#tbt

#tbt to Mangialonga 2013! It was the most fun wine event I have ever been to. You can get more information about it here: Mangialonga 2014

#tbt

Wishing I was back in Piemonte, hanging out with all these wonderful producers, and drinking amazing wine. Can't wait to go back this summer!

 Me and Elio Altare

 Alessandro Veglio

 Siliva Altare

1993 Vigna Larigi, Elio Altare

Mauro Veglio and Daniela Safirio

10 things to do in piemonte

1. Stay at Corte Gondina. A cute hotel run by the Viberti family. An idyllic garden, lovely rooms and wonderful staff.
2. Hug the Ceder Tree. I have never done it myself, but it is on my to do list.
3. Visit Elio Altare. In my opinion, it is a must. Elio and his daughter Silvia are wonderful, and their wine is exceptional.
4. Eat lunch or dinner at More e Machine. My favorite restaurant, with great food and great wine.
5. Mangialonga. An annual event that takes place in La Morra in late summer. It is like a marathon, but with food and wine. 
6. Visit Vietti. The Currado's make exquisite wine, and are located in Castiglione. 
7. Go to Alba. On Saturday's they have markets, and the streets are bustling with life. Many good places to eat and lots of cute shops. 
8. Eat and drink champagne at Centro Storico in Serralunga d'Alba. Say hello to Ciccio for me!
9. Truffel "hunting" is also something one should do when in Piemonte, but can only be done during truffle season in the fall.
10. If you are able, you should try to visit Maria Theresa Mascarello. She is a feisty woman who makes incredible wine. 

start of a wonderful journey

Summer 2011, I went to Cinque Terre, Italy, with my family. There I met Elio Altare, the winemaker behind Altare wines, and it was one of the most memorable moments in my life. Señor Altare showed me the love he has for his wine, and it sparked something in me. Interest, curiosity, passion, love; call it what you want, but this initial meeting has started me on a sort of journey, a journey that evolved the next summer.

Cinque Terre

Summer, 2012, I had the pleasure of experiencing a wine tasting for the first time, in Piemonte, Italiy. My Dad has long been interested in wine, and finally I had the opportunity to see what all the fuss was about. Because to me, wine was just wine. Alcohol. Some tasted good, some tasted not so good. But in the end, to me, it was just a bottle with alcoholic content. After last summer, I no longer see it that way. And I will tell you why.

I am not sure where to begin. But I soon figured out that the bottle sitting in front of me had more to it than first meets the eye. The people I met, the farmer who produce the wine, they are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. Their passion for what they do is contagious. They tell their story, using their whole bodies, explaining and elaborating on the long process behind the bottle sitting in your home. These people care for their grapes, they care for their wine, and they treat the whole process with lots and lots of love. They light up when talking about their wines, and it is clear they really love what they do.

After meeting some of the winemakers in person, it makes all the difference, at least to me. When I open a Vietti wine, not only do I enjoy the taste, but I recall all those incredible moments I had with Elena, one of makers of Vietti wine. And I think maybe that for me, that is the point. I’m not that interested in all the details of the actual process of making wine. I am interested in the people, the story, and the passion

.

Rejoice.