(photo courtesy of Yosika @ happy holiday.travel)
Picture yourself sitting outside in a balmy breeze…ever so slightly buzzed with a glass of wine from a small Italian vineyard, of which only the cognoscenti have heard.
under-the-radar vineyard in Tuscany (photo courtesy of Poggio Rubino Winery)
Wine from the Gods
You have cleverly chosen a bottle from Poggio Rubino, a winery in Tuscany recommended by Mary Ervolina, my friend who goes to Italy every year to find the best food, wine and hotels. It’s her business! More about Mary in our next post.
Montalcino, Italy (photo courtesy of Poggio Rubino)
Basking in the warmth of the sun, you are contemplating…Montalcino…ancient, hilltop town, with big green views of Tuscany. Can you see the vineyard that made your wine?
Music Transports You
Gently playing in the background is lilting, Italian music. You are transported to those heady post-WWII days made for dancing, when Italian consumption boomed and life was beautiful.
Domenico Modugno sings, “Volare!” (photo courtesy of issimoissimo.com)
“After exiting the war in shambles and starting from that moment, Italy boomed…mothers decided that each kitchen needed a refrigerator, fathers lined up in front of the Fiat dealers…an age made for dancing, playing pinball, drinking Coca-Cola and listening to music in the jukebox. This is the soundtrack of the miracolo italiano (Italian miracle).” (from issimoissimo.com)
Tuscany Food Bliss
Montalcino’s hills are alive with vineyards, cheese makers and olive groves, owned by families who’ve been lovingly perfecting their products for generations.
Tuscany’s hills (photo courtesy of Travel Across Italy)
Cheese from Heaven
A second glass of the Poggio Rubino? Certo! Who can resist? A little cheese would taste sooo good with this. How about some Pecorino from Fior di Montalcino?
I wonder how they make cheese, you muse. After watching this lovely, short video, you now know, and are inspired. “I want to go meet the goat from whence this glorious Pecorino was produced!” Surrounded by sunflowers, Fior di Montalcino is near “your” winery. No wonder they go so well together!
Sunflowers surrounding our Pecorino cheese producer (photo courtesy of Fior di Montalcino)
Olive Oil with Clout
Homemade bread and olive oil would be perfect right now. The Frantoio Franci family has been producing olive oil in these hills for generations. And won over 500 awards!
olive groves in Tuscany (photo courtesy of Frantoio Franci)
Saffron and Pasta
By now, you’re contemplating your third glass of wine.
“Basta!” It’s time for pasta…with saffron, of course! Why saffron? Because it’s a product of Tuscany. You’re going to have trofie with saffron and zucchini, a recipe from Pura Crocus, a saffron producer in nearby Val d’Orcia.
Crocuses with saffron (photo courtesy of Pura Crocus)
Buy the Best
And this is how we go to Italy now, safely: We buy the best wine, olive oil, cheese and saffron from the best small producers in Italy! We create a little bit of Italy in our homes now, after downloading that great playlist
Because it’s a whole lot more fun to buy from a small producer in Italy than Whole Foods (photo courtesy of Discover Italy)
Click here to buy, buy, buy! And, remember, Mimi’s Travel File makes nothing on your orders…although, I would be happy to come over for dinner.
Italy Later, Safely
My next post will feature a great itinerary by Mary Ervolina for our in person trip to Italy!
