Italy

Tasting the the Sagrantino Wine Grape In Umbria, Italy

The Historic Village of Montefalco, Umbria Surrounded by Sagrantino Winegrape Vineyards GETTY Ever since I tasted a glass of Sagrantino wine at Vin Italy many years ago, I have longed to visit the Italian wine region of Umbria - the birthplace of Sagrantino. Finally, this summer, I was able to go. In addition, to visiting the ancient hilltop city of Assisi, eating delicious food, and staying in one of the most charming AirBnB's ever, I was finally able to visit two of the most famous Sagrantino wineries in Umbria. Here I met with two winery CEOs, tasted their amazing wines [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-08-31T11:15:20-07:00August 31, 2022|

Trentodoc Wine Region in Northern Italy Gaining More Recognition for Its Sparkling Wines

When I first visited this wine region in the Fall of 2016, I was astounded with its stunning beauty. Nestled high in the Italian alps with snow-capped mountains overlooking hillside vineyards, I discovered that due to the cooler climate, Trentodoc specializes in sparkling wine. After five days of visiting wineries and tasting excellent food with refreshing bubbles, I was in love. I wondered why it wasn't that well-known in America, except by wine experts and somms. Fast forward to 2022, and this hidden wine region of Italy is gaining more and more recognition for fresh and exciting mountain bubbles! Trentodoc [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-01-12T11:41:44-08:00January 12, 2022|

A Visit to Villa Margon and a Dinner with Ferrari Winery at Locanda Margon, Italy

(November 2016) On our last evening in Trentodoc we were truly spoiled with a tour and seated tasting at Ferrari Winery, followed by a visit to their historic Villa Margon and dinner at their Michelin star restaurant called Locanda Margon. Entrance to Ferrari Winery Tasting Room in Trento, Italy Ferrari was started in 1902 by Giulio Ferrari, who had a dream of creating world-class sparkling wine in his homeland of Trentino. After studying winemaking in France, he returned and started Ferrari and today it is one of the most well-respected sparkling wines of Italy. See video When we asked if [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:21:14-08:00December 12, 2016|

Visit to Five Sparkling Wineries of Trentodoc, Italy

(November 2016) When you next find yourself in the breathtakingly beautiful Dolomite mountains of northern Italy, make sure to take a few extra days to visit these wineries which specialize in producing the sparkling wine of Trentodoc, made in the traditional method with secondary fermentation in bottle. During our visit, we were able to enjoy tastings with the following producers: Dolomites Mountains of the Trentodoc Wine Region in Italy. Photo Credit: Trentodoc Wines Cesarini Sforza – Sparkling Wine from the Land of the Eagle We met with the owner and winemaker of Cesarini SforzaWinery while having dinner at Maso Franch Restaurant [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:21:59-08:00December 9, 2016|

A Tasting of 115 Sparkling Wines from Trentodoc, Italy at Palazzo Roccabruna

(November 2016) On the morning of our second day in Trento, Italy, we were invited to experience a grand tasting of 115 sparkling wines from the Trentodoc DOC. The event took place at the Palazzo Roccabruna from 9am to 11:45am, and was a self-paced tasting with several producers in attendance to answer questions. Tasting of 115 Sparkling Trentodoc Wines at Palazzo Roccabruna in Trento, Italy As you enter the ornate stucco Palazzo, there is a plaque above the door illustrating the date of 1554, when it was first constructed. Owned by a series of families over the centuries, it was also the [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:22:24-08:00December 7, 2016|

Three Days in Trentodoc Italy Tasting “Sparkling Wine from the Mountains”

(November 2016) Did you know that high in the Dolomites Mountains there are vineyards that produce the first sparkling wines in Italy using the “metodo classic” with second fermentation in bottle? Even more amazing is the fact that the Trentodoc region became the first DOC classic sparkling wine region in Italy in 1993, second in the world to Champagne. Steep Vineyards of Trentodoc Italy with Dolomite Mountains (Italian Alps) Known as “Sparkling Wine from the Mountains,” the taste of the delicious bubbly from this northern part of Italy is fresh and exciting with zesty citrus and mineral notes. With only [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:22:47-08:00December 6, 2016|

Taking the Night Train from Palermo Sicily to Rome

(June 2016) It was primarily a budgetary issue that caused us to take the night train from Palermo to Rome. The airfare was too expensive for our group, especially with all of our luggage. Besides sleeping on the train would also save on one night’s lodging, and it would be an adventure. We had no idea what a great adventure it would be, or how much fun. Many people said it was one of the more memorable events of the trip. So we took the bus from Cefalu to the Palermo train station, about a 40 minute drive. As we [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:37:06-08:00August 30, 2016|

