2013
As a kid, teenager and adult travelling overseas, I used to always bring one lined notepad or blank scrapbook that my mother had gifted me. Together we kept travel diaries filled with sketches and writing. They acted as beautiful momentoes of where we went with various scribbles on my end (or artwork on my mother’s end) of random experiences like what colour the sky was in front of that historical castle, tickets of a show we went to, the business card of a restaurant we dined at, or even a sketch of the view at the top of a village. This way of doodling my experiences has stuck with me during most of my travels. It’s a way of capturing the moment with a personal touch. Naturally, in order to keep a travel diary like this you need to allocate time during the travels to be able to scrawl in the books. It isn’t always possible…
Exactly one month ago I returned from a three week escapade in Italy. Two-thirds of that journey were work-based as I found myself at the famous Vinitaly fair in Verona, with the nine days after that travelling with a colleague through five different Italian regions and visiting thirteen wine producers. Considering I was in bella Italia, I bet there are many who thought that I was spending my days doing this:
The truth, however, is that during that two week period, there was hardly enough time to unpack my bag let alone keep a detailed record or sketch of my time there. Instead I had to do what any time-poor traveller would do and took photos with my iPhone (shakes head shamefully). I did get to jot down some lovely stories and taste beautiful wines with the people I met. In fact, the whole experience was incredibly enriching and exhausting at the same time. I found a sort of kinship with the humble vignerons and winemakers. Finally getting the opportunity to spend time with producers whose wines I had thoroughly researched was the most rewarding part of my journey. I had read about some of the personalities before, yet wanted to understand them for myself. I made sure to do just that.
I intend to gradually trickle through the stories I recorded. In the meantime, here is a small album depicting my time in Italy and where the three weeks took me.
Castello di Ama in Chianti Classico
Verona
Federico and Stefano Almondo from Roero’s great Giovanni Almondo Arneis producer
My beautiful/incredibly cheeky cousin Giovanni Gios in Asiago
Capturing the pooch twice at Castello di Ama
The Colli Piacentini at Castello di Luzzano (borders Emilia Romagna and Lombardia)
At San Felice in their Pugnitello vineyard
Artwork at Castello di Ama
I forgot to take the picture of my meal before…
Aldo Vacca opening all the good Nebbiolo
Sipping some quality Timorasso from Costa del Vento with Walter Massa
Duomo at Sienna
Afternoon sun at Barolo
Artwork at Castello di Ama
Castello di Luzzano
Out the front of the incredible Dodici Apostile
The most divine and gentle woman, Milena Vaira of G.D.Vajra in Piedmont
Sharing a jovial dinner with San Filippo Fanti
Hanging with the two sons of Benanti at Vin Italy. Lovely chaps.
Getting lost in the Vin Italy carpark with Giuseppe and Aldo Vaira
Revolution / Love at Castello di Ama
Floral beauty at Santa Caterina
That ain’t Juliet…
The rocks in the soil at Castello di Ama, Chianti Classico
An incredible artwork in the cellar at Castello di Ama
Ristorante Dodici Apostoli – recommended for dinner in Verona
Martin keen on the desserts
Getting the full treatment at Vigneti Massa
The line-up from Santa Caterina, Liguria
Andrea Kilghren of Santa Caterina in Liguria explaining the simplicity of what he does.
Montalcino
Padova
Some of the guests at Dodici Apostile
He sat here in the restaurant Dodici Apostile in Verona
Verona
Vineyard at Castello di Ama, Tuscany
Raffaella, commanding and passionate lady of Braida
The cellar at Produttori del Barbaresco
With the Zaccagnini crew at Vin Italy
Castello di Luzzano area in Emilia Romagna/Lombardy
Old cash register at Dodici Apostile
Inspiring Verdicchio by organic producer, Fattoria Coroncino
Lovely statue in Verona
The view of the Langhe explained
Entree at Dodici Apostile. All I heard was truffles…
Bud burst at Santa Caterina, Liguria
Artwork at Castello di Ama
Pietro Ratti showing a cut out in the winery walls with the natural soil exposed
A bit stoked and awe-struck by the father-son team at Fattoria Coroncino in Le Marche
Flaccianello 2000 100% Sangiovese. Incredible wine discovered in the depths of Ettore’s cellar en route to Sienna
Feeling the almost wet rice after being gently pounded – at Ferron, Pila Vecia
In awe of Castello di Luzzano’s Giovanella Fugazza
Andrea Kilghren of Santa Caterina
Chatting with Giovanella and her winemaker at the Castello di Luzzano estate
Happy birthday to me at Castello di Luzzano
With friend Sophia in Castelfranco Veneto
Giovanella Fugazza’s cellar at Castello di Luzzano
Barolo from Bricco delle Viole
Pietro Ratti takes us through the goods
With San Filippo Fanti and the crew in Montalcino, Castelnuovo dell’Abate
The soil at Montalcino
Le Donne del Vino
A large rock in the middle of the Bellavista vineyard at Castello di Ama
Walter Massa pointing out the Timorasso vineyards
The winery at Mastrojanni filled with cement tanks
Andrea Kilghren of Santa Caterina in Liguria
Four wonderful days in Asiago where my family are from in the Veneto
Beautiful Chianti Classico
Castello di Luzzano
Anyone for a spritz in Verona?
Lunch at Verona on my own was pretty delightful
The coloured tiled artwork at Castello di Ama
Sienna centre
Vineyard at Castello di Ama
Entering the headquarters of the rice producer, Ferron
Castello di Ama artwork
The Wine Spectator journalist had these opened for him yesterday. Today I savour the left overs.
Dessert at Dodici Apostile
The always smiling Maurizio Ferron of the rice fame
Verona
Sharing a moment with Walter Massa, standing next to Pigi.
Artwork at Castello di Ama
Verona markets in Piazza Erbe
Romeo & Juliet wannabes
Sharing my second ever Toscanello cigar with my cousin, Gabrielle.
The elegant Elisabetta Geppetti of Fattoria Le Pupille in the Scansano area, Tuscany
Bassano del Grappa
The Santa Caterina Ligurian property on the most magical day
More guests of Dodici Apostile resturant in Verona
Evening wine while catching up with other Australian importers of Italian wine. Nice choice, Neville Yates.
Barolo area
Watching the rice being filtered at Ferron, Pila Vecia
Perpetrators of the continuous smoke cloud outside the Vin Italy buildings
Natural pastures at Santa Caterina, Liguria
Tags: Experience, fair, Italy, Photo, show, Travel, Verona, Vinitaly, Wine
La Donna del Vino 
Always love reading your blog Krystina! Delightful read as always! Quando scrivi immagino di essere lì con te e fare parte dei tuoi viaggi e le tue avventure!
Ciao Mariangela,
Thank-you for the comment 🙂 xx
I hope you’re doing well.
Baci
Great photos, it is lovely to see your recent trip, I agree art is everywhere, you just have to remember to take that extra moment to appreciate and absorb each environment you find yourself in. It is only then that it seeps deep into your senses! Like the bottles of wine we drink are really the bottling of the experiences from which that grape has come from, its country of origin, the energy of the people who produced it and the care of which it arrives finally on your dinning table to enjoy. Boy, if only that bottle could tell a storey… oh wait sorry, that is what you do so well, so thank you!!
MB
Thank-you, Zia 🙂 That was really lovely of you to say that xxx