Under the radar: 12 unsung heroes of Italy
Italian wines that deserve more recognition...
Richard Baudains was born and bred in Jersey in the Channel Islands and trained to be a teacher of English as a foreign language. After several years in various foreign climes, Baudains settled down in beautiful Friuli-Venezia Giulia, having had the good fortune to reside previously in the winemaking regions of Piemonte, Tuscany, Liguria and Trentino-Alto Adige. Baudains wrote his first article for Decanter in 1989 and has been a regular contributor on Italian wines ever since. His day job as director of a language school conveniently leaves time for a range of wine-related activities including writing for the Slow wine guide, leading tastings and lecturing in wine journalism at L’Università degli Studi di Scienze Gastronomiche and for the web-based Wine Scholars’ Guild.
Italian wines that deserve more recognition...
The warming climate is increasingly a factor in this revered corner of Tuscany, says Richard Baudains...
See Richard Baudains' top wines from the vintage...
Richard Baundains picks his favourites...
There are three excellent reasons for a visit...
Baricci have been making wine on this property since the 1950s...
One of the ‘sanctuaries’ of Italian wine...
An organic estate which is 'an oasis of calm'....
Donatella Cinelli Colombini is all about new beginnings...
Immersed in the natural, untamed Tuscan countryside...
These wines have a distinctive personality...
A plot recognised as one of the great ‘crus’ of the village....
Montalcino’s first certified organic estate.....
One of the longest-established families in Montalcino...
Second wines from the famous names of Tuscany...
Tuscan wine producers launch their bid...
Richard Baudains attended the Alto Adige Pinot Bianco Symposium with low expectations and memories of watery, characterless whites. Totally wowed by the wines, he explains here what lies behind the transformation.
While Tuscany may provide the most evocative illustration of Sangiovese’s prowess, it turns out this talented grape has many other homes too. Richard Baudains finds distinctive alter egos and wallet-friendly prices as he explores beyond its heartland
Richard Baudains asks Carlo Petrini about evolving tastes, the redundancy of wine scores and the rationale behind the organisation's first wine guide.
And the winner is...
The styles, regions and vintages every wine lover should know about