MY BLOG

When we talk about wine, first and foremost we begin with the subject of place, terroir. Although vitis vinifera was originally a wild berry producing vine, it is naturally constrained by a preferred growing zone between 30 - 50 degrees longitude north and south of the equator. As we have learned to tame the savage grape and finesse it to coax out the most exquisite elixir, we have more narrowly defined the best geographical zones, ranking them, quantifying them, analyzing

Grappolo di grechetto. Source, Wikipedia.com One of the exciting things to do when coming to Italy, besides trying all the delicious foods and site-seeing, is to sample the delicious Italian wines. Practically every region in Italy is wine producing, some not so famous, yet equally tasty. In Umbria, the white wine that is autocthonous, say that five times fast, simply meaning having an origin in the region, is grechetto. Grechetto is a white grape, often blended with treb

Tabernacolo stradale a Casamorcia. One of the primary attractions of the region of Umbria, in Assisi, and the nearby towns, is trekking along the historic trails of the via di Francesco, once followed by the faithful Christian followers of Il Poverello, on their pilgrimages to visit sacred relics at the basilicas, a demonstration of devotion to their faith. Along the via delle Sette Strade along the pianura near my home in Gubbio, one will happen upon un tabernacolo periodic

Una bella spiaggia a Monterosso al Mare, Italia It is August 15th, 2025 and I want to send to all a heartfelt, "auguri di buon ferragosto agli italiani nel mondo e tutti altri amanti della cultura italiana del nostro Bel Paese". During my first vacation in Italy I took the picture above while visiting the charming Cinque Terre of Liguria. It is a marvelous site to see all the preparation that goes into creating a beach vibe that sooths and frames the gently lapping waves.

Girasole fioriscono nel campo! Breathe the fresh mountain air. Explore the Adriatic coastal trails. Sip wines steeped in history and winemaking tradition. Meander down cobbled streets along dry-stacked walls and buildings. Marvel at the stone towers with their glorious rustic rooftops in terracotta from serene vista points. These were the thoughts that ran through my mind as I contemplated making my move to the central Italian region of Umbria. I discovered province of