Italian Wine Podcast

In this episode, we return to the beautiful Conero area of Marche where Monty Waldin meets Paolo Berluti at La Calcinara Winery. Tune in to learn more about organic viticulture, Montepulciano grapes and the importance of insects in the vineyard. Join Monty and Paolo for a "smooth and relaxed" cin cin with Rosso Conero!

Monty Waldin’s journey to Marche continues in this episode, dedicated to the Verdicchio grape and biodynamic viticulture. Monty meets Alessandro Fenino, manager at the Pievalta – Castelli di Jesi winery, and a passionate advocate of biodynamics and sustainability. Alessandro talks about the misperception of Verdicchio-based wines as “pizzeria wines” and unveils the potential of this great white grape to yield terroir-driven and versatile wines.

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Marco Moroder, manager of the Moroder Winery, in the beautiful region of Marche. Marco talks about his motocross expeditions in his vineyards and discusses Marche's wines such as Rosso Conero. Marco tells Monty about his winery’s commitment to organic and low-impact farming and presents some interesting wine and food pairings: the Montepulciano-based red wines in Marche pair well with stockfish-based dishes and “moscioli” spaghetti – moscioli are wild and D.O.P. mussels to be found along the Marche coast. Will Monty join in for a motocross ride in the vineyard with Marco? Tune in to find out!

Cows, genetics, Montepulciano, and the Conero Terroir in the Marche region: these are the ingredients of this episode of Italian Wine Podcast in which Monty Waldin interviews Roberto Mazzoni (Piantate Lunghe Winery). Join us for a Cin Cin with a glass of Rosso Conero!

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Lorenzo Marotti Campi of the Marotti Campi Winery in the Marche region. Lorenzo and Monty talk about Marche's native grapes such as Verdicchio and Lacrima di Morro d’Alba—the latter being an almost extinct grape recently rediscovered. Lorenzo also discusses wine and food pairing with Lacrima! Tune in for another vinous and gastronomic journey into another fascinating Italian wine region!

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Gerd Stepp, a flying winemaker of German origins, who worked in several countries and spent a considerable amount of time working in Italy in the Chianti region. Gerd discusses with Monty how the style of Tuscan wines changed over the last twenty years. He also talks about his favorite wine and food pairings with Chianti wines and offers some insight into the international market for Italian wine.

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Enrico Rivetto of the Rivetto Winery in the Langhe region of Piemonte. Enrico talks about Piedmontese varieties such as Nascetta, Barbera, Nebbiolo, but also a white grape called Nascetta. Enrico presents his wines and tells Monty all about his wine-making philosophy based on biodynamic principles. He also discusses his experiments with winemaking in claypot and terracotta containers. Tune in to discover another energetic Italian wine personality!

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Tim Manning owner of Vinochisti Winery in Tuscany. Tim tells Monty all about his experiments with Italian native grape varieties such as Sagrantino, Erbaluce, Vernaccia di San Giminiano, and Lacrima di Morro d’Alba. Tune in to discover another exciting wine-making and ‘wine-anarchist’ story from the heart of Tuscany!

In the second part of Monty Waldin’s interview with Paolo De Marchi, Monty and Paolo continue their conversation about the Chianti Classico landscape and terroir. Paolo discusses his signature wines and his viticulture and wine-making philosophy. Join us for a cin cin with another outstanding Italian wine personality!

In the first of this two-part interview with Paolo De Marchi, Monty Waldin digs deeper into the history of the Chianti Classico area. In this first part, Monty and Paolo discuss the end of the old sharecropping era in the Chianti region and the developments in viticulture in the sixties and seventies. Paolo also talks about the beauty of the Chianti region, the importance of biodiversity in viticulture, and research findings on wild yeasts.

In this episode Monty Waldin talks to Sean O'Callaghan who recently started a new wine project called Il Guercio in Chianti Classico. Tune in to discover another compelling story about wine making and the history of the one of the most famous wine areas in Italy and in the world.

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Michael Schmelzer, owner of the Monte Bernardi Winery in Chianti Classico. A German-American producer who arrived in Tuscany in 2003, Michael tells Monty about his viticulture studies in Australia and his "Retromarcia" wine-making philosophy --literally meaning reverse but also the name of one of their wines-- implying the commitment to go "back to simple and straight-forward Chianti Classico." Tune in for an exciting conversation about Sangiovese, Chianti Classico, and biodynamic wine-making.

In this episode Monty Waldin meets John Baum, Director of the Winemakers Club in London. John tells Monty about his career in the world of Italian wine and his fondness for the Italian regional wines of Calabria and Basilicata. Monty and John also discuss winemaking trends in popular wine regions such as Chianti.

In this episode Monty Waldin talks to Laura Bianchi, owner of Castello di Monsanto winery in Barberino Val d’Elsa in Tuscany. Laura tells Monty about the story of her family, her vineyards, and her forays in the wine business, when she was just a young woman. Laura also teaches Monty some Italian proverbs about wine, whereby you can’t have 'la botte piena' and 'la moglie ubriaca'! Tune in for some Chianti conversations and folk wisdom!

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Stefano Chiarlo of the Michele Chiarlo Winery in Calamandrana, Asti. Stefano tells Monty about his family history and his own wine-making philosophy. He also recommends a walk in the vineyard as the perfect way to enjoy the territory and appreciate the wine. Tune in for another exciting conversation about the great Piedmontese wines Barolo and Barbera!

In episode 44 Monty Waldin takes us to England to meet Ben Robson, wine merchant at Bat & Bottle in Oakham, Rutland, that specializes in Italian wine. Ben talks about sales trends of Italian wine in England and his love for Italy and Piemonte. Ben also discusses the enormous potential of the Aglianico grape and his hopes for a growth in Lambrusco. Cin Cin with Italian Wine People from all over the world!

In episode 43 we take a virtual journey to Northern Europe to learn more about the appreciation of Italian wine in Sweden. Monty Waldin is joined by Anna Ronngren Head Sommelier at Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm. Anna and Monty delve into an interesting conversation about the Swedish market for Italian wine. Anna also talks about wine and food pairings and her favorite combinations of Italian wine with Swedish food. Thirsty and hungry yet?

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Alessandro Ceretto from Ceretto Wines in the beautiful Unesco World Heritage Landscape of Langhe in Piedmont. Monty and Alessandro talk about the terroir, organic and biodynamic farming methods, and Ceretto’s famous wines: Barolo, Barbaresco, and Arneis. Join us for another #ItalianWine journey in one of the most famous wine regions.

In this episode Monty Waldin meets the “volcanic” Elena Fucci, owner of Elena Fucci Wines in Basilicata. Elena tells Monty about her forays in the world of wine and the distinctive character of Aglianico del Vulture and its terroir. Tune in also to find out what to eat with a bottle of Aglianico! Cin Cin with another charismatic Italian Wine Personality!

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Julien Boulard who is a Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador and wine educator based in China. Julien talks about his experience of learning about Italian wine last April in Verona and his favorite Sicilian wines. He also discusses the Chinese market for Italian wine. Tune in for a Cin Cin between Italy and China!