Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. The opposition centre-left Democratic Party accused the government party of starting yet another pointless crusade I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The latest in culture wars has erupted over a kindergarten’s decision to introduce a unisex school uniform, instead of pink for girls and blue for boys an Italian small town in the southeastern region of Apulia said it would ask first-year pupils to wear green aprons The aim of the measure, adopted at the end of July, is “to cultivate a more open and inclusive mentality by preparing aware and gender-sensitive citizens,” the school said on its website. The decision angered members of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right Brothers of Italy party, which is critical of LGBT rights and has campaigned against what it calls the “LGBT lobby”. “Enough with these follies! HANDS OFF OUR CHILDREN! KEEP GENDER THEORY OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS,” Deputy Transport Minister Galeazzo Bignami wrote on Facebook this week, his message partly in capital letters to emphasize his fury. The term “gender theory” is often used to discredit academic studies or policies that challenge traditional notions of masculinity and femininity, or state that gender identities are not fixed. The opposition centre-left Democratic Party (PD) accused the government party of “starting yet another pointless crusade” on the aprons, and of encroaching on schools’ freedom to set their policies. School uniforms are not compulsory in Italy and individual schools are free to decide whether to adopt them. “In a normal country, choosing the colour of kindergarten aprons should certainly not be news. But ours clearly is not a ‘normal’ country,” PD lawmakers Ilenia Malavasi and Claudio Stefanazzi said in a statement. The school principal, Michele Serra, played down the dispute, saying having a debate about education and inclusivity, in whatever way, was something positive. “I wouldn’t call it a controversy, I think these are normal observations and doubts which are understandable, because this is a new measure,” he told Reuters on Friday. Meloni and her allies had already waded into a gender row at the Olympics games in Paris, saying that a female Algerian boxer won unfairly against an Italian opponent. Imane Khelif failed a gender eligibility test at the 2023 World Championships but was ruled eligible to compete in Paris and went on to win a gold medal. Italy is ranked 13th out of 27 in the latest annual index by the European Institute for Gender Equality, a European Union agency that tracks progress by the bloc’s member states towards male-female equality. Italy’s score was 68.2, compared to an EU average of 70.2 and a top score of 82.2 by Sweden. But the report said Italy had the posted the largest score improvement across the EU since 2010, driven by markedly higher representation of women in positions of power. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies govt and politics"},{"score":0.700135,"label":"/law Aldi’s new wine collection is bursting with rich reds perfect for cosy nights by the fire and festive fizz guaranteed to add sparkle to any occasion.  discover hidden gems from renowned wine regions and uncover new favourites with over 85% of the collection priced under £10 a bottle.  Here’s what the experts are raving about:   Recommended by TV drinks expert, Olly Smith  Olly gives a resounding “Saúde!” to the Unearthed Beira Interior DOC (£8.49 calling this vibrant Portuguese white “utterly delicious”.   Pair this wine with roasted poultry or a creamy pasta dish for a match made in heaven.  Recommended by social media influencer, @Thewinewally   “If you like really crisp refreshing white wines this is the one said @TheWineWally on an Instagram reel earlier this month after tasting Aldi’s Specially Selected Rías Baixas Albariño (£8.99 Perfect alongside a warming winter seafood feast it’s the ultimate choice for those who crave crisp Recommended by Mistress of Wine, Sam Caporn  declares Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Champagne Premier Cru (£21.99 75cl) “the best supermarket champagne in the UK for around £20” it’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser for festive gatherings this fizz earned the title of ‘Best Champagne’ in the Good Housekeeping Christmas Taste Test this year with the judges praising its “notes of refreshing lemon” and “minerality”1.  Recommended by social media influencer, @drinkwithmeuk  Featured on her Instagram story in September @drinkwithmeuk raises a toast to the Specially Selected Nemea Red (£9.99 with its deep garnet hues and aromas of chocolate-covered cherries is the perfect companion for cosy nights in with a hearty stew.   Recommended by social media influencer, @tomgilbeywine  Praised as a “big fat wallop of a red from Aldi” Tom describes the Specially Selected Salice Salentino Riserva (£7.99 With notes of ripe and juicy plum all balanced by well-judged oak it’s a drinkable tipple to share with friends this winter.   