Travels In Italy

Hi! My name is Andy and Vinnie is my corkscrew…

….and we are on a mission. We are travelling the length and breadth of this enchanting country seeking out the finest artisanal wineries and vineyards for you to visit and enjoy the myriad different wines they produce.

My love affair with Italy goes back almost 20 years to the time I was seated outside a bar in Florence, enjoying the spring sunshine on my pallid English skin, when I was captivated by the beautiful intonation of a waiter taking an order from another customer. I subsequently discovered that he was speaking Tuscan Italian, considered to be the purest form of the language. At the time I could not understand a word and I knew I had to learn it..

So the journey began and, along the way, I bought a house in Italy, obtained a Master’s in Art History and led tour groups all over Italy, all the time enjoying the fruits of the winemakers’ arts.

Now the time has come to share with you what I discovered along the way, as I look for those devoted artisans who dedicate themselves to the art of viticulture and seek to produce wines that reflect the land which gave birth to them. As the famous Italian intellectual and gastronome, Luigi Veronelli wrote, “Il vino è il canto della terra verso il cielo,” – wine is the earth’s song to the heavens. So join me and let’s seek out these songs together.

Collecapretta, Spoleto

Collecapretta, Spoleto

Vinnie and I were driving down the motorway listening to one of the myriad of FM music stations with which Italian airwaves are awash. The Italians...

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A Fine Fiano

A Fine Fiano

Because there is so much to see in Italy, from the dazzling Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna to the Renaissance glories of Florence, it can be...

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A Great Grechetto

A Great Grechetto

He is a fortunate man upon whom destiny choses to smile. However, the man who understands and cherishes his good fortune, he is truly blessed. Such...

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Cacciatore di Cònero

Cacciatore di Cònero

Vinnie and I were driving in the Marche and heading towards Monte Cònero. This high peak, behind the regional capital, Ancona, has for thousands of...

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A Very Particular Pergola

A Very Particular Pergola

Vinnie and I were heading for the small town of Pergola in the Marche, a region to the east of the Apennine Mountains. As always, we were on the...

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