Italian PM has a pop at British wine...

[Lord Bracknell]

For the idiots talking about how Italy switched sides in the war, I think you'll find that a lot of people were against Mussolini in the first place, and unlike Hitler he wasnt democratically elected. So it wasnt exactly a change of heart. The strength of the communist party after the war in Italy shows the level of opposition to Mussolini.

Not just opposition to Mussolini, but also opposition to what effectively became a Nazi occupation of much of Italy from 1943 onwards.

 

[London Irish]

Sod the wine, there are stories in the papers tomorrow of Berlusconi defending Di Canio's facist salutes at football, calling the Lazio idiot a "bravo ragazzo" [a good lad]

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Sod the wine, there are stories in the papers tomorrow of Berlusconi defending Di Canio's facist salutes at football, calling the Lazio idiot a "bravo ragazzo" [a good lad]

Fined €10,000 and facing a suspension, for the salute at the Livorno match two weeks ago.

He repeated it against Juventus last Saturday.

 

[The Large One]

but we are not allowed to call it Champagne are we? that is the region in france.

there was a hell of a kerfuffle about this a few years ago.

No, you have to call it 'sparkling wine', which is what Bozza did.

The Champagne region is the closest French wine-growing region to England, and ANY wine produced within the Champagne-Ardennes department may call itself Champagne, even if it is fizzy piss - it is not a guarantee of quality. The Champagne houses in France are buying up big areas of the South Downs and the Weald (it's not that flat), because of the quality of the soil and the grapes being grown.

Recently, Ridgeview beat the SHIT out of all Champagnes to win 'Europe's best sparkling wine' competition organised by some top wine nobs. So Sussex produces the best fizzy going. FACT.

 

[The Large One]

Budweiser and Fosters are SHIT.

 

[enigma]

Not just opposition to Mussolini, but also opposition to what effectively became a Nazi occupation of much of Italy from 1943 onwards.

Exactly, not that you will hear people talk about it much. People forget that Mussolini wasnt elected.

The scenes of Mussolini's hanging show what a lot of people thought of him.

Im not trying to argue that the Italians are any "good" at war, but to suggest that they all suddenly switched from one side to the other due to the thought they would lose is ridiculous, and quite frankly racist.

 

[BensGrandad]

The only Italien Wine I think that is worth drinking is Vino Noble Di Multipucanio.

A lot of the Off Licence/Supermarkets sell Multipuciano D'Abruzzo but that is vastly inferior like Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice against Tesco Blue & White Ltr pack.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The only Italien Wine I think that is worth drinking is Nino Noble Di Multipucanio.

A lot of the Off Licence/Supermarkets sell Multpuciano D'Abruzzo but that is vastly inferior like Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice against Tesco Blue & White Ltr pack.

Vino Nobile is a quality product, from Montepulciano in southern Tuscany.

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is made in a quite separate region, about 200km further south.

You're right about the one to choose. If you like Vino Nobile, you'll be ecstatic about Brunello di Montalcino.

 

[The Large One]

I used to live in Montalcino, near Siena - which, as any connoisseur knows, is the home of the mighty Brunello di Montalcino, the very best Italian wine that has ever been created.

It's bloody expensive though. The local plonk in Siena is about 5 Euros, but the Brunello is about 25 Euros a bottle there.

 

[BensGrandad]

Vino Nobile is a quality product, from Montepulciano in southern Tuscany.

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is made in a quite separate region, about 200km further south.

You're right about the one to choose. If you like Vino Nobile, you'll be ecstatic about Brunello di Montalcino.

Thank you Lord B I will try some. Thanks for the info on the D'Abruzzo I didnt know but assumed because of the name that it was the left overs or the poor quality that wasnt good enough for Vino Noble but from the same region and grapes.

Wont be able to buy it at Unwins though.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

It's bloody expensive though. The local plonk in Siena is about 5 Euros, but the Brunello is about 25 Euros a bottle there.

You can buy a bottle of the 1888 vintage Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Biondi Santi - yes EIGHTEEN 88 - for a mere £12,275

here

 

[BensGrandad]

What is the usual price in Offies or supermarkets.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

What is the usual price in Offies or supermarkets.

A case of six bottles of Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2000 Casanova de Neri will set you back £114 if bought online from Waitrose (that's £19 a bottle).

Tesco used to sell Rosso di Montalcino (identical to the Brunello, but bottled earlier) for £13.50 a bottle. When I lived in Montalcino - back in the 1970s - I used to pay about 25 pence a litre. Which is how I grew to like it.

 

[BensGrandad]

That was long before this country got hijacked into decimalisation, which cost us a fortune then and now.

 

[The Large One]

Decimalisation Day - 15th February 1971. Although the first 'decimal' coin (50p) was first produced in 1968.

 

[BensGrandad]

Think it was Monday 14th (Valentine Day )but wont argue.

 

[Yorkie]

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
The Italians gave us Lambrusco, for goodness sake!

 

[BensGrandad]

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
The Italians gave us Lambrusco, for goodness sake!

Agreed should have been made by Schweppes.

What about the cheap paki shop, not being racist, one Lambrini I think that costs about £1.50 a gallon.

 

[Gwylan]

Recently, Ridgeview beat the SHIT out of all Champagnes to win 'Europe's best sparkling wine' competition organised by some top wine nobs. So Sussex produces the best fizzy going. FACT.

I think that it beat all sparkling wines but not including champagnes. Having said that, both Ridgeview and Nyetimber have consistently done well in other tasting competitions, regularly thrashing the arses off more 'prestigious' champagnes.

We're getting some Ridgeview for our Christmas fizz this year: I'm sure it will go down a treat.

 

[The Large One]

I think that it beat all sparkling wines but not including champagnes. Having said that, both Ridgeview and Nyetimber have consistently done well in other tasting competitions, regularly thrashing the arses off more 'prestigious' champagnes.

We're getting some Ridgeview for our Christmas fizz this year: I'm sure it will go down a treat.

Just been up there today and collected my bottles. Make sure you do the taste test first - for a couple of hours.

Thoroughly recommend the 'Grosvenor', well worth the extra couple of quid over the 'Belgravia' or the rose 'Fitzrovia'. The 'Bloomsbury' you can buy in Waitrose for £15.95. At £21.95, the 'Grosvenor' is chepaer than most of the quality Champagnes.

www.ridgeview.co.uk