An Afternoon Sojourn to Cefalu Beach, Sicily

(June 2016) The previous evening in Messina, we had enjoyed a group celebration dinner at LaTonnaro Restaurant. Known for its fresh seafood, we were happy with the large platters of mussels and calamari we started with, along with a local sparkling wine made from the inzolia grape. The next course was a seafood risotto, followed by a main course of stuffed swordfish. We ordered a variety of wines including several made of the grillo grape, which many people had fallen in love with, along with two different bottles of nero d’avola. Platters of Mussels at la Tonnaro Restaurant in Messina [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:37:28-08:00August 26, 2016|

The Breathtaking Views and Wines of Abbazia Santa Anastasia

(June 2016) That morning we checked out of our hotel in Messina around 8am and drove about an hour and a half along the northern coast of Sicily towards Palermo. Our destination was Abbazia Santa Anastasia, which is a winery housed in a 12th century Abbey where the Benedictine monks were making wine more than 900 years ago. Stone Courtyard at Abbazia Santa Anastasia In the 1970’s the old abbey was purchased by the current owner and converted into a winery with a hotel and restaurant. Perched on a hilltop only 7 miles from the ocean, the abbey has amazing views [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:37:49-08:00August 23, 2016|

Prince of the Volcano – Antonio at Benanti Winery on Mt. Etna

(June 2016) Benantiis one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in Sicily, and as such, only allows tastings by appointment in their family mansion located in the small town of Viagrande. There is no sign announcing the winery, and the estate is surrounded by a tall wall and high iron gates. Driving along the hilly residential road with glimpses of the blue sea below, it is very easy to miss. The Estate of Benanti Winery Fortunately our bus driver had the GPS coordinates, and Lorenzo, our guide, went inside the property to make sure we were at the correct [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:40:12-08:00August 19, 2016|

Visiting Planeta Winery on Mt. Etna, Sicily

(June 2016) The next morning we left the hotel around 9:30 to drive to our 11am appointment with Planeta Winery at their Feudo di Mezzo location on Mt. Etna. Planeta actually has six different wineries across the island, all with unique names, but they all fall under the family brand name of Planeta. Mt. Etna with Smoke on Top from Earlier Erruption First Glimpse of Mt Etna – Awe Inspiring The drive from Messina to Mt Etna was beautiful, with colorful red and pink flowers along the highway and the blue sea twinkling at us. When we rounded a corner [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:40:34-08:00August 14, 2016|

Donnafugata – A Legendary Sicilian Winery

(June 2016) Donnafugatahas always been one of my favorite Italian wineries – ever since I had tasted their magical wines at VinItaly several years ago. The experience of tasting their famous dessert wine, Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria, with its honey, apricot and nutty notes, has long stayed on my palate memory. Even more memorable were the photos they showed me of the zibibbo grapes that went into the wine. Growing on the tiny island of Pantelleria, south of Sicily and closer to the coast of Africa, the vine must be protected in holes dug into the sandy volcanic soil [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:41:01-08:00August 11, 2016|

Overview of Sicily Wine Region

(June 2016) It took less than 24 hours in Sicily to realize we were in a different country, and it was not Italy. This was a sentiment not only pronounced repeatedly by the Sicilians we met – “We are different. We are not like the rest of Italy. We used to be our own country.” – but also by the landscape, architecture, food and wine. It was different. Even the palpable energy and seemly ready instinct of the people to argue about any topic, made us realize that we were far removed from the quieter and gentler wine regions of [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:41:22-08:00August 5, 2016|

Driving from Puglia to Sicily via Basilicata and Calabria

(May 2016) Though most people take an airplane flight to Sicily, since we were already in Puglia and had a big comfortable bus with a great chauffeur for our 28 travelers, we decided to drive. It turned out to be an excellent decision because we were able to see some very beautiful parts of Southern Italy, including the non-touristy provinces of Basilicata and Calabria. The Beach in Scilla, Calabria Basilicata – Home of Aglianico del Vulture We left our hotel at 8am and eventually came to the border of the Basilicata province. Basilicata was similar to Puglia, in that the [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:41:50-08:00August 3, 2016|

Alberobello and Lecce – Two Key Cultural Sites of Puglia

(May 2016) Because Puglia is one of the oldest regions of Italy – colonized by the ancient Greeks in the 8th century BC – it is considered to have many important archaeological and cultural aspects. We visited two of these, namely the village of Alberobello and the walled city of Lecce. Trulli Houses in Alberobello Amazing Alberobello - Fairytale Town with Conical Stone Houses When I read about the village of Alberobello on my previous trip to Puglia and didn’t have time to visit, I made a promise to myself that I would return and stay there some day. Therefore, [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-23T13:42:11-08:00August 2, 2016|