Wines. Words. And Wanderings. From the Italian Vineyard and Beyond.
Once a celebrated grape with origins rooted in ancient Rome, Cesanese should be one of the great native grapes of Italy; yet its troubled past tells a different story. Cultivated less than one hundred kilometers from Rome, proximity to the Eternal City dictated winemaking trends, favoring quantity over quality. Traditionally, Cesanese was a sweet, slightly […]
Read MoreIn the summer of 2021, sometime right after the languorous August days that drive respite-seeking Italians to the seaside and just shy of the beginning of harvest season, I embarked on a wine road trip through Campania. My aim was to find female producers who work with integrity, vision, and respect for the land, and […]
Read MoreThe Amalfi Coast glistens as the Mediterranean mecca for those wanting to indulge their fantasies of la dolce vita. And rightly so. The enchanting beauty of this 50-kilometer stretch of jagged coastline in the Campania region of Italy is unmatched and begs to be experienced at least once in life. But there is more to […]
Read MoreAnyone who has travelled by car or train through Italy knows how quickly the landscape varies as you make your way down the boot. Traveling southward on the Autostrada del Sole from Rome to Naples, you begin to notice how the verdant, dense mountain ranges of Lazio transform into mountain slopes resembling green ocean waves, […]
Read MoreWhen one thinks of Italian wine producing regions, Liguria is not the first that comes to mind. Nor is it second or third or fourth or….well, you get the idea. Needless to say, it is relatively unknown in terms of wine even for Italians. Perhaps it’s because the region itself is quite small and so, […]
Read MoreMay is probably one of the most lovely months here in Bologna. The weather is warm, walks to San Luca and picnics in Giardini Margherita are more enjoyable, and Piazza Maggiore and the tiny streets of the historic center are teeming with locals and tourists alike sharing spritz, Pignoletto (local white-wine) and taglieri of cured […]
Read MoreCan you feel it? Spring seems to finally be here (at least I hope)! With April now in full swing, sunny days, full piazzas, long passeggiate (walks) and lots of outdoor dining can be expected and enjoyed. Let’s hope the weather cooperates and those April showers remain at bay, since there are some interesting events […]
Read MoreEven though I have been living in Italy for a few years already (can’t believe it…time is flying!) and have been to my fair share of wine tastings, food festivals, cultural events, farmers markets, and all that good stuff that Italy is known for, I still get excited to see what’s being organized every month […]
Read MoreWhat hasn’t been written about the Sangiovese grape. A simple google search will show you that everyone who has something to say about wine has written at least once about the topic. I originally wasn’t going to write this blog post for this very reason; there is so much information out there what could I possibly […]
Read MoreThe 48th edition of Vinitaly is just a couple of days away, and this marks the third year I will be attending. As many of you know, Vinitaly is the yearly event for the wine sector and this year it runs from April 6 -9. These last few weeks I have been strategizing on my […]
Read More
ANTONIA CASERTA 