Suzanne Branciforte's Italian Grapevine

I get into Verona around 6 p.m. on Saturday, just in time for Opera Wine, the kick-off event sponsored by the Wine Spectator to showcase their pick of Italy’s 100 best wines.

It’s a time for meeting and greeting and the electricity is in the air.

Just to get started – rev up the motors, shall we say! – a little Ferrari!

Here I am saying hello to Chiara Lungarotti, one of the most important ‘Donne del Vino’ (do you know the Association ‘Women of the Wine World’?) You probably know Chiara’s fabulous Umbran wine, though. Rubesco ring a bell?

This event was followed by a jaunt to Piazza delle Erbe, where the Soave      consortium was having an aperitivo.

 But our last stop – the dinner sponsored by Chianti Classico – was the show-stopper!

Have a great Vinitaly!!  Cin-cin!!