What is a Rustic Wine?

The first word that popped into my mind when sampling this Dolcetto is “rustic”, which is a fairly common wine descriptor. What does it mean?

Many people seem to mean wine that is simple and unsophisticated. But there are lots of simple, unsophisticated wines on the bottom shelf of the supermarket that are not rustic, so “simple and unsophisticated” doesn’t really get to the heart of what
“rustic” means. The word “rustic” in any context means having qualities ascribed to country life. People growing up in the country are alleged to be sturdy, unpolished, and a little rough. These are  terms that better describe “rustic wine” and they more clearly distinguish rustic wines from  inexpensive supermarket wines, which lack the structure to be sturdy and are anything but rough since they are smooth and designed for easy drinking.

“Sturdy, unpolished and little rough” well describes this…

Venice blew me away, which was surprising. I feared that a place with so much hype could never live up to its reputation. In fact, I almost didn’t go at all. But I am so glad I did!

Venice is just as beautiful and romantic as everyone says it is. It is not, however, hot and smelly and full of rats (as some people say as well). Perhaps that was just my luck as I went in April before it got too hot and crowded. Bottom line: seeing Venice is a must!

Dos

• Take a water taxi on the Grand Canal. If you can, get a seat at the front—you’ll get some amazing photos.
• Get lost. Walking around Venice is the best way to see it. There’s beauty around every corner from an unexpected statue to a windowsill garden.
• Buy a glass bead necklace. They are lovely and it’s a…

“The Venetian gondola is as free and graceful, in its gliding movement, as a serpent. It is twenty or thirty feet long and is narrow and deep like a canoe; its sharp bow and stern sweep upward from the water like the horns of a crescent…. The bow is ornamented with a battle axe attachment that threatens to cut passing boats in two.”                                                                                                 Mark Twain – ‘The Innocents Abroad’

Today we were returning to Venice with the main objective being to take a gondola ride so after breakfast we made our way to the railway station for a second train ride to…

How many times when I see someone drinking an under $10 bottle of wine do I hear the phrase “IT’S PRETTY GOOD FOR THE PRICE”? It shouldn’t be Pretty Good it should be GREAT FOR THE PRICE!! Once you get away from buying the standard grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Malbec, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc etc that is where you will find the “GREAT FOR THE PRICE WINES”

Tempranillo has many Synonyms depending what part of Spain or Portugal the grape is grown. In the Toro region of Spain where this wine Pictured above is from it is known as Tinta De Toro Very Close to Ribera Del Duero, Toro has been growing grapes and making wine many years B.C. so you have some really OLD VINE Fruit which makes for Great Wines. It is located in the Province of Zamora in the Northwest Part of Spain…

Seat of the Milan Provincial Government, Christmas Eve. A little party is ongoing, and the Chief of Personnel is opening a sparkling wine bottle. Unfortunately, the cap violently hits a XVIII century picture decorating the room and damages it. It was just an accident, and the officer is ready to pay for the repairs.

However, the episode is somehow symbolic of the neglect by the Italian Authorities (and citizens ?) of the very rich national cultural heritage.

Pompei is crumbling. Museums are badly managed. Surveillance of prized places and artifacts is lacking at best. The Caserta Royal Palace is in very bad conditions. The Government Offices tasked with protecting heritage, called Superintendencies, are understaffed.

There are exceptions, of course. To protect Venice, the Government is building a mammoth mobile dams systems, which would be the first of its kind in the world. Tycoon Diego Della Valle poured…