October’s Featured Wines – 2016 Blu Giovello Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy & 2014 Villa Pillo Borgoforte, Tuscany, Italy

October 1, 2017 · by BishopsStock ·

2016 Blu Giovelll Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy $12

This wine is produced in Friuli, Italy. This white has a crisp acidity in the mouth with an almond-like finish. Before you taste, catch peach, apricot, melon and pineapple for a fruity sweetness on the nose. This is a dry wine that is light and crisp. It is a great pairing for creamed vegetable soups that are a nice fall menu item. Plus the unique blue bottle is easy to find on our shelves! Alcohol: 12%

2014 Villa Pillo Borgoforte, Tuscany, Italy $18

Borgoforte is a classic Tuscan wine. Each year Villa Pillo adds selected wines – Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot – to blend for a subtle complexity and richness. Considered a “Super Tuscan,” this has aromas of violet, black currant and rosemary accented by licorice and tobacco flavors. Grapes picked at optimum ripeness ensure a wine which expresses itself in its ripe black fruit components and full body. For smooth body and elegance, the wine is aged in small oak barrels. Wine Spectator named this as #25 in their Top 100 wines of 2016. This is a great wine with pasta, red meats and game of any kind. Alcohol: 13.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Blu Giovello, Featured wine, Friula, Italy, Tuscany, Villa Pillo

Featured Wines for January – 2015 Prodigo Sauvignon Blanc, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy & 2015 Prodigo Nero D’Avola, Terre Siciliane, Italy

January 1, 2017 · by BishopsStock ·

2015 Prodigo Sauvignon Blanc, Fruili-Venezia Giulia, Italy $13

With only a handful of exceptions, Italy’s most stylish, highest quality white wines come from Friuli Grave. This Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most vibrant and aromatic wines with fresh flavors of peach blossom and citrus fruits. It shows intense and persistent aromas – citrus blossom, stone fruit and dried hay – with a pleasant and velvety body on the palate. The bright palate offers unripe yellow peach, nectarine and bright acidity. Refreshing and easy-pleasing, it would be good to pour at parties and informal occasions. Alcohol: 12%

2015 Prodigo Nero D’Avolo, Terre Siciliane, Italy $13

It is evident that food and wine are harmoniously linked in Sicily, defining the region. It is known for its rich and full-bodied wines, as the Nero d’Avola is produced using an “appassite” method of naturally drying the grapes prior to harvest. This Nero d’Avola has a ruby-red color. The bouquet is slightly spicy and has notes of dried figs and ripe fruits of blackberry and boysenberry. The finish is round velvety with notes of vanilla. This is a wonderful wine to serve with classic Italian meals. Alcohol: 13.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Featured wine, Italy, Nero D'Avolo

November Artists-in-Residence – Lynne Lockhart & Kirk McBride

October 28, 2016 · by BishopsStock ·

Lynne Lockhart and Kirk McBride will be in the gallery with some new work in this month’s show. Stop by and hear about their new studios and Kirk’s workshop in Tuscany next May.

Filed Under: · Tagged: Artist-in-Residence, contemporary art, Eastern Shore, Italy, Kirk McBride, Lynne Lockhart, Maryland, Mid-Atlantic, oil on canvas

June Featured Wines – Carpene Malvolti Prosecco, Veneto, Italy & 2014 Piazzo Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy

June 1, 2016 · by BishopsStock ·

Carpene Malvolti Prosecco, Veneto, Italy $16

Carpene Malvolti is a Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG which can only be made in the Treviso province of Veneto on the hills between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. Carpene Malvoliti Prosecco is made from 100% Glera grapes although some Proseccos add up to 15% of other varietals. With 140 years of experience the Carpene family produces this dry, delicate Prosecco with elegant notes of ripe pear, crisp apple, and fresh bread on both the nose and palate. This is a light and refreshing wine that is great for celebration toasts and light seafood dishes. Alcohol: 11%

