It’s not just how wine is made, it’s where wine is made. And I don’t just mean terroir. The cantina is an important part of winemaking, and not always just for what’s going on in the barrels. Often the wine cellars are architectural gems. Italian Grapevine was lucky enough to visit Rocca di Frassinello last…
Molise: The Sound of Wine. Love that. Not sure I know what it means. But it doesn't matter. What sound does wine make? Lots of different sounds, depends on where you are, at what point the wine is (pouring? drinking? slurping the last delicious drop?), and who you're with. As the following photos will attest,…
On Holy Thursday and Good Friday in Italy, it is tradition to visit the Holy Sepulchre of Jesus, but not just one... many! Usually, the magic number is seven - but as any old Italian lady will tell you, as long as it's an odd number, you're OK. (Yes, there's a veneer of pagan superstition…
Continue reading ➞ It’s Good Friday: Do You Know Where Your Sepulchres Are?
'Tis the season to be jolly, and no matter what your mood, the bubbly will improve it! So since this is the ITALIAN Grapevine, make sure the bubbly that graces your New Year's table is something from the Bel Paese: Spumante - that's the Italian word for bubbly, but don't jump to conclusions! It doesn't…
When they invite you to a party in Portofino, you go. When they invite you to a party honoring Gualtiero Marchesi, you go. When they invite you to a party in Portofino honoring Gualtiero Marchesi, you can’t believe your good luck. The famous ‘cook’ (as he prefers to be called!), is the founder of new…
On a recent jaunt to Rome, I nearly OD'd on artichokes. I know, I know, do I have no self-control? It's just that Rome is more than the capital of Italy... It's the capital of artichokes! The Roman dialect word for artichokes is cimaroli, also called mammole, and this tender variety is round and without…
August is a special month in Italy: the entire country closes down for about 2 weeks and it all looks like a Hollywood set -- where did all the people go? To the beach, to the mountains, but no one stays in town! It is also the start of the harvest time, and that is…
Suzanne Branciforte's Italian Grapevine 