Today is my lovely niece's 13th birthday. I find that a shocking fact but yes it's true. I recently signed up for a new website called Tiny Buddha and I find it very on point most days. Anyone who knows me even a little bit is aware of how I feel about family, my family... Continue Reading →
The Sweet Spot: Sunday With La Coume Du Roy AOC Maury
Sundays are always a mixed bag for me. Like many people I like the weekend and am always sad to see it end. To cure my malaise, this week I decided to sweeten the last hours of Sunday as I cooked tomato sauce. I also like to drink sweet wines on Sundays. Some of my... Continue Reading →
Il Giorno della Memoria – Remembrance Day
Today is called Il Giorno della Memoria. On January 27, 1945, the Soviet Army entered and liberated Auschwitz. In 2000, Italy, France and Germany established this day as a day of remembrance. As always, on this day, my Italian friends, one in particular, write to me. I will never forget the day that it was... Continue Reading →
Wine of the Week: Dashe 2009 Dry Creek Zinfandel
This Dashe 2009 Dry Creek Zinfandel made me a believer. That's been my theme over the last two days. Yes, I believe again. I believe that Obama can win in 2012 after his State of the Union. Yes I believe he has a vision again. Yes I believe he does care about the 99% again.... Continue Reading →
Italian Indigenous Varieties: Caloria from Tuscany
This week's indigenous variety is called Caloria from Tuscany. Specifically it is from the area near the city of Massa, in the province of Massa Carrara. The grape is used as a blending grape in red wines. It helps to produce light red wines with good acidity, typically Tuscan to my mind. Many people have... Continue Reading →
Wednesday Wine of the Week: Tenuta Ca Vescovo Pinot Grigio
My wine of the week is a Pinot Grigio from Tenuta Ca Vescovo. This wine is from Acquileia, a town in Friuli Venezia Giulia. I visited Acquileia many years ago and it has forever remained in my mind as one of the most mysterious Italian sites. I loved the basilica with its fascinating ancient mosaics.... Continue Reading →
Loss – Personal, Public, Professional
This has been quite the weekend of bad news I must say but I know that we all have to look to the future with optimism. Someone I know well lost someone dear to them, that horrible accident on Giglio, then the news of Giuseppe Quintarelli's death. Like almost everyone else, I was thrilled by... Continue Reading →
Thought & Prayers To Giglio Survivors, Crew and Residents
Thought and prayers to passengers and crew. I have spent many a weekend on Giglio, a beautiful island off the cost of Tuscany. It is a truly magical place with lovely people and clear blue seas. This is not the image of have of Giglio. The island is a weekend destination for Florentines and Romams... Continue Reading →
Wine of the Week: Serradenari Renoir Langhe Rosso IGT
My wine of the week is a gem that I discovered purely by chance upon meeting one of the owners of the winery, Serradenari.. I was introduced to Gabriella Spallino through a mutual friend and helped her with some translation work during meetings that she held here in New York City. Instead of payment, I... Continue Reading →
Up and Coming: Slow Wine Events in New York and Chicago
The Slow Wine Guide in English is almost here with launch events just around the corner on January 30, 2012 and February 2, 2012 in New York and Chicago, respectively. The guide and a number of producers will be the focus of events for the trade during the day and then for consumers in the... Continue Reading →