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…
I am still digesting last weekend's Symposium with the Masters of Wine in Florence... It's an event I may not stop talking about for some time to come... Does anyone know what these are used for? It didn't take yours truly long to figure it out, but can I say something? I need practice!! I'm…
Dinner the first evening in Florence was sponsored by Chianti Classico Gran Selezione and held at the exclusive Palazzo Corsini. The magnificent Renaissance palace (home to a Botticelli and a drawing by Raphael) was an appropriate backdrop. Talk about terroir! The Chianti producers strutted their stuff by making it the centerpiece! Not…
Buongiorno da Firenze! The 450 delegates of the 8th Symposium have convened and Florence is a-buzz. Things started up mid-afternoon Thursday at the Palazzo dei Congressi, and I haven't had a minute since. The tastings are amazing, the Masters are truly that.So, what are you tasting, you ask! My pick of the first quite impressive…
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…
On this Holy Day in Italy – venerdì santo, or Good Friday – the question is: Vin Santo or Vino Santo? Holy cow, as Phil Rizzuto used to say, we are not talking about the holy wine they use on the altar during Mass, OK? We are talking about sweet wines, dessert wines – although…
In Italian we say it is important to finire in bellezza, that is, to end things nicely, beautifully. It’s all about impressions and leaving a good taste in your mouth, so to speak. It’s what people remember, what they take away with them. And we can say that Vinitaly 2014 certainly ended with a bang!…
Continue reading ➞ Finire in bellezza… The Beautiful Finish to Vinitaly
Have I convinced you yet that all this tasting is hard work? When you start sipping at 10 in the morning, your taste buds are begging for a break by mid-afternoon. I don’t know if this is harder on the legs or on the taste buds. Tuesday is dedicated to some serious conferencing, as…
We are deep into it now, Vinitaly 2014. The heat is on, here in Verona – temperatures are record-breaking, and the wines are sweating. The refrigeration just can’t keep up with the sun beating down on the Verona fairgrounds. I’ve got to admit it, I prefer to sniff. The aromas are heady… I came to…
Suzanne Branciforte's Italian Grapevine 