Wine Education and Tips
Federico, an Italian wine importer based in Tokyo, explains how to choose wines that complement Japan's autumn table. Discover the best Italian grape varieties and regions to pair with matsutake, sukiyaki, and hot pot.
Appassimento is Italy's traditional winemaking technique of drying harvested grapes to concentrate their sugars, aromas, and flavors. From ancient Roman passum to Doppio Passo's double-pass process, a sommelier explains 2,000 years of Italian craftsmanship.
Tannins are the natural polyphenols that give red wine its grip and structure. From grape variety rankings to the 14th-century Tuscan Governo technique, an Italian sommelier explains what tannins are and how to enjoy them.
The story behind Super Tuscan wines — how they emerged by breaking Italy's appellation rules, why IGT does not mean inferior, food pairings, and when to drink them. Explained by an Italian-born wine importer in Tokyo.
Stop reading labels and start choosing by region and colour. Here's the Italian way of picking wine — the same principle behind the house carafe at any Roman trattoria — applied to your everyday table.
From gifts to everyday use, Federico explains how to choose a red wine set. A quick-reference chart by budget, style, and region, plus two SWIRL picks starting from ¥2,200.