A Wine Journey

9 Jan

“There are many things I immediately fell in love with about Italy; fresh local food, the emphasis placed on spending time with friends and family.”

My love for wine (and fresh coffee) started just over 10 years ago when my parents bought a property in the Abruzzo region of Italy. I've always enjoyed wine, even before I was legally able to drink it!! (see photo). There are many things I immediately fell in love with about Italy; fresh local food, the emphasis placed on spending time with friends and family (usually around the dinner table) amazing fresh coffee which can be purchased for as little as one euro (take note Costa), the fashion and style (I still look on with envy), the beautiful language and much more. Whether you are in the North or South ; from Venice to Rome, from Naples to Sicily, whilst all unique and special in their own ways, all the above remain a constant, especially their shared love of quality wine.

Vineyards, with our village in the background

This has led me over the years to drinking many, many bottles of red however it is only recently I have wanted to learn more about wine...How it's made, how long it is aged for, the different grape varieties, the history of the wineries, and much more. I would also like to be able to pick out more precisely the flavours and aromas, not just the bold ones, but the more subtle flavours. Listening to sophisticated palettes talk about wine and articulate in words, something that they are passionate about, might seem a bit over the top but I personally find it fascinating. I used to laugh when Oz Clarke used to talk about wine on the telly, but now I get it. I suppose the only way to learn more about it, is to drink more wine (never a bad thing) but more importantly....to read, write and talk about. So here goes.....