One of the most aesthetically pleasing things to do in Italy in October is lose yourself in a vineyard on a hillside where Italian folks are harvesting the last of the late harvest grapes; our friends at Fratelli Mossio were collecting their nebbiolo (the last grape harvested typically in Piemonte). This shot was our friend Valerio Mossio’s 92 year old mother collecting grapes, and I think it’s the most beautiful photo I’ve ever taken except for those of my children.
The sun setting over the Langhe hills, with Diano d’Alba as the back drop. Pretty hard to beat. Thanks to our friend Luca Aimasso for a great tasting and having the run of his lovely property.
The art is definitely found in the glass, but not only in the glass. Walking around an Italian wine producing house, you’re struck by how ubiquitous, how ever-present the beauty can be. Even something as simple as the results of a de-stemming process can captivate.
Making people fall this in love with the off the beaten path Italian experiences is extremely rewarding.
Fireworks courtesy of Luca Aimasso’s Barbera post harvest, near Diano D’Alba. You have to see them in person to fully appreciate, but here’s a good way to tide yourself over until you can visit Piemonte yourself.
Poderi e Cantine Oddero is one of the most well known classic Piemonte wine producers; the Oddero family are warm hosts with an amazing product that evolves in the glass as you taste, whether it’s the Gallina Barbaresco, a single vineyard Barolo, or a blended one. Great wines, and an amazing location that really popped on the camera as the sun poked through the clouds. The best part was definitely getting to do a vertical tasting across a few different vintages of the Bussia (single vineyard Barolo). A bottle of the 2007 certainly found its way home with us, and will quit getting any older when Doug comes to visit Colorado this winter.
Great read on a wine more people need to check out.
Click to enlarge and appreciate!
It’s been a bit quiet here as we’ve been super busy meeting winemakers, exploring new places to take clients, and just enjoying Italy. But it’s time to get back to work! In the coming days, more shots of our latest Italy tour adventures and research.
Tough work, but somebody’s gotta do it:
Views of Serralunga D’Alba on a foggy Langhe morning. Fabulous.
Sassi Italy Tours 
