the DOC wines of Breganze

I know a place where the smooth wind blows sweetly and where my eyes can see the real picture of the Paradise, with its mountains, its hills, its rivers and, everywhere, its vineyards which are eventually realized in several excellent wines.This magical place does exist and its location is in Veneto, close to the well known art town of Vicenza. Its territory includes the towns of Breganze and the very cute and characteristic Bassano del Grappa, with its famous Ponte degli Alpini, its delicious historical center and the wonderful scenery of the mountain called Grappa.



And, by the way, Bassano del Grappa is also the headquarters of grappa.You must visit the museum of grappa at Poli, a very clever and famous grappa maker and then taste its delicious grappa.



In October, from 5 to 12 in Bassano del Grappa there is the event named distillerie aperte meaning that you can visit the grappa makers when they distil the vinacce to make grappa and, perhaps, enjoy the youngest grappa you ever tasted !In this area the great architect Andrea Palladio is everywhere and, by the way, this current year is the 500th anniversary of his birth.The delicious town of Marostica is a small jewel of this area and the Altopiano di Asiago is the dear dad that watches and sweetly smiles on everything.The two holy rivers which hug these places are Astico and Brenta.Sometimes here the local people, if thirsty, drink water but, believe me, it happens rarely !!!

We are in the kingdom of the wines Breganze DOC.And, among these wines we’d like to focus on two of them: Vespaiolo and Torcolato, made with the same grape: Vespaiola. First of all, why this name ? Because the wasps like these grapes very much. And why wasps like these grapes so very much ? Oh, because of the sugar in it !

Vespaiolo has a charming yellow color, almost golden; the nose receives a very nice smell of fruit, agrumi (citrus) especially. The flavour is fresh and full.There is no doubt that the best match of Vespaiolo is with fish, especially, in my opinion, fish cooked in the salt and, of course, also with baccalà whose headquarter in Italy is this area.The winemakers of this wine are, more or less, sixteen.Among the bottles that we tasted, we appreciated particularly the Vespaiolo made by Az. Agr. Vitacchio Guerrino, where the winemakers are the two very nice brothers Vitacchio with their father Guerrino, older then 90 years, still in the winery! Az. Agr. Villa Magna whose soul and brain is the charming Lady Graziella Novello and Vignaioli Contrà Soarda di Mirco Gottardi famous also for their restaurant in Bassano del Grappa, Il Pulierin.

Then there is Torcolato, a very elegant wine whose role is at the end of a delicious dinner.The grapes are also Vespaiolo but they are hung and dried to concentrate the flavour; the added benefit is they also become sweet. The color is aged gold, the smell is strong and elegant with nuances of honey and dried grapes. In the mouth it becomes smooth in a very elegant way and it asks for biscotti.Among the bottles that we tasted, we enjoyed particularly the Torcolato made by Maculan They processes the grapes in January, then they are aged in barriques for 12 months, but before they are declared ready, they stay another 6 months in the bottle.In his opinion, the opinion of Mr. Maculan, the best moment to taste Torcolato is after five years of its harvest.A further jewel of this wonderful area of Veneto is the famous cheese Asiago DOP we told you about last summer.

A sip of nobility: "BCM, Bordolesi Cabernet Merlot “ Vicenza Veneto

The top of the Bordolese varieties and the aristocratic family producers from all parts of Italy from Sicily to Trentino, meet at Villa Favorita, a majestic Palladian-style villa, for the wine event of Fall 2008

The wine meeting of Fall 2008: In the splendid area of the Berici hills, an area of great tradition and wine vocation, south of Vicenza, the eighteen century Villa Da Porto "La Favorita" of Sarego will host on the 22nd and 23rd of November, the third edition of an exceptional event in the world of luxury wine: "BCM: Bordolesi, Cabernet, Merlot". The event, of International relevance, dedicated to bordolese wines will show the most noble bottles of the Italian and worldwide enological panorama that, for both their preciousness and their very high price, have to be considered "rare pearls " even by a public of connoisseurs. The event this year has the subtitle of "Aristocratic Wines, noble producers ", to emphasize the world of nobility and the close link it has with bordolese vairety. In fact more then twenty blue-blooded producers will attend it: Diego Planeta from Sicily; Enrico Drei Donà from Emilia Romagna; Aldo Maria Brachetti-Peretti from Marche; Duccio Corsini, Alessandro François, Leonardo Frescobaldi, Luigi Malenchini, Marco Ricasoli Firidolfi, Luca Sanjust and Ginevra Venerosi Pesciolini from Tuscany; Michael Goëss-Ezenberg from Alto Adige; Ruggero de Tarczal and Maria Josè Fedrigotti from Trentino; Alberto Cisa Asinari of Grésy from Piemonte; Lorenzo Borletti, Lorena Camerini Montruglio, Giordano Emo Capodilista, Giulio da Schio, Paolo Marzotto and Tommaso Piovene Porto Godi from Veneto. Together with those historical peerages, some pre-eminent fashion houses, will attend like Caprai and Salvatore Ferragamo.


