On the Wine Trail in Italy

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...

We are in the month of March – whichhas been, traditionally, in the wine trade, a time when winemakers and wineryowners jet off and taste their clients on their releases, new and sometimesold. Slow Wine, Gambero Rosso, James Suckling, even Vinitaly with...