by SylviaItaly | Dec 27, 2023 | Italian wines, Italy, Wine study, Wine tasting
Ferrari Trentodoc is an important brand that needs to be explained.
The brand does not refer to the the Ferrari car company. Ferrari Trentodoc is Italy’s leading Metodo Classico sparkling wine producer and it is the most popular Trento DOC wine.
Ferrari is a historic label appreciated all over the world.
Ferrari Trentodoc
Ferrari Trento was founded in 1902 by Giulio Ferrari. He was an enologist, nobleman and native of the Trentino region. He was born in Calceranica al Lago in 1879.
At the end of the 19th century Giulio Ferrari spent time in the Champagne area for his study viticulture in Montpellier. Giulio was convinced that Trentino was suitable for the production of sparkling wines.
Why?
Because of the ideal climate and local mountainous terroir for Chardonnay grapes. He even brought back the Champagne region’s Chardonnay grape to plant in his own Italian vineyards.
When having planted Chardonnay grapes in Trentino to make the sparkling wine, the brand Ferrari was born. Giulio Ferrari wanted to make sparkling wines from exceptional quality!
Lunelli
Since 1952 the “large” Lunelli family runs this business. Merchant Bruno Lunelli owned a wine shop in Trento, he was a good friend of Giulio Ferrari.
Giulio had no children and one day he decided to sell the business onto Bruno. In that time the production was less than 1000 bottles per year. Now the production is about 5 million bottles of Ferrari Trentodoc sparkling wines.
Giulio Ferrari died in Trento in 1965.
Today the third generation of Lunelli is keeping the Ferrari dream alive. In the 1980’s, alongside its Trentodoc, Lunelli started bottling water (brand Surgiva) and making still and sparkling wines in other Italian regions:
- Trento wines (Tenuta Margon in Trentino)
- Umbrian wines (Castelbuono in Bevagna)
- Tuscany wines (Podernovo in Monticiano)
- Prosecco Superiore (Bisol1542 in Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG)
Podium sponsor
Ferrari is luxury wine, it is a symbol of the Italian Art of Living and accompanies the most important moments in the world of institutions, culture, entertainment and sport.
To be podium sponsor of the Formula 1 Matteo Lunelli has signed a partnership with Formula 1 to celebrate victories of the best pilots.
Matteo Lunelli is CEO & president of Ferrari Trento.
The Formula 1 podium toast is a wine made from 100% Chardonnay and available in a limited edition. The drivers present the wines with a Jeroboam 3 liter bottle of Ferrari Trentodoc.
Ferrari Trentodoc is also official partner of Juventus and the Tennis Tournament in Rome.
Cheers!
Grape growing and wine making
Ferrari has its own vineyards (about 100 ha) and purchase grapes from growers to be transformed into a varied range of sparkling wines: Non Vintage, Vintage, Riserva and Prestige Cuvée.
Metodo Classico, traditional method, stands for second fermentation in the bottle. Traditional method is a prestigious method for producing sparkling wine.
The base wine in the bottle matures in the bottle by adding the liqeur de tirage. This process is similar to making Champagne. Prosecco, on the other hand, has the second fermentation in tank.
Trentodoc is a trademarked name and falls under the appellation Trento DOC. The Trentodoc trademark was created in 2007. The two O’s in the trademarked name are designed to be reminiscent of the process of riddling.
The grapes they use are mainly Chardonnay, but also Pinot Noir is used for some labels. The DOC regulations require the producers the wine to be made as follows:
- handpicking the grapes (no machine harvesting)
- using only grapes from Trentino (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc)
- second fermentation in bottle (not in tank)
- yeast contact for a long maturing process (normally most wine makers leave the wines on the lees for longer for more autolytic characteristics)
Great vintages Ferrari tour
A visit to Ferrari includes learning about its history. Walking through the silent cellars and seeing places where the wines are produced is a wonderful experience.
In the tasting room you will get a taste from the products (in this case 3 reserve sparkling wines).
I did the Great Vintages tour. The tour is in a beautiful setting and takes about 1-2 hours. It is a must do if you are in the area!
We tasted the following wines:
- Ferrari Riserva Lunelli Trentodoc
- Giulio Ferrare Riserva del Fondatore Trendodoc
- Giuio Ferrari Rosé Trentodoc
The winery is along the river Adige and the A22 highway (Brennero). You can’t miss it.
Enjoy the wines!
Ferrari Fratelli Lunelli
Via del Ponte, 15
38123 Trento (TN)
Italië
by SylviaItaly | Jun 16, 2023 | Wine study, Wine tasting
In the first week of June I did the WSET Diploma D4 exam “Sparkling Wines”. Prior the exam I have spent a period of intensive studying and tasting sparkling wines.
The D4 exam combines two parts: theory questions and blind tasting -similar to the D5 exam Fortified Wines-. Unit 4 as well as unit 5 have 90 minutes-exam.
Both exams are strictly timed.
How does the WSET online study work?
The Sparkling Wines online course runs for 5 weeks. The course includes a D4 e-book, individual and group activities, quizzes and tasting assignments.