Additional heroes in the range and available in stores now are:   a unique blend of Grenache and Malbec grapes from the sun-drenched Languedoc region it offers delicate notes of red and white fruits (think raspberries and white peaches) with a whisper of red cherry on the finish Serve chilled with a comforting autumn salad or a festive cheese board.  Specially Selected Australian Pinot Noir (£7.69 Indulge in a taste of Australia with this delightful Pinot Noir it’s the perfect wine to savour with good company.   gather around the fireplace with a glass of this traditional Chianti Reserva Crafted from Sangiovese grapes grown in the rolling hills of Tuscany this wine has been aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 24 months resulting in a smooth texture and enticing smoky notes and vanilla intertwine with a hint of spice This elegant Sancerre Rosé proves that pink is always in season Delicate aromas of red berries and cherries mingle on the nose leading to a palate that is both flavourful and dry it’s a sophisticated choice for everything from smoked salmon canapés to cranberry-glazed ham Aldi’s new Autumn Winter Wine Range is available to buy in stores nationwide now For more information, please contact the Aldi Press Office on:T: 0207 479 0910 or alditeam@clarioncomms.co.uk has found that Aldi is yet again named the cheapest supermarket for a basket of 79 essential items this month Shoppers can say ‘ciao’ to a moreish-ly meaty Italian sandwich for under £1 this summer thanks to Aldi Last week I enjoyed a very tasty and affordable red wine from Italy alongside a wood-fired Napolitan-style Margherita pizza It was Masseria Li Veli Passamante Salice Salentino DOC and it sells here for a mere $15.99 Ted Scheffler The name of the wine – Passamante – has an interesting background story According to the winemakers at Masseria Li Veli “The big vineyard of Negroamaro located next to Masseria Li Veli surrounded by a perimeter of big pine trees is just beside a forest called ‘Passamante.’ The reason for this name is that in the past people who wanted to ‘have a tumble in the hay’ with their lover this started to be considered The Forest of Lovers and took on this name from the words ‘Pass’ (to pass) and  ‘Amante’ (lover).” Passamante is made with Negroamaro – dark-skinned grapes grown throughout the Puglia region of Italy and especially in the Salento peninsula Wine made from Negroamaro typically has high tannins and cherry ruby red wine with dark cherry flavors and spice notes It was absolutely spot-on with Margherita pizza FOR MORE RESTAURANT REVIEWS GO HERE. THIS CONTENT IS FROM UTAH BITES NEWSLETTER and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers [nextcode_gallery id_gallery=”4″] Aker Restaurant & Lounge transforms Japanese cuisine with bold Latin influences, offering dishes like dry-aged nigiri and yakitori paired with inventive flavors in a strikingly elegant space. This January, Ogden becomes the center of German culture with the Sneddon Hof Germanfest. From breaded schnitzel and bratwurst to warm potato salad and spätzle, the menu offers a feast of traditional dishes. Guests can also enjoy lively performances from bands like Salzburger Echo and Chardon Polka Band, creating an energetic and festive atmosphere. Ready to dive into Utah’s most exciting culinary adventures? Learn the secrets of sushi rolling from a master chef, celebrate Bewilder Brewing’s 5th anniversary with exclusive brews, and experience the opulent charm of The Vintage Room at Deer Valley, featuring gourmet dining and stunning alpine vistas. Can non-alcoholic wines rival traditional ones? Tracy Aviary’s Wine Takes Flight offers a blind tasting experience, featuring sparkling, crisp white, and rich red wines paired with gourmet bites It’s an unwritten law that all Italians must have pasta every Sunday and at least one other day of the week. What can I say? We love our pasta. And our pizza and lasagna too. Since most of us aren’t making our own wine, I have an intriguing suggestion for you. Try Arcos Salice Salentino red, a blend of 90% negroamaro and 10% Malvasia nera from the Puglia region of Italy. I sampled Arcos a few weeks ago at Wise Guys, where I was treated to a couple of Napa Valley heavy-hitters: Stag's Leap Artemis and Caymus. Surprisingly, the Arcos held its own and really tasted great. I decided to pick up a bottle to take home for further research. I rang up Luca’s in Stow (I've got them on speed dial) for one of my go-to $12 meat strombolis with mushrooms added. I love Luca’s! The stromboli is big enough to feed the whole island of Lampedusa. Their new location in the Shoppes of Stow 2 miles north on Darrow Road is expected to open around Aug. 1. Can't wait to check out their indoor dining. I’ve had other wines from Salice Salentino but not Arcos’. This wine has delicate wild strawberry aromas with dried cherry and leather on the finish.  