepreneur Patrick Duffeler and his family, the winery helped pioneer the modern Virginia wine movement and played a significant role in elevating the reputation of Virginia as a serious wine-producing region.

📰The historical significance of the Williamsburg Winery extends far beyond modern viticulture. The land itself is tied to some of the earliest attempts at winemaking in colonial America. In the early 1600s, English settlers near Jamestown were instructed under the “Twelfth Acte of 1619” to plant grapevines in hopes of establishing a wine industry in the New World. Although those early colonial efforts failed, the Williamsburg Winery embraces and commemorates that heritage through both its architecture and wine names.

✅The winery was instrumental in promoting recognition for this distinctive grape-growing region, the Virginia Peninsula AVA, in the Tidewater area including the historical Williamsburg, which benefits from a maritime climate, long growing season, and conditions somewhat comparable to Bordeaux.



06/06/2026

☀️Combatting climate change in grapegrowing ☀️
🇮🇹 In Gaiole, Chianti Classico 🇮🇹

Grape-growing anti-UV netting shields vines from intense sunlight in warm-hot grapegrowing zones. These high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or woven polypropylene nets are becoming a more regular feature as they reduce UV light by up to 20% when they are planted on the south-facing side of the grapevine.

✅ This leads to a reduction in grape sugars, delaying ripening, and leading to wines with mitigated alcohols, in a world where sugars and alcohols are rising. This is important for better balance in the final wine. These can also be combined with anti-hail protection, which is another increasing weather pattern occuring in vineyards due to the creation of more extreme weather events of climate chaos.

❓Have you seen this technique before? Where?

Edit: In the video I meant to say ‘hail’ instead of ‘frost’ - I am only human! 🤣

05/06/2026

🇮🇹 Vernaccia di San Gimignano series 🇮🇹

Hello! Over the next few weeks I will posting a number of educational videos on Tuscany’s premier white, Vernaccia from the medieval tower-studded town of San Gimignano. After two visits in two years, tasting at the Regina Ribelle wine festival, and visiting numerous producers, I feel I have a great hold on whats hot from this DOCG.

🏰 San Gimignano is one of the most popular towns in Tuscany, renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture and iconic skyline. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre offers a glimpse into the region’s rich history; once an important relay point for pilgrims travelling to or from Rome on the Via Francigena. Since its independence in 1199, the noble families who controlled the town built 72 towers, symbols of their wealth and power. Today, only 14 of the original towers have survived, maintaining the town’s impressive skyline and providing enchanting views over the surrounding vineyards and olive groves. It is no wonder San Gimignano is so popular with visitors, providing the perfect example of medieval architecture, going on to influence the Florentine, Sienese and Pisa styles from the 12th to the 14th century.

🍇 The local white wine here is the enchanting Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, often’s called Tuscany’s premier white wine. Stay tuned for more about this classic grape variety.

✅ Have you ever visited this gorgeous town? What are your views on the region? The wines?



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