To be well prepared for your exam it is important to do your homework. Start studying early, at least a few weeks before your test. The benefit of good planning is to make your exam less stressful and more successful.
Every week for half an hour are chat sessions for questions to be answered by your educator. And if you have any questions coming up during the course you can always send a DM or a Chat message.
By the end of the online course there is a feedback theory test and a tasting test. Both tests give you the opportunity to see if your are ready for the exam.
Exam day
The D4 theory and tasting exams are scheduled in one day.
For the tasting exam bring your glasses with you! For the D5 (Fortified Wines) I forgot to bring them with me, shame on me.
Turn off your telephone and store all your belongings in your bag and leave it in the “bag area” in the exam room.
There will be a clock or timer that counts down in seconds, minutes and hours.
In bocca al lupo! Good luck on your exam.
Exam open response questions
The open questions can be difficult. You should aim to follow the question structure and answer in sentences and linkages between the sections, rather than simply writing a bulleted list.
It is important to read the question carefully and to highlight the keywords.
Allow some time before the end of the exam to review and refine your answers.
Exam blind tasting
Another part of the exam is blind tasting. The WSET Diploma D4 exam that have three wines to be evaluated, require us to identify characteristics in the wines.
The evaluation is always based on the SAT of WSET. SAT stands for Systematic Approach of Tasting. It analyzes a wine based on appearance, smell and taste (primary, secondary and tertiary aromas and flavours) and it draws a conclusion based on these key features.
Follow up questions are included in the blind tasting exam. You must guess the style of wine and the region of origin for extra bonus points.
Result Exam D4
Now I am awaiting my results. I have no idea if I have passed the exam. Waiting is the hardest part. Every day is one step closer to the results but it seems million miles. For the results we must wait until mid August.
I just have to cross fingers and hope for a good result.
Langlois Chateau in the Loire Valley
Last May I visited a wonderful winery in the Loire Valley “Langlois Chateau”. Especially for my D4 study I decided to visit Langlois Chateau for a guided tour and tasting.
Crémant de Loire is the regional appellation for sparkling wines of Anjou, Saumur and Touraine. Loire Valley is the second largest producer of Sparkling Wines in France. The winery Langlois Chateau is located in the heart of Saumur.
In the Loire Valley you have the opportunity to visit the winery Langlois Chateau where you will learn more about the production process and its various steps.
A local guide is more than happy to welcome you as a guest.
The visit will give you an idea of how the wonderful sparkling wines are produced while you have the opportunity to taste a few glasses of Crémant de Loir Sparkling Wines.
Santé!
by SylviaItaly | Feb 5, 2023 | Italy, Veneto
The Carnival of Venice (Carnevale di Venezia) is different to carnivals which take place in The Netherlands for instance. It is one of the most famous carnivals around the world. The celebration takes place over 10 days. This year, the carnival in Venice will take place between February 4 and February 21.
Venetian costumes and masks
Many people use the Carnival as an opportunity to dress up in wonderful, colorful outfits. Most costumes are historical and handmade in the ateliers of the city Venice. There are costumes shops all over that rent costumes.
Each costume is one of a kind item, to guarantee its uniqueness. They are stylish, luxurious and noble.
It is not necessary to wear costumes at Venice Carnival. Many tourists opt for a mask. In Venice are many mask shops selling amazing Venetian masks during carnival and most visitors will buy one. Masks are part of the Venetian tradition. They have been used on many other occasions in the past.
Masks are made of papier-mâché, velvet and lace, decorated with gold and silver leaves, fabrics, jewels, colors, crystal and leather. There are different styles of masks in Venice:
- Bautta – the traditional Venetian Carnival mask –
- Moretta – a black mask worn by women –
- Gnaga – a mask traditionally worn by homosexual men –
Piazza San Marco
“Il salotto d’Europa a Venezia”. Piazza San Marco is one of the most fascinating salon in the world! Saint Mark’s Square is famous for its unique monuments, beautiful buildings and wonderful basilica.
Piazza San Marco is a great spot to view the Venice Carnival Costumes. There is also a daily parade featuring the best costumed participants. The parade in Saint Mark’s Square is a free event and ideal for photo opportunities.
Carnevale di Venezia is a unique experience. Venice is a magical lagoon city, a city of romance, beauty and historical importance. Venice is not like any other city in Italy. During the Carnival period the atmosphere creates glamorous costume balls, creative contests, regattas, water parades and feasts.
Caffè Florian
Caffè Florian in Piazza San Marco plays a central role in the Venice Carnival. It is the oldest caffè house in Europe and it attracts many visitors all over the world during the Venice Carnival. It is the place to be!
Foodie
Carnival in Venice is not only masks and costumes, a big part of the celebration are the fried pastries, frittelle and the crostoli. During the Carnival, only at this time of the year, you can taste the typical Venetian goodies. This fried dish pairs excellent with the cold weather and the festive mood of Carnival.
And what wine is best to drink with frittelle? Prosecco! Prosecco Brut or Prosecco Extra Dry. The little sweetness works perfect with the frittelle. Cheers!