Red sauce is its best friend. It really gets better with every sip and swirl. Try a bottle. At $9.99, it could be your new Sunday pasta wine. Buy this wine at Krieger’s Market; both Mustard Seed Market locations; River Merchant and 101 Bottles in Kent; Acme stores No. 1, Hudson, Bailey Road and Montrose; Corkscrew Johnny's; Lakes Beverage; Top Shelf of Ohio in Jackson Township;  Buehler's in Wadsworth, Jackson Township and on River Styx Road; and by the glass at Pavona's Pizza Joint, Lock 15, Wise Guys and The Farmer's Rail in Cuyahoga Falls.  Leone de Castris is an award-winning winery hailing from the small village of Salice Salentino in Salento, Puglia. Through a rich terrain of vineyards and olive trees, the beautiful location has created the perfect conditions to develop the company’s long and illustrious winemaking tradition. On the spot where today’s cellar stands, Duke Oronzo set up the company in 1665, after he was enchanted by the landscape – even selling all his Spanish properties to make the most of the area’s rich terroir. By the 19th century, the winery was exporting bulk wine to France, Germany and the United States, and in 1925, Piero and Lisetta Leone de Castris began bottling wine. A significant milestone occurred in 1943 with the birth of Five Roses, the first rosé bottled in Italy and sold to the US market. It was such a success that Five Roses – named after the numerous generations of the de Castris family who had five children – has become the winemaker’s most important brand. This year, with the 2022 vintage, the Five Roses has changed the look: “we have searched in our roots and with excitement, we have looked to today and into the future, coloring it yellow!” The large red lettering on the yellow label wants to tell our elegant and incisive character, remaining faithful to the colors of the Five Roses label since 1943, aiming to make the name an iconic logo. Now led by Piernicola Leone de Castris, who took over from his father and has been managing director since the 1990s, the winery has grown substantially. New vines have been planted, including Chardonnay and Sauvignon, alongside traditional grapes such as Negroamaro, Malvasia nera, Verdeca, Moscato, Aleatico, and Primitivo. Emerging from these vineyards is a collection of award-winning red, white and rosé DOC wines, as well as IGT Salento, Puglia, sparkling rosé and white wines, which are distributed globally across Europe, North America, South America and Asia. However, one of the most significant label in the production is, certainly, the 50°Vendemmia Salice Salentino DOC Riserva, the pioneer red wine for this DOC in the 1970s, that made both the local grape Negroamaro e the little town Salice, Salentino, famous across the world. Piernicola Leone de Castris says: “This wine is a creation, a work of art with a thousand unique pieces, I am sure will honor those who, with sacrifice and commitment work to enhance the great potential of the native Negroamaro grape variety.” A pioneering Italian firm that produces 2.5 million bottles per year, the winemaker is committed to make the most of the land where it was born. Below are Patrick Schmitt MW’s tasting notes on a collection of Leone De Castris bottles. A bright lemon-yellow white wine with youthful, clean aromas of pear and apple fruit, nectarine, and a hint of lemon zest and dill. The flavours are ripe and refreshing, featuring notes of peach and melon, along with lemon zest, crisp apple, and a touch of herbal bitterness on the finish. Although far from thin, this is a light, relatively low- alcohol white, with lingering mouth-watering characters. A smooth pale ruby sweet wine with a fruity and floral character, featuring flavours of raisins and rose petals, and a touch of blood orange on the finish, complemented by some fine dry tannins, to give a refreshing finish to this soft, versatile sweet wine. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Consumers got the chance to taste dozens of outstanding wines in Chicago, with upcoming … The owner of Stoller and Chehalem wineries was devoted to the future of Willamette Valley … Inside the first U.S. location of the French luxury retailer, guests can enjoy fine wine at … Phase one of the Viticulture and Winery Technology program’s new home, funded by a $10 … The Tuscan wine company has purchased a minority stake in Tenute delle Terre Nere; De … While the White House has paused tariffs on foreign wines at 10 percent for now, the trade … has made major changes to its wine aisle layouts in over 2,000 stores following research and feedback from its members under the retailer’s Irresistible premium range.  Co-op commercial buying manager for wine & spirits states he is on a personal mission to make wine more accessible to consumers and in particular “The wine aisle can often be overwhelming for less confident wine drinkers and we want to help them navigate the range more easily,” he said.    