wine stories

Personal blog by Paari & Niall

If you would like to get an inside look on what it takes to run an agriturismo and winery in Italy, you're at the right place. Welcome to Paari & Niall's personal blog!

One of the things we’ve learned over the past five years is that owning a winery in Tuscany is a bit like peeling an onion.

So this edition could be considered to be a little bit geeky but our dear gentle readers [that’s you lot by the way] will remember our last newsletter. There we were, in the immortal lyrics of Smile by Lily Allen, having “a little whine and a moan” about winter. We were, however, also looking forward to things getting busier. ‍[Editors Note: Now I see why he remembered this line although he spells it without the ‘h”….].

February 2, 2026

We’re glad January is over.

Weather-wise and work-wise

Porta gli Spritz

A person paints a colourful sailboat painting at Tenuta Golo Winery in Montepulciano

It's been a couple of months since we did this! Let's see if we remember how...

Two dogs resting on a brown leather sofa with a cozy blanket at Tenuta Golo Winery in Montepulciano, in a modern living room with a large arched window and warm lighting.

...but we are awake now. Kind of. Sort of.

The new home of Niall and Paari O'toole

Who'd thought?

A serene view of Lago Maggiore in northern Italy, with clear blue waters reflecting the surrounding Alps, dotted with small boats and framed by a charming lakeside village with pastel-coloured buildings.

September 21, 2024

….we have not one, not two, but three wines.

A rustic wooden table holds four bottles of Italian red wine, labeled Riserva 2021, Natile 2022, Tonneaux 2023, and Damarc 2023, in a cozy room with exposed beams, white chairs, and a map on the wall.

August 10, 2024

Where are we at?