So I’ve made it to Italy, the next chapter. Unfortunately it is to be a short one - there is a baby to meet in Abuquerque next week!

While this part of my journey is not really wine-inspired, I can’t help but give it its due here as, in effect, it is Italy that inspired the wine.

I know it is somewhat cliche’ for my generation of Americans, but it truly was my junior year abroad - in Bologna - that caused my passion for wine (and, frankly, for all the finer things in life) to flourish. Thanks to the presence of a couple of similarly interested American pals, and to a brilliant pair of southern Italian blue eyes belonging to one of the most naturally gifted chefs I know, an interest that began out of a simple desire to eat as well (and cheaply) as possible while on a student budget grew exponentially into an obsession with food and wine that quickly became my primary pursuit in life.

I returned home with my new passion and a fluency in Italian, began to seek work in restaurants with real wine lists, and eventually ended up at Italian Wine Merchants, which you could make a strong case for being the best Italian wine store outside of Italy. This all, in turn, led to my tenure at Winebow… I suppose you could say the rest is history.

I was drawn back here twice in quick succession after my year in Bologna (those eyes again), but until yesterday it had been three and a half years since I’d been here. It was during that time that I truly learned about wine… needless to say, this is an exciting return. Of course, given the wines I drank in the past two weeks (there will be a list forthcoming), I have to confess I’m at least as excited about the Mozzarella di Bufala as I am the wine I’ve had so far.

What can I say, I’ve been a little distracted.

So I’m in Milan for the moment, eating and strolling and generally relaxing after 2 weeks of harvest. Thursday morning I head to Bologna, where I will spend the afternoon eating what in my humble(?) opinion is the best pizza and gelato on the planet. And yes, I HAVE been to Naples. Then I’m off to Rome for a couple of days to see some dear friends (and keep eating) before one last night in Paris (Saturday), and then NYC (Sunday).

I know this is kind of a weak post, but I couldn’t bear to keep you in total suspense, and right now it’s the best I can do. I imagine next time I post I’ll be on my home turf (briefly), but in the case that you just can’t bear the thought of not hearing from me until then, I will be posting photos regularly. The harvest pics are already up.

Salute!

October 2nd, 2007 | vita