Dreaming of Fall in Piedmont and the Weekly Menu #ItalianFWT

We are celebrating Fall in Italy this month, and I have chosen to focus on Piedmont, Northern Italy, with a Ragu di Salsiccia and a bottle of Barbera d'Alba Superiore from Josetta Saffirio.

Celebrating our Anniversary with a Hugo Spritz #ItalianFWT

This past Saturday was our 34th Wedding Anniversary.  We were busy celebrating Frank's 75th Birthday with a Cinco de Mayo party, so Margaritas and Cervezas were the pours for the night.  The following day, we visited our niece, who is nearly 2 hours away.  We finally had a quiet night alone on the 4th, which is Frank's actual birthday.  We celebrated with a refreshing Italian Cocktail, the Hugo Spritz.

Exploring Garda Bianco from Poggio delle Grazie as we enter 2026

This white wine blend from the Lake Garda region of Italy is smooth, full-bodied, and delicious.  I was sent this bottle from Susannah at Vigneto Communications and Avvinare, who was hosting a webinar featuring wines from this region.

A Favorite Italian Wine? How do I begin to choose? #ItalianFWT

Our challenge this month, given by Camilla of Culinary Cam, was to share our favorite Italian Wine.  Say what?!!  Am I really expected to choose just one Italian wine out of all the wonderful wines they have to offer?

I've decided to share a new Italian wine I enjoyed recently at a wine tasting.  This wine is from the Langhe region of Piedmont, a white wine in a land known for its reds.

Italy, Day 16-Food Trucks and Wine Widows

We got to sleep in for our last day in Italy.  We had a leisurely morning before our driver arrived to take us into Florence.  We checked into a breathtakingly beautiful hotel, Palazzo Guicciardini, and then headed out to explore Florence on our own.

The Fresco on the upper right of the collage was on the ceiling above our bed.  The room was the most beautiful of all the places we stayed, but our bed was very uncomfortable.

Italy-Day 15, San Gimignano, Collette Farewell Dinner

This was our final day with Collette Tours.  We spent the morning touring the historic (very) hillside town of San Gimignano, known for its medieval architecture surrounding a triangular town square.  The village is protected by walls and towers built to keep it safe during the Middle Ages.

Italy-Day 12, Val d'Orcia, Artisinal Pasta Factory, Montalcino, and Wine Tasting

 Another amazing day in the beautiful Val d'Orcia.  Today, we started off at a pasta factory that prides itself on using ancient grains that are grown organically and then turned into pasta using nothing more than the ground grains and water.

Two Italian Dinners, Two Wines from the Italian Alps, and a Book Review #ItalianFWT

The Italian Food Wine and Travel bloggers are visiting the Italian Alps today.  I have two wines from grapes grown in this area and two dishes that pay homage to the towns in the area.

I will start with a dish commonly found in the Alto Adige area that I served with a wine made in the USA with grapes imported from the foothills of the Italian Alps.

Celebrating an American Thanksgiving with an Italian Antipasti Platter and a Sparkling Wine from Italy that is not Prosecco #ItalianFWT

Start your Thanksgiving Dinner with some Antipasti and a bottle of Capisco Spumante from Northern Italy.

Our Italian Food, Wine, and Travel group are celebrating an American Thanksgiving with Italian Wine......

Chicken Spiedini and Il Sorriso from Sicily #ItalianFWT

It's Summertime throughout the northern Continents, so we try to beat the heat by breaking out the grills.  If we were visiting or living in Italy that might mean Spiedini.  Spiedini translates to skewers.  Any meat or item can be used.  If it is on a skewer it is Spiedini.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are cut into chunks, breaded, placed onto a skewer, and grilled.  I removed mine from the skewers before drizzling them with a delicious, buttery, herb sauce.

A Perfect Friday Night....Wine and a Book

I recently learned from my friend Evelyn Basile of Fine Wine Buzz that the book Let's Talk About Wine by Steve Ratliff was available for free from Kindle for a limited time.  Steve Ratliff was offering this book to any who wanted it but requested that we post a review on Amazon upon completion of the book.

I immediately ordered the book but waited to read it until last night when I finished reading another novel.  I will be reviewing it for you very shortly.

Pasta, Wine, and a Cookbook Review #ItalianFWT

Homemade Fettuccine Noodles tossed with Mascarpone, Ricotta, and Fresh Herbs.  I opened a bottle of Collezione di Paolo Poggerissi 2021Chianti and a Marco Bonfante 2022 Gavi di Gavi to see which paired better with this dish.

Zabaglione and a Book Review

This custard, made with only 3 ingredients, is comfort food at its finest.  A couple of raspberries and a ladyfinger top off this quick and easy dessert that can easily take the place of your after-dinner cocktail.  It is definitely not a dessert for children.

I was inspired to make this dish after listening to The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz.

La Pappardella Croatina served with the Pasta for which it is named #ItalianFWT

When you buy a bottle of wine named Pappardella it is only natural that you should pair it with the pasta for which it was named.  

We are traveling to the Lombardy Region of Italy today......

Wine Braised Pork Loin and a 2019 Travaglini Gattinara #ItalianFWT

We kicked off the Holiday Entertaining Season here on the Farm with the Food and Wine of Piedmont (Piemont), Italy.

The Italian Food, Wine, and Travel group are heading to Piedmont and the Valle d'Aosta this month....

Snacks, Wine, and Game Night #WinePW

I got a new game, Wine-Opoly, for my birthday from Roz.  My friends and family know me well.  

Italian Marinated Steaks with Angoris Schioppettino #ItalianFWT

I opened a bottle of Angoris Schioppettino Friuli Colli Orentali for this month's Italian Food Wine and Travel Club. 

The Friuli Colli Orientali designation means that this wine is from the Eastern Hills of Friuli.  This wine is 100% Schippettino, a red Italian wine grape grown predominantly in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of the country.

2 Treats from Emilia-Romagna; Gnocco Frito and Celita Sangiovese and the Weekly Menu #ItalianFWT

Tender, delicious dumplings of fried bread dough sprinkled with parmesan cheese and served with a side of Marinara Sauce pair wonderfully with this Celita Sangiovese from Emilia-Romagna.

A casual bottle of Cetamura Chianti on the deck and the Weekly Menu #ItalianFWT

Thank Goodness June is over.  It was a crazy, busy, fun month.   Last week I hosted 3 parties at my house. So on Monday instead of making the pork chops I had on the menu I ordered in pizza, opened up a bottle of wine and headed out to the deck.

Enjoying the Food and Wine of Umbria and an abbreviated Weekly Menu #ItalianFWT

The Italian Food Wine and Travel Club are exploring Central Italy this month.  I decided to visit Umbria once again, mostly because I adore Orvieto.

Come with me as we discover the food and wines of this region.....