Meditando l'italia (Pondering Italy)

Over Memorial Day weekend, I was tasting and Instagramming a different wine each day (except Saturday, when I had to work during drinking hours.) I’d planned to taste a rose on Monday, the holiday, to really usher summer in. However, while I was downstairs, looking at bottles and pondering how I’d managed to accumulate so much wine, an Italian label caught my eye. I went upstairs ready to get the rose from the frig, when the word (and title) “ITALY” jumped off a bookshelf at me.

I took the book from the shelf and went back downstairs for the Italian Sangiovese. Time to step away from the tasks at hand and open my mind to possibilities again. I’ve been entranced by Italy for a long time.

From where does this come? My own family ties are in the United Kingdom with 19th century Native American links.  

Maybe the Italian culture is what lures me. There is a warmth about close families, grandma making pasta, traditions. The (admittedly stereotypical) food is “comfort” food: spaghetti and meatballs, cheese, pizza, bread, and cookies. There is the Old World wine still made today with ancient grapes on ground that monks tended centuries ago—“Salute” (to your health)—and the home made red in jugs in the basement from Nonno’s backyard vines. Lately, more Italian wineries and contacts are following me on Instagram because of my food and wine posts.

And the language…swoon-worthy words like Montepulciano, Sole de Sardegna, Campania, cara bella, Toscana, Barolo, grazie mille roll seductively around the mouth and off the tongue.

This weekend, Italy kept appearing again. I was able to get reservations at a special Italian five-course dinner at a local restaurant Friday night. On Saturday, as I worked at home, PBS ran a pledge drive promo, “Visions of Italy,” an entire program of helicopter views of the countryside and coastline, and on Sunday, I turned on “International House Hunters” to find a Canadian family buying a vacation/retirement home on Lake Como. Coincidences, I’m sure. These things probably pop up on my radar because, as I mentioned, Italy always piques my interest.  

I’ve been fortunate to have friends and family introduce me to their Italian customs and foods, but at different crossroads in my life I’ve considered an extended stay—or a move—to Italy so that I can really experience the culture and learn more about this ancient country. I’m considering this again, and maybe recent people I’ve met, wines I’ve seen, new followers on Instagram, and special dinners are really part of a plan put in motion a long time ago, this time not only keeping Italy on my mind, but pushing me to pursue this path. 

5-Day Black & White Photo Challenge, Day 4 (already!)

MAY 19, 2015 IN GENERAL, PHOTO CHALLENGE

These are Concord grapes grown at Georgetown Vineyards in Cambridge, Ohio—about 30 miles west of Barkcamp. Concord is a native grape that produces jelly and wine. Most of the time Concord wine is fairly sweet, though I’ve had some less sweet that is very good.  

Believe it or not, Ohio was the leading wine producer in America’s first 50 years. Land along the Ohio River east of Cincinnati was the prime spot. Blight destroyed most of the crop in the late 1850s, however, and the Civil War took the workforce. The industry didn’t “take root” again until the mid to late 20th century. Nearly all of today’s 110+ wineries are smaller and family-run, but Ohio ranks 10th in US wine production. Wineries and vineyards are located throughout the state from the Lake Erie shore to the banks of the Ohio River.

In Belmont County, Vino di Piccin is owned by six siblings who grew up with a wine-making father from Italy. They use his recipes and order grapes from Ohio and California to make some really nice Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as blends and whites.

Black Sheep Vineyards is on the border of Belmont and Jefferson Counties in Adena, Ohio. John and Becky Black bought an old sheep farm and planted several types of grapes. The tasting room is in the big, old barn, and the wine is made downstairs. They set high standards for their wines, and it’s quite good. They have music and dinner events regularly.

Georgetown Vineyards grows some estate grapes and orders grapes, juice and fruit from various sources to create some nice wines. Their Cranberry and Rhubarb wines are kind of fun. The site is beautiful—on top of a hill overlooking the town of Cambridge.

Beyond Cambridge, west on I-70 lies Terra Cotta Vineyards near New Concord. Their wines are hand-crafted, also, and they have a nice port called Hummingbird. North of Cambridge on I-77, you’ll find Ravens Glenn Winery in Newcomerstown just a few miles west of the freeway. This is a very popular tasting room with a restaurant, a large selection of wines to try and a sizeable gift shop. It sits right on the banks of the Tuscarawas River, and they host a lot of weddings and special dinners.  

La Salute

DECEMBER 02, 2014 IN GENERAL

Sometimes I lead a charmed life. I asked friend Diane Conroy about an upcoming Sons of Italy event, their annual wine dinner. She was on the committee and invited me to the tasting to choose the wines!

The dinner is this Saturday, Dec. 6. Of course the food is authentic, and the wines are Italian.

The line-up looks like Niro Montepulciano with antipasto and bruschetta; Riondo Rosso with roasted pork shoulder and pepperoni lasagna roll-ups; Planeta Segreta and Straccali Pinot Grigio with the seafood dishes; Bartenura Moscato with dessert; a delicioso PISA Liqueur as a finish.

Thank you to the Sons of Italy for the warm welcome. I’m looking forward to the dinner!

(I was in California and Oregon during November. Posts regarding the trip coming soon, and I’ll get back on track.)  

Crush on Vino di Piccin

OCTOBER 25, 2014 IN WINE

Last week I was invited to see and photograph the crush at a small local winery, a venture run by six hard-working siblings based on their father's homemade wine. Vino di Piccin in Lansing has a beautiful wine bar and some pretty darn good wines (i.e. Angelo's Reserve and Luigi's Zin.)

Saturday was all about the California Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes they secured from an Ohio distributor. Crates of Geneva, Ohio Concord grapes sat waiting for their turn in the crusher, too.

Thank you to the Piccin family for allowing me to hang out and take some photos, for the tastes, and for being such gracious hosts to everyone who walks through the door. The glass of wine in the final photo is what Saturday's grapes will aspire to be: Luigi's Zin.