Finding myself recently in the Austrian wine country, what could I do but.... Taste some of the local specialties? This is in part the fault of Willi Klinger, I want you to know, who I met in Firenze in May as he conducted a lunch time degustazione of Austrian wines during the Masters of Wine…
My father would tell me I saw the world through rose colored glasses. My response? Dad, this is how some people live, and I am going to be one of those people. What better place to confirm my belief in la Dolce Vita than Ristorante Rosa in my once-and-only home, Camogli? For those of you…
As you've gathered, I'm still digesting my experience at the Florence Symposium of the Masters of Wine. The farewell dinner was an appropriate send-off, held at the spectacular Antinori Winery in the Chianti Classico. Designed by architect Marco Casamonti, this stunning state-of-the-art Cantina wowed the crowd. How can I begin to describe this magical evening? The…
The 8th Symposium organized by the Institute of Masters of Wine will be held in Florence, from May 15 - 18. In just a few days, wine connoisseurs will convene in that cradle of the Italian Renaissance for 4 days of conferences, tastings, meeting and greeting. And there will be a significant number of the…
We are concluding a week that included two national holidays: Pasquetta, or Little Easter, on Monday, and the Festa della Liberazione, April 25th on Friday. How will we make it through next week? There's only one national holiday: Thursday is May 1st, or Labor Day! Here in my neck of the woods (Liguria), April 25th…
Continue reading ➞ Ever wonder why it’s called Genoa salame?
Today is ‘Little Easter’ in Italy: Pasquetta! Easter Monday is traditionally spent having a barbecue (you didn’t know Italians loved barbecue? They invented mixed grilled meat!!) Or sometimes having a picnic, usually associated with a walk in the countryside. This is like what 90% of the people do here on Pasquetta. You need a day…
In preparation for the wine-lover’s all-time kermesse, Vinitaly, what does one do? One gets in shape in a weekend of wellness at a thermal spa, what else? (Can you hear George Clooney saying that ‘What else?’ or does George only do Nespresso commercials in his adopted home, Italy?) Days in the sun, and nights in…
So did you catch the reference to Paolo Sorrentino’s 2011 film, This Must Be the Place, with Sean Penn and Frances McDormand (music by David Byrne)? Now everyone knows his 2013 film, La Grande Bellezza. (If you don’t, stop reading immediately and go see it – this is REQUIRED VIEWING for this blog! Winner of…
Are you a foodie? Do you love to settle down with a good glass of wine, preferably in good company? Have you dreamt of living in a Tuscan farmhouse, or in a pastel-colored stucco villa overlooking the Mediterranean?Do you want to live La Dolce Vita? If so, then… This must be the place!!! …
Suzanne Branciforte's Italian Grapevine 