Italian Wines in English

Home
Italia
Verona, Veneto
Italian Wines in English

W**e writer, presenter, judge, educator. Host of VOICES Italian W**e Podcast, Italian W**e Ambassador

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-chaplin-190647179/

14/10/2026

Tremendous visit to today 🥂

Primo Franco is the most welcoming host, sharing so much passion and knowledge about his in , where work is underway collecting data row by row, vine by vine, to preserve, protect, and replant old vine vineyards they have recovered.

Renato Meneghello, talented w**emaker and fountain of information, kindly and thoughtfully showed me around the vineyards, including Col del Vent, where many of the vines are over 100 years old❤️

Lunch at gorgeous looking out over the UNESCO protected mosaic of terraced vineyards put the whole region into perspective.

And, of course, tasting Nino Franco “Nodi” 2024, made with grapes from the old vines, was a divine treat, showing off the chalky, tart unripe pear, saltine cracker, and subtle bay leaf character of this refined sparkling w**e — absolutely fantastic ambassador for and the elegance to be found in the hills of this truly beautiful region.

Listen to my conversation with Primo Franco and President Diego Tomasi on The Old Vine Podcast to learn more about the magic of this historic w**ery. 🎉

12/10/2026

New collaboration with .italianculturalprograms 🎉

A great evening aperitivo tasting at stunning just outside

A fantastic program bringing curious lovers of Italy from all over the world to experience this magical country in person ❤️

In the glorious hills of today

Of course we tasted the w**es of 🍷

The history of this famous w**emaking region, its native grapes, and beautiful w**es 🇮🇹

Thank you to my dear friends at **ery for their 4 spectacular reds — you make my job so easy, with your love song to your region. Speri produces the traditional red w**es of Valpolicella in the most precise, clean, modern way — a triumph 🎊

Valpolicella Classico Superiore Sant Urbano 2023
Valpolicella Ripasso 2024
Amarone della Valpolicella Sant Urbano 2021
Recioto La Roggia

Cherries, cherries, cherries 🍒💕

It was impossible to decide which w**e was our favourite, but I will say the took everyone by surprise with its luscious fruit, cloves, nutmeg, dried cranberry and fig, and its fascinating ability to stay tart and not be sticky sickly sweet. 🏆

Gracious and warm hospitality in this timeless, elegant palazzo, overlooking the incredible gardens and a picture perfect sunset 🌅

Great to be back in action with my old colleague, wonderful thank you so much for inviting me!

**e

06/10/2026

On the worst day

Oldest friend, no need for words

Goodness, the mems!

Thank you for being there with me 😘

No w**e 😱‼️

17/09/2026

On tour with It was the “private tasting” evening in Emilia Romagna, with many thanks to Fulvio at for his fantastic and professional help setting up and providing our guests a lovely venue and a great buffet!

I love being able to share special w**es of the region with our guests. Tonight the line up was 💯 % from the region:

Pignoleto di Modena DOC Spumante Brut “Modena Blanc”

**ery Albana di Romagna DOCG “Albarara”

Spumante Reggiano Lambrusco Rosato DOP “Cadelvento”

Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetrano “Vigneto Cialdini”

Ravenna Centesimino IGT

Romagna Sangiovese Superiore Riserva Marzano “Pietramora”

Metodo Classico Rosso “in Correggio” Lambrusco. Salamino Millesimato 2006

Labrusca Bianco, Rosato, Rosso

What a tasting it was!! Lots of bubbles from the “vivace” w**e culture of the region, with the addition of a still, complex, luxurious Albana and an elegant, lush mouthful of 7 year old Sangiovese 🍇🍷

W**e story of the night? The amazing rescue of rare vine Centesimino ❤️

Producer of the night with their extraordinary ability to create a portfolio of Lambrusco w**es that range all the way from fun and inviting to layered, sophisticated and gastronomic ✨✨✨

14/09/2026

Emilia Romagna is rich in food and w**e tradition and culture ❤️🇮🇹 First couple of days lecturing on tour with have been action packed and filled with delicious mouthfuls 😊

is a beautiful oasis of food, w**e and serenity, with a great view of

Generous host Giuseppe, and owner Giovanni, made sure our guests were full to the brim with local w**es, salumi, pasta and fun 🥳 including a barrel tasting in their cellar.