The Co-op has over 4.5million active members and engages with them regularly across all sectors of its product range The wine team puts a particular focus on listening to them and engaging the team have held regular online Zoom tastings around 900 members attend these educational tastings “It was a no-brainer,” said Turner “We saw a triple-digit uplift in sales once we started these” 45% of all Co-op wine sales are from Co-op members.  The active wine members community is a rich forum for research and insights It was used to find out what its customers wanted plus what could be improved in terms of not just wine styles Results indicated that customer decisions began with price or style – the actual country of origin only appeared seventh in the decision-making tree the majority of stores have been remerchandised by style next to Shiraz and other red wines of similar style “Our research showed us that this was the best route for cross-shopping between wine styles or varietals and trading up,” Turner said.   The new wine aisle layout is supported by clear category signage like-for-like sales have increased by 5%.  Included in the in-store reshuffle is Co-op’s Irresistible brand – a curated range of exciting discoveries the Co-op went to its members for insights and advice This indicated a need to bring some well-known styles to the Irresistible line-up Pinot Grigio delle Venezie and Macon Villages have been added to the Irresistible mix.   the premium own brand line also champions the lesser-known styles including the newly released Irresistible Salice Salentino Riserva as well as the already established and well-received Swiss Irresistible La Courbe Gamaret Thanks in part to the active promotion of these wines via the online members’ forum after the six-month trial period and stay in the range.  The Co-op boasts a highly experienced team of buyers within their ranks Joe Turner commended them: “They are so passionate and proud of the products they develop and select – you can see that pride in the work they do right through to the bottle on the shelf.”   The new Irresistible gold crest has also been given more prominence on the label and has been rolled out to include Viognier VDP D’Oc 2022 Gavi Broglia 2022 and Rioja Crianza 2020.   with the entire South African range now Fairtrade Irresistible Casablanca Pinot Noir has also recently converted to 100% Fairtrade Overall Fairtrade wines overperform across total wine AWL announces creation of new global win... WSTA executive board gains three new mem... Christopher Delalonde joins Perfect Cell... Diageo GB announces new marketing and in... Viña Pomal launches first sparkling Rioj... Bodegas Baigorri partners with Top Selec... You can now view the latest Harpers supplement with our digital edition... View the Top 100 2024 competition results here.. Vergelegen – continuity and change on the Schapenberg Talking innovation and opening doors with LWC Koshu brings flavour of Japan to London Reh Kendermann: Sales Manager UK When thinking of Italian wine, Amarone, Barolo and Chianti may be what most readily springs to mind, but Richard Baudains reveals a treasure trove of original yet overlooked wines just waiting to be discovered. See his pick of 10 wines from the most exciting Italian terroirs here... 8. Salice Salentino Rosato/ Salento Rosato, Puglia Kevin the Carrot returns for Aldi's 2024 Christmas advert Aldi has announced its biggest sale on wine offering significant savings for festive shoppers this December The supermarket's award-winning Specially Selected range will see prices reduced by up to 25 per cent on more than 60 bottles The promotion runs from December 9 to December 31 intending to give customers ample time to stock up for their Christmas and New Year celebrations The extensive discount campaign is aiming to make festive celebrations more affordable with savings available across a wide variety of wines Aldi has announced 60 bottles of wine are discounted till the end of the year One of the wines on sale is the Specially Selected Bowler & Brolly English Sparkling is reduced from £14.49 to £10.85 The award-winning wine offers fruity and floral notes complemented by hints of freshly baked brioche and strawberry the Specially Selected Toscana Rosso is now at £5.75 Offers are only valid while stocks last." The wine discounts are part of several discounted items in the festive season Recently, the supermarket announced a series of kitchen items with a Christmas twist for customers to get their hands on. The budget-friendly lineup included a Hot Chocolate Maker for £24.99 a Coffee Pod Machine for £60 and a new Espresso Machine for £59.99 Aldi has released a series of Christmas discounts Former Chelsea FC and England captain John Terry has launched a selection of Italian wines under winemaker Fabio Cordella’s Wine of Champions label who is widely regarded as one of the best defenders England has produced spent two years trialling and