Beautiful and Affordable Piedmont!

Piedmont was on the bucket list. Why? Because the region is rich with wine and food culture. Vineyards as far is the eye can see. Farm to table dining. The region that birthed the Slow Food movement. Need I say more?
I have been to Italy more than a few times. I love Italy. Who doesn't? But Piedmont offered the trifecta of grape, delicious food, and people who are passionate about all of it. And affordable dining and lodging.
Recently I had the pleasure of spending five days leading a tour of women from the US (We called ourselves the Grape Girls!).

We stayed at Ca Brusa, an agriturismo just outside of Monfort D'Alba, one of the 11 Barolo villages. We scheduled 3 tastings a day, shopped the local markets, toured the castles, explored the hill towns and ate our way through the villages. I will post the wineries on the website www.lovethatgrape.com so you can have access to the same great hospitality we experienced!

Don't just take my word for it. Read this article from Wine Enthusiast.
See what this region has to offer!

A Taste of Things to Come

Ahead of the Inaugural Grape Girls Wine and Food adventure in the Piedmont wine region, in Italy I bought a few bottles of the regions wine, including this bottle of 2010 Le Orme from producer Michele Chiarlo, a DOCG wine from Barbera d'Asti.

I found it to be very drinkable now. Fruity and light in body, it paired beautifully with New Orleans style crawfish pie and caesar salad. Even without food it presented well, with good balance and a lush mouthfeel.

I hope to try more from Michele Chiarlo when I get there. So far I have booked appointments with Tenute Rocca, Ceretto, Conterno Fantino, Rocche Costamagna, Vietti, Marchesi Di Gresy and Marchesi di Barolo. 

Check back with us on the www.lovethatgrape.com website to find our favorite stops posted, including our stops in Milan and Lake Maggiore.

Fino ad allora...

Grape Girls go to Piedmont Italy!

I am in the planning stages of organizing a women's trip to the Piedmont (Piemonte) wine region in the northwest part of Italy for one week Sept 14-21, 2013. This is the perfect time to go and visit this region as there are two major foodie and wine fests taking place during this time, and it's the prime hunting season for the famous white truffles that this region is known for. This package will be a land only package starting in Milan for one night then spending five nights in the heart of the wine country of Piedmont at and ending up in Milan for one night. We will be lodging at Agriturismo Ca Brusa in Montforte d'Alba which is owned and managed by the Ca Brusa wine-making family and home to one of the best restaurants in the area.
If you are interested in finding out more please contact Laura through the website www.lovethatgrape.com.

More details to follow... 

2011 Man Vintner Chenin Blanc

Here in Tampa, Florida we are finally starting to enjoy warmer weather and with it--white wines.

I recently featured the 2011 Man Vintner Chenin Blanc at two Wine Safari educational events to rave reviews.

This is not a steely, lean, minerally French Chenin Blanc but a South African. A different animal. Lush, viscous, made from free-run juice with a good amount of exposure to the lees, resulting in a hedonistic mouthfeel and a full expression of fruit flavors including tropical, green apple and guava.

And a great bargain too. I recently found this on sale at Whole Foods for $6.95, thought it normally retails around US$11. 

Touring with Travelogues

Outside of wine, travel, photography, and storytelling have been passions of mine. Recently I decided to combine all four in a series of travelogues I will present in Florida this spring, starting with a travelogue at The Wine Exchange in Tampa, FL on February 12, 2013.

In March, I will be headed to Estero, FL to present a wine safari travelogue and tasting at the Rapallo community. I look forward to the chance to share my travels and adventures in wine with other wine enthusiasts and travellers.

Below are some of the slides from trips to France, South Africa, Italy, Napa, and Spain. Check back as I update this site to include the details of these trips and links to help you plan your next wine trip. 

Cheers,

Laura