We learned the 800 years of history surrounding cheese and how it’s made, with lovely guide Elisa at — then we tasted 12 month, 22 month and 30 month aged cheeses 🧀

was the site of our deep dive into the wonders of The King of all the hams 🐷 Originally owned by Maestro Giuseppe Verde, this gorgeous country retreat is a heavenly place of gorgeous vegetable gardens, cow pastures and the incredible cellar where the culatello are aged‼️

Delicious local lunch at with charming host Luciano, the best guanciale I’ve ever had, and time to discuss all the ingredients, people, places and stories that make such a special place to visit. 🌻

11/09/2026

Always a pleasure to present a Masterclass for Consorzio Lugana Doc 🥂🥂

Had to shine a light on these 6 great w**es from the Lugana region, at the southern end of Lake Garda, very near my home in Valpolicella near Verona.

Online Masterclasses are great educational and marketing tools and I really enjoy the chance to interact with journalists, buyers, importers, and sommeliers around the world — I love to travel but you just can’t be everywhere in person!

Tommasi W**es “Le Fornaci” Lugana DOC 2025
Federico Pip Zamichele Lugana DOC 2025
Azienda Agricola Colli Vaibò “Gemma” Lugana Riserva 2022
“Suere” Lugana Riserva 2022
pasinisangiovanni “Busocaldo LuganaRiserva 2020
Corte Sermana “Pintade” Lugana Spumante Metodo Classico 2018

The take always? Turbiana is the grape that gives these w**es:
Freshness
Tart acidity
White stone fruit, moving into pineapple, star fruit, persimmon, bitter lemon, green almond, fresh sage leaf, and a capery saline brineyness with age. Structure and a lovely textural element, not dissimilar to licking a linen shirt, really adds to the elegance and gastronomic quality of the riservas.

Best of all — GREAT potential to age — the riservas still bright, young and fresh, and THAT sparkling ✨🥂 Oh my! Absolutely delicious, complex, hazelnutty, fresh crusty breadish, full of ripe yellow grapefruit, dried pineapple, golden apple skin and sea salt flakes. Wow ❤️

Six fantastic examples of Lugana’s potential, from young to aged. Such a great tasting — the best way to get to know Turbiana and Lugana 🥳

**e **e

29/08/2026

A fun tasting with my daughter, as per whenever she’s home 🥂 Nothing like sipping Chinese w**e on my terrace in Valpolicella!

Brought this one back from Shanghai 🇨🇳 — kindly sent to my hitel by wonderful w**emaker friend, Judy Chan of Grace Vineyard in Taigu, in Shanxi.

Tasya’s Reserve Chardonnay is named for Judy’s daughter — fun synergies there since we both have daughter who studied at the University of Edinburgh.

Lovely luminous lemon colour, with delicious scents and flavours of preserved lemons, pineapple, acacia, yellow broom flowers, cardamom, white pepper, peach yogurt, nutmeg, freshly sliced warm bread and hazelnut cream. Rich and full and generous on the palate without being cloying, with a brilliant acidity lifting the intensity of the w**e. ❤️

**e is a very exciting world to explore! Can’t wait to go back, share my Italian w**e passion, and visit some vineyards this time!!

Judy Chan one of these days I’ll come visit you, and then you can come see me in Veneto! 🇮🇹

**e

28/08/2026

Some of the w**es of summer 🥂😎

Just a couple of shout outs to some bottles that gave me joy 🤩

Bortolomiol | Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG “Senior” Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG such a delicious sparkler, full of zingy lemon, tart grapefruit zest, pretty fresh white daisies, and a crinkle of salt flakes 🍾

Talestri W**ery | Emozioni da degustare Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore, yummy ripe blackberries and ripe red cherries, a tickle of pepper, sumptuously rich and fruity, without a huge punch of tannin and alcohol 🍒

San Marzano W**es “Susco” brilliant Susumaniello from Puglia, this lovely w**e slips down so gently, full of warm red and blue fruit, violets and lavender, with a whisp of fresh chopped seaside herbs and soft tannin 🍇