2014 Piazzo Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy $13

2014 Piazzo Dolcetto D’Alba is considered a light, easy drinking red wine which is produced from 100% estate grown black Dolcetto grapes. It is an intense ruby red with a strong nose of cherries plums and raspberries. On the palate this is a dry, firm wine that softens into a delicate almond aftertaste. This wine is best if it breathes before serving. Consider serving with antipasti and mature cheeses. Also a great wine for grilled pizza. Alcohol: 12.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Carpene Malvolti, Featured wine, Italy, Piazzo Dolcetto d'Alba, Prosecco

January Featured Wines – 2014 Angelini Pinot Grigio, Veneto & 2011 Terrilogio Toscana, Montepulciano

January 1, 2016 · by BishopsStock ·

2014 Angelini Pinot Grigio, Veneto, Italy $11

2014 Angelini Pinot Grigio is produced in the northern region of Veneto. This is 100% Pinot Grigio grapes and has a soft, well balanced flavors of tropical fruit and a clear, fresh finish. There is a hint of white peaches. The color is straw yellow and the nose makes one think of freshly baked bread. This is a perfect wine for winter seafood soups with fresh bread and cheese.

2011 Terrilogio Toscano, Montpulciano, Italy $11

2011 Terrilogio Toscana comes from the area near Montepulciano. This is a “Super Tuscan” blend with 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. It has complex aromas of crushed berries, cherries and hints of tobacco. This is a full-bodied with round tannins and a long finish. Consider this a winter wine since it is ideal with all Mediterranean dishes, roast, game meat and spicy cheese.

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Featured wine, Italy, Tuscany

Wine & Food Passport to Tuscany – October 10-17, 2015

July 25, 2014 · by BishopsStock ·

Join Bishop’s Stock’s “Wine & Food Passport to Tuscany” in October 2015

The gallery is working with travel consultant Paula Sullivan to create a wonderful immersion in wine and food in Italy. The trip will be from October 10-17, 2015. We will explore Chianti, one of Tuscany’s most iconic wine-producing regions. We will visit wineries and meet the winemakers, learning first hand what their expectations are for the current vintage. We will taste their wines and pair them with the exquisite cuisine of the region. In Lucca we will visit an enoteca with a tasting room in caves under the city. Thousands of bottles line the ancient walls. We will have a primer on olive oils and how to sample them. Get ready to roll up your sleeves for two hands-on cooking classes, one with our own Abbondanza Toscana chef and a second with our friend Stefania Balducci in Chianti who will share her family’s recipes. Learn about Lucca on a cultural and historical tour of the old town center and plan to spend some time browsing the shops. A full week of gastronomic pleasure awaits you on this tour! Contact the gallery for more details and check www.abbondanzatoscana.com to see where we will be staying.

Filed Under: · Tagged: Abbondanza Toscana, Chianti, Italy, Lucca, Tuscany, Wine Tourism

April Featured Wines – 2013 Falesco Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone, Umbria, Italy & 2009 Monti Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, Abruzzo, Italy

April 1, 2015 · by BishopsStock ·

2013 Falesco Est! Est!, Est! di Montefiascone, Umbria, Italy $11

The legend goes that in the 12th century, a wine-loving bishop was traveling through the Italian countryside on his way to see the coronation of the Pope. As he traveled, he would send a scout ahead of the convoy to let him know the wine of the area was good by marking “Est” (“It is”) above an inn’s door. As the scout traveled ahead to Montefiascone, the wine was apparently so good, that the scout marked that location with “Est! Est!! Est!!!” Montefiascone remains an excellent wine today, particularly so when crafted by Cotarella, who blends 50% Trebbiano, 30% Malvasia, and 20% Roscetto together for legendary results. This wine is delicate straw-yellow in color, the nose offers playful aromas of citrus, apple, and white flowers. On the palate, its crisp acidity is balanced with soft flavors of pear and melon which make for an easy-to-drink, refreshing wine. Drink this wine on its own, or pair it with grilled fish, velouté sauces, chicken satay, or oysters Rockefeller. Alcohol: 12%