Available prosecco in our stock Toffoli Prosecco Superiore DOCG
My Carnival Experience in Venice
I have visited Venice during Carnival season multiple times. Venice is always breathtaking but during Carnival your view of culture and tradition will change. The extraordinary costumes and the elaborate masks make Venice’s Carnival a true Venetian experience. There is a huge amount to see and to do. For more information visit the website “Carnevale di Venezia“.
Happy Carnival everyone and buon Martedi Grasso (Mardi Grass) da Venezia!
by SylviaItaly | Nov 8, 2022 | Wine study
D6 is a different module in the WSET Level 4 program because you cannot prepare this exam. You aren’t actually studying as you would for a normal WSET exam.
The unit D6 Independent Research Assignment is a 3000 word research paper, not counting the references, bibliography and so on. You must answer the questions and focus on what they ask. Each question has assigned number off points, which is important to take into account.
Each year there are two wine-related topics. On August 1st two new topics are announced. One must be submitted on January 31st and the second end of July 31.
The topic for July 2022 was “Sustainability”.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a new winemaking trend, it is a popular topic in the wine industry. I found this subject interesting and I decided to writing about it. And I am very happy because I liked very much to find sources and read arguments about sustainability.
I had been collecting information through the internet, interviews and the book “Social Sustainability in the Global Wine Industry”. The internet was full of interesting sources talking about sustainability!
I kept the information, quotes, references and data in one place, which helped me a lot. After my research I combined the text and information together and created my paper.
I really learned something new. More winemakers are starting to embrace sustainable farming methods, besides organic. The sustainable wine bottle is becoming more popular!
Grade D6 exam
It took me a few months to write the final paper. It wasn’t easy at all. Some find it easier than the other parts of the Diploma exams.
But I am proud that my paper was good enough for a PASS grade. Happy me 🙂
Module D5 Fortified Wines
Now I am studying for the WSET D5 exam Fortified Wines. In November I go to Portugal to taste some fabulous port wines. I can’t wait to visit the Douro valley and some wineries: Graham’s Lodge and Quinta do Bomfim.
Cheers!
by SylviaItaly | Oct 24, 2022 | Running
Oslo is the capital of Norway and the country’s biggest city. It has a population around 700.000 inhabitants.
Last week I visited Oslo. I was there on a business trip. This was my first time in that city.
Scandinavian countries have always been unknown for me due to my life and situation in Italy. Now that I am back in Rotterdam I do lots of different work in the wine and running industry. In the Netherlands as well as abroad.
October is the ideal time of the year to enjoy the wonderful fall scenery in Oslo. It can be pretty cold but I had some gorgeous sunny days.
It’s time to celebrate the good life. Cheers!
Locals
The people are all friendly and welcoming to everyone. They are polite and speak English very well. I don’t speak Norwegian, some words sound much the same as Dutch but written a little differently. It is a Germanic language like German, English and Dutch.
For instance “damer” means dames (ladies) in Dutch, “danse” is dansen (dancing) and “du er min beste venn” says “je bent mijn beste vriend” (you are my best friend).
Just to mention a few examples of the Norwegian language.
The Royal Palace
Travel
The city is easy to travel thanks to Oslo’s public transportation system. It is pretty hard to get lost because everything is very simple to find.
And if you don’t prefer using the bus or tram, you can walk, run or bike like many locals do 🙂
Running in Oslo
Oslo is one of the most walkable -running- capitals of the world. It has many pedestrian-friendly areas.
Vigeland Park
I brought my running shoes and running gear with me to Oslo. In addition to working at the wine tasting event I wanted to discover the city as good as possible. My schedule was quite busy, so running early in the morning was my best option to explore new things.
I noticed that many people in Oslo enjoy their morning run. They love getting up early like me. Personally I don’t like to run full speed when I go outside on the streets. For me it’s important to learn about the place and appreciate the surroundings.
Vigeland Park
Running around helps me to build a better image of the city I am visiting. I can recommend it to everyone who loves running. Not only because you see more hidden gems, you feel great and energetic after the run. You’re motivated to start a new day!
Vigeland Park
Oslo has great places to spot. In the centre you find great museums, beautiful parks, modern architecture, historical buildings, galleries, harbor promenade, nice coffee bars and good restaurants.
Pastis Bistrobar
I have discovered different running routes in the city centre of Oslo. It is a wonderful green city where you can run every day.
Vigeland Park
The wonderful Vigeland Park in the city Oslo is a top tourist attraction. Vigeland Park is within Frogner Park. It is a large sculpture park by a single artist “Gustav Vigeland”.
The sculptures in bronze, granite and iron represent the cycle of human life and all its emotions. Really worth visiting!
Vigeland Park
Vigeland Park
Harbour promenade Oslo
Oslo Opera House
Also walking up the roof of the Oslo Opera House provides wonderful views over the harbour and the city.
Opera House
Oslo city
Enjoy your run in Oslo! And see you soon again, you’re wonderful.
Running routes by Sylvia
Running route 1 Wednesday October 19, 2022
Vigeland Park
Running route 2 Thursday October 20, 2022
Running route 3 Friday October 21, 2022
