View from Borgo Finocchieto
I just got back from a whirlwind vacation in Italy, and I have been writing blog entries in my head non-stop since landing in Atlanta on Tuesday evening! I spent just under two weeks in Italy, starting in Rome and ending up in Lake Como. My travel comrades were my boyfriend, Rob, and very dear friends Mary Grace and Danny. Mary Grace and I both begin an MBA course of study this fall (sadly at different schools), so this was one last hoorah before we re-enter the joys of life as a student.
Town of Barolo in Piedmont
In between our time in Rome and Lake Como, we were in both Tuscany (near Montalcino) and Piedmont (near Barolo, etc.). Fortunately for me, my boyfriend humors my love of wine enough to tolerate this leg of the trip, Mary Grace is one of the people that I first discovered wine with several years ago, and Danny shares my love of wine and manages Ripple in DC, which boasts a very impressive wine list. I would go so far as to say that this trip was the perfect storm for AWESOME times, and awesome times were had. We had a number of vineyard tours and conversations with winemakers across the great wine-making regions of Italy, and after having a few days to reflect on these experiences, there are 3 themes and/or lessons that for me, are important take-aways…..
1. the importance of putting down your roots – both personally, but also in terms of maintaining your family’s legacy
2. winemaking is an art form – a thing of beauty that is to be appreciated and valued
3. slow down a little – pause to recognize the little things that make life wonderful
I look forward to sharing our experiences with readers on the blog – my next entry will focus on what I learned from the winemaker of Martin del Nero, Anna Lisa Tempestini. What an amazing woman. For now, here are a couple of my favorite pictures from our trip…
Sun setting over Montalcino hills
Me and Rob in Barolo
Martin del Nero
Look forward to sharing more about the trip this week. For now, happy sipping!
- Photo credit goes to Rob Shands
