Suzanne Branciforte's Italian Grapevine

Italian Grapevine Goes on Vacation… not far, just tooling around Europe. But from Sweden to France, we saw the world through rosé colored glasses.

And the rosé put us in such a good mood, that we decided to write about it.

Versatile, at times elegant, always refreshing, the beverage of choice was French, usually Provence and always delightful.

Whether the fare was fish (pink on pink with North Sea shrimp) or veggies, a rosé always seemed to do the trick.

Left: This plate gives another name to Julienne veggies. Right: Summer salad of mango, grapefruit, spinach, fresh coriander, snap peas and sesame seeds.

Gallivanting through great Gothic cathedrals and Romanesque ruins, yours truly was on a pilgrimage of a sort.

Le Couvent Royale, St. Maximin, near Mont Saint Victoire and Aix

Sleeping in a convent and dining in the monks’ refectory was, well, a spiritual experience.

And speaking of spirits, how about the Bas and Haut Armagnac? Lucky girl that I am, I visited a producer or two.

Domaine d’Arton is in the Côtes de Gascogne. Not only did I taste their blend of Petit Manseng (one of my all-time favorite grapes!) and Gros Manseng, but even sampled a Gros Manseng in purezza (that means 100%!)

A voyage of discovery, a bon voyage!

And as you traipse through rolling hills, you stumble upon cathedral after cathedral, emerging from the fields of wheat and sunflowers…

Or what about those hallowed halls where the Armagnac lies in wait…

A gal’s gotta have some refreshment of course. And there was no shortage of foie gras or duck in this area.

Starting your day with a petit pain au chocolat doesn’t hurt either!

Refreshed and returned to Italy, we are now into the season of the vendemmia, or harvest. Here’s to the 2017 vintage!