Author: italiangrapevine
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Revolutionary Road
The road to Fattoria La Rivolta twists and turns through the Campania countryside, affording stunning views of that enormous mountain, Taburno, which lies on its back like an overstuffed matron reclining on a day bed. Over the days I spent in the Sannio region, I was able to glimpse many views of the sleeping giant…
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Bewitched by Strega
It’s the bewitching hour… You know, that time just before dinner when your taste buds cry out “Aperitivo time!” Well this Halloween season will see me mixing some alternatives to a Spritz because I’ve just learned some new recipes with a most enchanting ingredient: the liquor Strega! Everyone knows that ‘Strega’ means witch, thanks to…
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My Summer of Discovery, Part II: Irpinia
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in Benevento, Campania, Culture, Donne del Vino, Falanghina, Food, Irpinia, Pizza, Sannio, Uncategorized, WineThis summer I visited Irpinia, Sannio, Daunia, and Lucania. What? You’ve never heard of these places? And you thought you knew your Italian geography! These are not Children of a Lesser Italy, but big, delicious food&wine regions that you may know by other names. Today I’m focusing on Irpinia, a mountainous area inland from Naples,…
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Campania Felix Part I: Sunny Sannio
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When the Romans ruled the world, the region of Naples – Campania – was the breadbasket for the Empire. No mistake then that Pliny the Elder (who actually died in the eruption of Vesuvius at nearby Pompeii!) called it Campania Felix, or the happy countryside. The fertility of this land and its bounty are readily…
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Moonstruck in Luni: The New Cantine Bosoni
Maybe I’ve been inspired by the recent Blue Moon, but while the summer here in Italy seems to be ending, and quite abruptly at that, I’d like to flashback to a beautiful start to the summer, with the inauguration of the new winery at Cantine Lvnae. This party was long-awaited, delayed by the Covid moment.…
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A Midsummer Night’s Tasting
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I know it’s August and we’re supposed to be on vacation, but I just can’t keep myself out of the vineyards! When I decided, pretty spur of the moment, to escape to a Mediterranean island with crystal clear blue waters, snorkel and mask in hand, I packed the essentials: 4 summer dresses, 3 bikinis, 2…
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Bartolotta Strikes Again!
Lucky me got to participate in a tasting sponsored by the Consorzio Tutela Lugana DOC at this year’s Vinitaly. Led by wine expert at large, Filippo Bartolotta, this was one stylin’ tasting! Get a load of those graphics – so chic! Edoardo Peduto, the director of the Consorzio, gave a very professional, business-oriented intro, setting…
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A Class Act
Re-imagining Italian Whites: this was a Master Class appropriately enough held by a Master…. of Wine. Gabriele Gorelli MW treated us to an informative, dare I say entertaining?, presentation of the unexpected: Italian whites. This was an unusual Vinitaly all around, from the freezing temperatures like some kind of April Fools joke, to a general…
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35 Years Young
The national association of the Women of Wine, Le Donne del Vino, is turning 35 years old. And to celebrate, a tasting was held. Led by the talented and lovely Cristina Mercuri, a WSET Diploma holder who is well on her way to being the first Italian female Master of Wine, the tasting was called…
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A Million Reasons
There’s a million reasons to love Italian wine and the Wine Spectator-sponsored Opera Wine that kicks off Verona’s Vinitaly is proof. Yesterday, 130 (yes, 130) of Italy’s top wines could be sampled by the lucky Opera Wine invited guests. Usually we are used to talking in round numbers, like say 100. Or even a million.…
Suzanne Branciforte's Italian Grapevine 