The color palates are only matched the amazing flavors on the dinner table, and the fireworks that happen when your truffle pastas and locally sourced artisanal meats and cheeses are mated with local Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, and Barolos.
This view from a terrace overlooking the valley between Montelupo Albese and Diano d’Alba, as seen from Rodello.
Before winter descends on the Veneto and all the tourists are gone, the subtle corners of the remote islands of the Venetian lagoon share their colors in quiet fall splendor.
Flowers on Torcello.
One of our favorite restaurants in Venice shared my photo of their fabulous linguine alle seppie. Delicious…and not a bad shot if I say so myself. 🙂
For a brief while our friends at Sovereignty Wines had an allocation of a very nice DOCG Chianti from just west of Florence, via the Piazzano estate. We liked it so much it demanded an investigation via Google Earth:
West of Florence, in the heart of the Tuscan wine paradise.
Drilling in a bit, we get some perspective for the closeness to the Firenze metropolitan area, while maintaining the rural roots that embody the terroir.
Beautiful. We’re getting closer. Note the purposefully repurposed plots of land, the agrarian sense of the place nestled close to developed areas…yet far enough out there in the Tuscan countryside to be what you’d want a Tuscany winery to be.
Aerial closeups.
And finally some earth level views that give up a sense of how magical this place is. The upright Tuscan cypress, the dry but fertile fields…magic all around.
Look at that view. You can see why expatriates from other countries give it up, all of it…the houses, the cars, the bank accounts, etc to go live in and amongst the Tuscans.
The sun setting behind the clouds as the vaporetto takes us past Mazzorbo, a beautiful little island next to Burano in the Venetian lagoon that we can’t wait to explore more. It’s a tired word, yes, but the only one that works for this view to our minds is “heavenly.” See you there! And definitely click to enlarge to really appreciate.
Sassi Italy Tours 