Asolo: Prosecco with a sense of place (Pt.1) On a clear day in Venice, take a moment and look inland to north-north-west. On the horizon, shimmering in a lagoon haze, are a range of hills forming the first outliers of the alps, some 60 km distant across the pancake-flat land of the pianura. Here lies the town of Asolo; perched on …
FICO Eataly World. From Farm to Fork in Bologna
FICO Eataly World. From Farm to Fork in Bologna. FICO Eataly World opened in Bologna in November 2017. Though I was in Bologna exploring the nearby Colli Bolognesi wine region, unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to visit it. Instead, I vowed to come back and, nearly a year on, I did. I went twice. This special place is all …
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British Pullman, the high life from another age
British Pullman, the high life from another age The Venice Simplon Orient Express may be one of the world’s most famous trains, thanks in no small measure to Agatha Christie. However, you can share in some of that magic and mystery with a range of special trains operated in Britain by Belmond British Pullman. An indulgent dinner while travelling by …
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Sicily, the Land of Baroque ‘n’ Roll, Part 1
Sicily – the Land of Baroque ‘n’Roll, Part 1 This land Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, symbolised by the Trinacria, representing the island’s triangular shape and fabled fertility. Winegrowing here dates back to the 8th century B.C. by ancient Greek colonies. Sicily has highly visible evidence of conquest by many civilisations. Phonecians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Normans, Arabs, Germans, …
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Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, Part 1
Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, Part 1 Vermentino di Sardegna comes from the island of wind and wine. Sardegna is roughly the size of Wales and the second biggest of all the Mediterranean islands. Being there feels like it’s an entire continent, such are the varying landscapes. Once upon a time, Sardinian Vermentino was mostly quaffing wine, cheap and cheerful. However, …
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Discovering Vermentino di Gallura DOCG
Discovering Vermentino di Gallura DOCG Vermentino is one of the many different grape varieties grown on the island of Sardegna. Most of them are indigenous, and many are unique. However, the most widely grown grapes here are red Cannonau (Grenache), and white Vermentino. Consequently, these two have become the signature grapes of Sardegna, the Isola del Vento. Doubtless, Vermentino is …
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Sella & Mosca, a unique winery in Sardegna
Sella & Mosca, a unique winery in Sardegna Erminio Sella and Edgardo Mosca founded Sella & Mosca in 1890. They came from Piemonte, transforming a poor sheep-farming area into an extraordinary vinous landscape. These rich men were also amateur Egyptologists. It’s commemorated in the winery logo, showing ancient Egyptians pressing grapes, from the tomb of Mereruka in Saqqara. The origins of …
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Getting to grips with Pignoletto. Part 1.
Getting to grips with Pignoletto. Part 1. Welcome to Emilia-Romagna, the home of Pignoletto. Not yet well known yet, it’s undoubtedly up-and-coming. It’s time to find out why. Part 1 of this article is about Pignoletto and where the best wines are from; the Colli Bolognesi area of Emilia-Romagna. Let’s start with Emilia-Romagna Emilia-Romagna is a vast region comprising nine …
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A brilliant Winemaker Dinner in the Alto Adige
A brilliant Winemaker Dinner in the Alto Adige One of the best Winemaker Dinners that I’ve been to was earlier this year in the Alto Adige (Südtirol), where Italian and German cultures meld together. The Winemaker Dinner took place in the town of Merano, some 30 kilometres north of Bolzano in Italy at the “Ansitz Plantitscherhof”. It’s one of the 29 …
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Book Review: Where to Drink Coffee
Book Review: Where to Drink Coffee Billed as the unfiltered truth about the best brew, Where to drink Coffee is newly published. Authors Liz Clayton and Avidan Ross claim that this is the Expert’s Guide to the best coffee in the world. It’s one of Phaidon’s range of hipster books, with an eye for attractive design and heavyweight paper. Other …
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