Two of the best sommeliers in the world, Andrea Grignaffini and Luca Gardini, have prepared a list of the top 50 Italian wines. The Piedmont region, one of my very favorites in Italy, has a whopping 21 wines on the list. Take this with you the next time you go to a restaurant for a…
I arrived at the San Jose Doubletree today, the beginning of my Costa Rica exploration with Perillo Tours. This is a new destination for them and they promise to introduce us to an authentic experience while staying at iconic off-the-beaten-path hotels. I can’t wait to see what this week brings. I will bring you along…
Historically, Charleston has a impressive cultural heritage. One of the best ways to learn about its colorful past and the part it played in the civil war is to take a carriage ride through the city. Stroll the gracious, residential streets of Church and Lagare, taking time to wander through the ancient cemeteries along the…
Charleston has it all; historic houses, a great civil war heritage, rivers and beaches for exploration and some of the best cuisine in the south. We stayed in a quaint little B&B near the market called the Palmer Pinckney Inn. Our room is cozy with a fireplace and whirlpool tub, perfect for a February stay.…
One last delightful evening with our friends at Relais San Maurizio, our hosts for this journey through the Piedmont region of Italy. Imagine for a minute, that you are tasting these local wines and dishes created by The chefs at Guido’s. Fried egg with Piedmontese white truffle sauce Veal and foil gras Plin Agnolotti The…
Our excursion today was to Alba, the truffle capital of Italy, but also known for their wines and chocolate (Nutella is made here). The small streets dotted with towers were charming, and as we walked we learned about the fascinating world of truffles. Truffles are similar to mushrooms and are found underground beneath trees. During…
This morning we had the opportunity to make Plin ravioli, the typical dish from the Langhe region, with Luca, the head chef at Guido’s in the San Maurizio. He started with homemade pasta of course, and filling made with three roasted meats (pork, beef and rabbit) mixed with spinach and parmesan. These are pinched together…
The owner of The Conti Winery hosted us this evening in his incredible event space. Built within the vineyard, the modern structure edged with wine barrels was set up for our small group with sparkling wine, oysters, veal tartar and other tasty morsels. Then we enjoyed yet another amazing meal, and really enjoyed the unique…
To wander through the caves of the Contratto Winery in Canelli is to walk through the history of Italian sparkling wine. The underground cellars were dug out manually when the winery was founded in 1867. They are amazing, and understandably slated to become a UNESCO World Heritage site this summer. Our guide gave a detailed…
At the Relais San Maurizio we are in the center of some of the best wineries in Italy. The Piedmont is best known for their Barolo, Barbaresco, Nebbiolo and Barbera wines as well as being the Truffle Capital of the world. Frederica of TFL Tours arranged a car so we could explore the nearby villages…