Not only bordolesi though at "BCM", but also Merlot, Cabernet, Petit Verdot, Carmenère and Malbech. At the very unique price of 15 Euro, Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November more then 250 wines will be available for tasting, from of all the Italian regions. Fifty labels from only the province of Vicenza alone, plus some foreign countries like Argentina, U.S.A. and Israel. Finally, not only wine at "BCM", but there will also be local products: during the event one can enjoy a guided tastings that will take the participants to a journey discovering food and agriculture from Vicenza area.
The third edition of "BCM" is organized by Co.Vi.Vi - Consortium of Wines from Vicenza Area, that includes Vicenza, Berici Hill, Arcole, Breganze, Gambellara and Lessini Durello DOC, gathered at "Palazzo del Vino (Palace of Wine)", with the contribute of the Chamber of Commerce of Vicenza, Vicenza Province and Veneto Region, in cooperation with Vicenza Quality and the Association of Restaurateurs "Le Buone Tavole dei Berici (The good food of Berici) ".

The Program

SATURDAY 22nd NOVEMBER

- From 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. 14-20 Public tasting of the 250 wines present
"Discovering treasures of Vicenza area" exhibition and tasting of the local products.
- From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. "The treasures from Vicenza area marry Bordolesi nobles": theme guided tasting of bordolese wines combined with local products (only with reservation)


SUNDAY 23rd NOVEMBER

- from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Public tasting of the 250 wines present
"Discovering treasures of Vicenza area" exhibition and tasting of the local products.
- From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. "The treasures from Vicenza area marry Bordolesi nobles": theme guided tasting of bordolese wines combined with local products (only upon reservation)

TICKET PRICE: 15 € (10 € for Onav, Ais, SlowFood and Assoenologi associates)

Villa da Porto called "La Favorita", at via Muttoni in Monticello di Fara, Sarego (Vicenza). The antique residence is at 3 Km from the A4 highway, Lonigo direction, Montebello Vicentino exit.

For more information and reservations:

Palazzo del Vino (Wine Palace) 0444-896598 info@palazzodelvino.it

Alessia Benini 0444-896598 alessiabenini@palazzodelvino.it

D&B La Locanda del Fiume

When you think of Campania and its magnificent places and views, do you think of the Amalfi Coast, Penisola Sorentina and Naples? Great, but let me offer another vision and a jewel of the southern part of Campania; il Cilento.
To describe the Cilento is very difficult for me. Which words should I use to transmit the limitless charm of this territory, its origin and history (closer to Greek than Rome) and the unbelievable colors of the sea? A sea which impressed even Hemingway. Which words best describe the sweet hills where the olive trees hug the rich vineyards and the small hilltowns charming in a way far from those along the coast?
A smart point to base yourelf to explore and to discover the hidden treasures of Cilento is in Pisciotta and the magical D&B La Locanda del Fiume. The structure is the result of a perfect and sensitive renewal of an ancient flour mill about 4 centuries old. The sea is less than 5 minutes by car.
The soul of this D&B is Lady Sonia, ready at every moment to take the best care of you and to help you with your requests.
The dinner is the most delicious moment of your stay. Cucina Cilentana is unique and not similiar to that of Naples. Here at La Locanda del Fiume the secret is the high quality of each and every ingredient from the sea, the gardens and the orchard. Lady Sonia makes her own top-notch olive oil and I suggest you buy several bottles to carry home just a little bit of Cilento.
Oh, you will do so anyway because the experience will remain with you forever. I am sure you will come back soon.

D&B La Locanda del Fiume
via Fiori
Pisciotta (SA)
Tel: 0974 973 876
Bed price: €100 double including breakfast
Dinner price: €26 per person exclusive of wine

the olives need a little more time

Aren't they so pretty?

time for trebbiano grapes also

it's that time of year

2 grapes, originally uploaded by sipItaly.

Caseus Veneti

Veneto

Castello Porto - Colleoni

Thiene (Vicenza)

for dates

2008 is the 4th edition of an exhibit highlighting the cheeses made in the Veneto held in the glorious Castle Porto Colleoni.

Sample the cheeses, take a cooking course, shop in the market, and enjoy dinner at the participating restaurants who, suprise suprise, have designed a menu focused on cheese.The area's DOP cheeses are: Asiago, Casatella Trevigiana, Grana Padano, Montasio, Monte Veronese and Provolone Valpadana. Don't worry, to stave off your cheese coma, there are plenty of wonderful Veneto wines to enjoy.

Sapore di Sale

Emilia Romagna
Cervia (Ravenna)
2 weekends in September
for dates

6 days in September Cervia celebrates its salt production which goes back 2,000 years. You can taste the salt used from antipasti to desserts. There are cooking exhibitions, tastings, a market, fun for the kids, and music.

Don't miss a visit to the museum of salt set in the flats themselves which is also a breeding area for a number or rare fauna and flora species, including more than 20,000 waterbirds. These are the last remaining artisinal, seasonal salt flats in Italy.

The salt is described as 'sweet salt' because of its lack of bitterness. It's also known to be a favorite of the Pope!

The salt being brought into the town as it was in the past. Free for the asking at the Festa.

Festival of Franciacorta

Lombardy

Villa Lechi

Erbusco (Brescia)

3 days mid September

for dates

The 9th edition celebrating one of Italy's delicious bubbly wines. During the 3 days you can taste white or pink wines from over 50 producers. There are also guided field-trips to the nearby wineries available.

Cibo di Strada

Emila Romagna

Cesena (Forli-Cesena)

3 days at the end of September

for dates

Street foods from parts of Italy, Peru, India, Mexico, Turkey, Morocco, Provence, Greece and Kurdistan. The 2008 edition, it's 5th, will have a special focus on Street Coffée, tortillas and couscous.