On the Wine Trail in Italy

Luca Zaia (L) President of the Veneto Region
It’s been a few days since Vinitaly2024 ended. Here are some random thoughts about the Italian wine trade showthat is held for four days in April in Verona.
First off, those with a stake in such things willdeclare “The 2024 Vinitaly was the best ever!” and they will back it up with formulatedstatistics that claim “attendance was up 4% from the previous year!” And thatwill be true. From 93,000 people in ...

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrantewas made into a TV series. We’ve been watching it here on the island. I havebeen struck by how many places and themes hit home for me. In fact, I had a bitof an epiphany in this 3rd year. I don’t know how to accurately...

Since the receding of the pandemic,the wine world has seen the starting up again of traveling shows, seminars and winemakerpresentations. And of course, the return of the Master Class, on just abouteverything.
In today’s hyper-aggrandized environment for aspiringwine professionals, where certification is all the rage, one would think thatsomeone like a master sommelier or master of wine could be more than capable ofteaching such a class. And many are. Likewise...

From the archives...
Over the past month, as my personal fog has lifted, there have been dreams. And in these dreams, many of them have had family who are no longer with us. The Grande Cinema of them all is one which has taken on a life after waking.
We’re in a large family dining room. Around the table are my dad, and his parents, my grandmother and father. Also there is my dad's sister and her husband, and my dad's uncles and aunts, wives and husbands. My mother’s mother is there as well as my...