San Salvatore 1988 W**es “Trentenare” Fiano from the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Campania. Fresh and bright, white peach, mandarin peel, unripe quince and salty brine, with a touch of chalky texture 🍑

Maculan W**e “Costadolio” rosé, 100% Merlot, the most intriguing attractive luminous coppery color, seductively alluring with apple blossom and orange blossom, tangy unripe peach skin, cranberry and pomegranate. Dry as a bone, very sophisticated 🍊

Nino Negri “Alpi Retiche” Bianco, this is a compelling white w**e made from red Nebbiolo grapes, it’s uniquely mysterious and complex, flinty, green apple and white peach purée, bright acidity, with a toasted hazelnut skin 🍏

Casa D’Ambra Biancolella from the beautiful island of Ischia. A w**e that magically pairs well with things like asparagus and artichoke, with notes of fresh squeezed lemons, bitter green almond, soft nectarine, green olive water, fluid and so easy to slurp.. bring another bottle! 🍋

“Annibale” dry, minerally, sparkling w**e from the Lessini hills in Veneto, made in tank method and so light, fresh, bursting with unripe white peach, unripe golden apple, fresh chopped parsley, this is a bubble for every day, all year round 🥂

Bye bye summer, thanks for the memories ❤️

18/08/2026

I’ve been saving this one!

COS Metodo Classico pas Dosé

Frappato 🍇 vinified as a sparkling rosey copper amber w**e ❤️ ch*****ne style elegance with Sicilian style flavour and texture 💪

I am a huge Frappato fan in its still red w**e form. But I’ve wondered for years why no one was making a sparkling version………and now they are 🥳

Fermented in amphora, matured in cement, then resting 20 months on the fine lees. 🥂🍾

Beautiful luminous colour, compelling nose of bitter orange peel, apricot nectar, golden apple skin, orange blossom, nespole, sage leaves and sea spray. 🍊 🌊

Gorgeous to look at, delicious on the palate, absolutely perfect with homemade pinsa topped with red and green garden pepper, Tropea onion and goat cheese. 🐐

Happy memories of a great visit to COS in southeastern Sicily at Vittoria. This bottle was worth waiting for⭐️⭐️

16/08/2026

Summer time, family time, great w**e time 🥂🥂

Gambino Vini • Etna W**es Maria Gambino Etna Spumante Metodo Classico Extra Brut 2014 ❤️❤️❤️❤️

In solidarity with all my dear friends and colleagues on during the eruptions and earthquakes 🌋

Gambino’s vineyards are near the Mareneve road, which has been so devastated by the earthquake 😭

I’ve been saving this w**e, gifted to me by dear friends enologist Salvatore Rizzuto and Francesco Raciti Gambino 🙏🏻. Tonight is the perfect night — mother and daughter time — “alla nostra” 🥂

Crusty bead, smoke and flint, hot charcoal, mango with a squeeze of lime and a twist of bitter mandarin peel, dusted with gravel and sea salt flakes, wafted through an acacia plantation with a trail of nutmeg in its wake and the merest hint of a freshly struck match. 12 years ob and this w**e has the finest, most persistent strands of tiny golden bubbles, rising like the plume of smoke above Etna this summer.

On fine lees in the bottle for a very long time
Nerello Mascalese red grapes 🍇 vinified white

Elegant, delicious, succulent, savoury, exquisite: a perfect pairing with our Gorgonzola ch*****ne cream on crackers for a hot summer evening aperitivo. ❤️ Really couldn’t have shared this one with anybody else 😉 And I always love to here my daughters’ tasting notes (thanks for squeeze of lime Liv!) ⭐️

Stay safe Sicily, stay strong Etna, in boca al lupo for the harvest 🤞🏻🙌🏻💪💕

See you soon you have my heart 💓

Indirizzo

Verona
37135

Sito Web

https://linktr.ee/Kissmyglassx

Notifiche

Lascia la tua email e sarai tra i primi a sapere quando Italian Wines in English pubblica novità e promozioni. Il tuo indirizzo email non verrà utilizzato per nessun altro scopo e potrai annullare l'iscrizione in qualsiasi momento.