Italian Passeggiata ~ Still a Cultural Phenomenon and it Includes Foods and Wines

by | May 5, 2019 | Brut, Bubbly, Bubbly Wine, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Flavors from the World of Wine, Food & Wine, Imports, Italy, Le Marche, Sangiovese, Tuscany, Wine

Honestly, our American culture, in this May of 2019, has so drastically changed from when I was, say, 5-years old, in Maine. This seems unreal to me, now, but I do remember the first TV that came into my home. My dad was an early adopter of electronic gadgets. We had...

When It’s Traditional and It’s in Tuscany ~ Day 2

by | Mar 12, 2019 | Chianti, Chianti Classico, Italy, Sangiovese, Wine, Wine Appreciation, Wine Blogger, Wine Business, Wine Country, Wine Country Inn, Wine Culture, Wine Ed, Wine Education, Wine Exports, Wine Hospitality, Wine tasting, Wine Travel, Wine Writer, Wine-Blog, Winemaker, Winery, Wines

I was the guest of Castello di Meleto in Gaiole ~ In the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany. Hosted by Antonia Caserta (sales manager), their winemaker Matteo Menicacci, and their agronomist Giovanni Maria Farina. Antonia translated, and I was also in the company of...

When Opportunity Knocked ~ Siena Italy Was at the Door

by | Jan 7, 2019 | Chianti, Chianti Classico, Italy, Tuscany, Wine, Wine & Food, Wine Appreciation, Wine Business, Wine Country, Wine Culture, Wine Ed, Wine Education, Wine HIstory, Wine Hospitality, Wine Importer, Wine tasting, Wines

[ALL PHOTO: Jo Diaz, unless noted otherwise. Shop in Sienna, Italy] PART 1 ~ CULTURE LEADS TO WINE AND FOOD In October of 2018, a door was opened for me by Bluest Sky Group, when I was invited to join a group of wine professionals traveling in Italy. We would be...

Colonnara Viticultori in Cupramontana ~ In the Castelli di Jesi region of Le Marche

by | Nov 1, 2018 | Italy, Tuscany, Vineyards, Viticulture, Wine, Wine & Food, Wine Appreciation, Wine Country, Wine Country Inn, Wine Culture, Wine HIstory, Wine Hospitality, Wine Travel, Winery, Wines

[PHOTO: Jo Diaz – Cupramontana Headquarters] To understand wine, first we need understand its culture and people. The first time I wrote that was in 2009, just prior to a trip to Portugal. This thought was just reaffirmed, as I’m newly returned from an...