The saying goes that wine tastes better if/when you’re drinking it where it’s produced. For example, a nice Chianti Classico with dinner at a trattoria near Panzano. Some people have even brought wines home with them from their trips only to say that it just didn’t taste as good once they were back home. I…
Category: Sicily
The greatness of Nerello Mascalese – 2014 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso
It’s a rare thing to come across a wine as wonderful as this. Perhaps it’s even more rare then that this is a producer’s ‘base’ wine. I’d opened a bottle, and was able to take my time with it over three nights. The journey was magical, and more than I could have imagined. It would…
‘Faro’, or, ‘how I fell more deeply in love with Sicilian wines’ – Az. Agr. Palari
I’ve had wines from Faro (region) before, though most times have generally been at trade tastings, when the wines are young, and for the most part, diffident, and reserved. As with many varieties, Nerello Mascalese can take many forms, some are immediately approachable, others demand to be cellared for years before they are ready. (I…
Winegrowing on Etna Mountain (Sicily Part 5)
The drive from Ortigia to Randazzo is not too bad at all. In fact, it’s kind of fun at times, with all of its narrow, winding roads that go up and up for the better part of an hour. Just past the midway point, is this crazy-big place called Etna Land. Kind of strange, this…
Two restful days in Ortigia (Sicily part 4)
The drive from Ragusa to Siracusa/Ortigia is fairly easy. It’s when you get to Ortigia and try and find a parking space that problems arise. Not being familiar with the policies (but having been warned they were less than favorable), I contacted my host at at he booking.com property where I stayed 2 nights. My…
Ragusa, Vittoria and red wine with fish (Sicily Part 3)
The road from Marsala to Ragusa (which passes through Agrigento, home to The Valley of the Temples) leaves a lot to be desired. A lot. There are countless bridges, most quite long, perhaps 2km or 3km, that span the countless hills and valleys that blanket the inner countryside of Sicily. The bridges themselves, or should…
Busiate, a very cold night, and Vintage Marsala (Sicily Part 2)
Ok, so where was I, oh yeah, I was in a tiny airport (think smaller) in the middle of nowhere on a cold, wet and very windy Sunday with no car, no driving license and a greatly deflated spirit. But, I was told “someone local” might be willing to rent me a car, I had…
I cut myself shaving (Sicily part 1)
The day began like any other, I suppose, get out of bed, shower, shave — errrr, crash! For some inexplicable reason (though carelessness is probably at the top of the list), I cut myself shaving. But it wasn’t just any cut you see, this one had me lying down, with pressure on it for over…
Winter is on its way out, mostly
The Church bell has just struck five. As it does I look at the sun and give it a light cursing – why did it wait till just now to finally show itself today? Instead of the 18C that was called for, I think we were lucky to have climbed to maybe 14.5C, but with…
In the (wine) heart of Sicilia, Etna mountain
It’s been many days since my last post (I’ve had virtually no WiFi, even though everyone’s advertised they had it). A great many things have gone bad, but still, the good outweighs the bad. It’s nearly 17,30hrs now, and soon the sun will set upon this little village of Randazzo, a vibrant place, full of…
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