selecting samples from a huge range provided by Cordella before settling on the trio of wines that form the John Terry 26 collection The collection boasts a white (100% Chardonnay) a Rosato (Primitivo) and a red Salice Salentino which comprises 80% Negroamaro with Malvasia Nera The wines are the result of an intense period of trialling by Terry and Cordella conducted largely remotely due to the restrictions of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic Terry told db that the process perhaps took longer than winemaker Cordella had anticipated recounting several times that he was still requesting small changes even once they were close to what both men considered ideal The former England captain joked that he warned Cordella he would be meticulous when it came to choosing the styles and blends that best expressed his personal preference when it came to drinking wine I’m going to be really picky as I love my wines and want these to be just right” right down to the label for each expression “If I’m going to put my name to something Terry remarked that it was refreshing to be able to discuss his love of wines – something that may have been frowned upon during his playing career due to the rigours of life as a professional football player The John Terry 26 collection is currently limited to a 30,000-bottle run with cases of the red Salice Salentino available to pre-order through exclusive distributor Fabio Cordella’s Wine of Champions range features some of the game’s most iconic stars We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again Kevin Pilley traces the history of Italian rosé wines which Five Roses is a famous Italian wine that should be more famous It was Italy’s first ever rosé and the first Italian wine to be bottled in Italy and sold in the US It was first sold to US troops fighting in Puglia Vines were planted in Salice as well as Guargnano Novoli and San Pancrazio in the late 17th century by a certain Duke Oronzo Piero and Lisetta Leone de Castris’s wine was tasted by US General Charles Poletti The name ‘Five Roses’ derives from a contrada so-called because for several generations each de Castris had five children white and rosé DOC wines (Salice Salentino It has a hotel and restaurant (Villa Donna Lisa) as well as a wine bar dedicated to the legendary first rosé wine to be bottled in Italy and made from 90 per cent Negroamaro and 10 per cent Malvasia Nera More and more are joining the Rosautoctono movement and standing up for Italian rosato Italian rosé wines are just not ‘one night wines’ Over 30 per cent of all wine drunk in France by the French is rosé Although the country has a long tradition of pale or low-pigmented wines most of the 2.5 million bottles it makes on home soils are exported Only 10 per cent of wine drunk in Italy is rosé The Rosautoctono movement was established by Italian rosato makers to promote and preserve wines which do not undergo complete fermentation in grape skin They judge by looks and seem to think rosé a little too pretty to drink snobs see it as an afterthought… spillage in a bottle not as a worthy food complement or a quality fine wine in its own right Italian rosato is made as other rosé wines but with Italian grapes like Montepulciano The Lake Garda region has been making Chiaretto since the 16th century from Provence came the ‘vinification by tears’ method just with the juice from the press collected after only one night of maceration The Italians are very keen on skin contact; six to 16 hours at a time The Chiaretto wines of Lake Garda come from either side of the border between Veneto and Lombardy Good producers include Matilde Poggi’s Le Fraghe In the Riviera del Garda Classico DOC on the Lombardy side of the lake the Italian rosé wines are more floral and rosé-coloured The DOC requires 30 per cent of the ancient variety the biggest producer of Italian pink wines is Abruzzo which boasts two separate DOCs Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Cerasuolo (‘pale cherry red’) uses the native Montepulciano grape The best producer is Valentini but look out also for Emidio Pepe The coral-coloured Castel del Monte Bombino Nero is another fine rosé as is Librandi from Calabria with its Ciro rosato made from Gaglioppo Aromatised by wild coast herbs (macchia mediterranea) Ciro is one of the oldest wines in the world the wine awarded to the ancient Greek Olympic champions former ‘flying winemaker’ and graduate of the University of California at Davis Mark Shannon runs the A Mano (by hand) vineyard in Noci we use 100 per cent Primitivo grapes from the Ginosa The contact time with the skins is measured in seconds “The clean juice goes through a slow fermentation at low temperatures of 7ºC to retain the delicate perfumes And you come out with exotic tropical fruit aromas and a hint of crystallised ginger followed by lush citrus The Primitivo grape contributes a blackberry character.” please register for free or log in to your account.