2009 Monti Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, Abruzzo, Italy $15

This small, family-owned winery even involves the family dog on the bottle. “Baffo,” meaning “mustached” in Italian, is the name of Monti’s Spinone breed that appears on each bottle. The Spinone are famed as being versatile hunting dogs of ancient heritage with origins in northern Italy. The wine is unfined and unfiltered to preserve all its fleshy, fruit flavors. It has a dark, inky, red color and intense aromas of ripe blackberries, cherries, and herbs with undertones of licorice, black pepper, and smoke. It is generous, yet pure on the palate and is ripe with round tannins and delicate acidity. This offers an excellent overall structure. Pair this wine with sausages, tomato sauces, barbecue, and ancho chile-based dishes. Alcohol: 14.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: d'Abruzzo, Featured wine, Italy, Umbria

Conversation with Paula Sullivan

January 29, 2015 · by BishopsStock ·

Paula Sullivan, the travel consultant organizing our Wine & Food Passport to Tuscany will be in the gallery to provide information about this great opportunity to experience the best of Tuscany. The tour is set for October 10-18 with space for just 10 guests.

Filed Under: · Tagged: Italy, Tuscany, Wine & Food

Wines of the Month – 2012 Damilano Langhe Arneis and 2011 Tommasi Rompicollo, Italy

July 1, 2014 · by BishopsStock ·

2011 Damilano Langhe Arneis, Piedmont, Italy $21

This wine is 100% Arneis, a grape often referred to as “white Barolo” because it is grown close to some of the most famous areas of Barolo and has a similar richness. It is fresh with bright acidity, vibrant peach and passion fruit flavors and an a delightful hint of almond on the finish. There is a nutty edge, structured with a hint of tannin. On the nose there is a bit of cut grass. This is an un-oaked wine suitable for appetizers, fish courses and white meats. Alcohol: 13%

2011 Tommasi Rompicollo, Maremmma, Tuscany, Italy $15

The 2011 Rompicollo is a 60-40 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its name, roughly translated as “neck-breaking” in English, was inspired by the backbreaking labor required to farm in the Tufo-rich soils of the area. Sweet cherry and blackberry aromas are followed by a mild mouthfeel. There is initial plushness here but the wine’s texture is compact and streamlined overall. This is a great blend for something as simple as gorgonzola with hearty bread or a tradtional as a lamb shank. It is considered a smart buy receiving a 92 from Wine Spectator. Alcohol: 13%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Damilano, Featured wine, Italy, Maremma, piedmont, Tommasi, Tuscany

Wines of the Month – 2011 Riondo Excelsa Soave, Verona, Italy & 2011 Fausti Fausto Rosso Piceno, Marches, Italy

April 1, 2014 · by BishopsStock ·

2011 Riondo Excelsa Soave, Verona, Italy $11

2011 Riondo Excelsa Soave produced in the Soave DOC just north of Verona. It is made from 100% Garganega grapes
This wine is a new style of Soave. It has a generous floral nose with apricot and pear hitting the palate with zesty acidity and lingering mineral finish. This is a great wine for grilled fish or spicy seafood curry.

2011 Fausti Fausto Rosso Piceno, Marches, Italy $12

Rosso Piceno is a blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese. These are concentrated reds but with 12 month barrel aging they soften. Our selection is 2011 Fausti “Fausto” Rosso Piceno. It is 60% Montepulciano and 40% Sangiovese made from organic grapes. This is a deep purple wine with scents of violets and wild cherry. On the palate it is clean with crisp cherry flavors and a hint of oak. This is a great pasta wine but consider pairing it with grilled sausages or hearty grilled chicken.

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Fausti, Featured wine, Italy, Marches, Riondo, Rosso Piceno, Soave, Veneto