The 2011 travel season has begun, our first group arrived on the 11th of March and we were very worried.
Just a few days earlier it had snowed, but we lucked out as the weather cleared up just in time.
Leslie is explaining vineyard management to a few folks from the group.

After a few days in Barbaresco and Barolo we headed up to Lake Como and stayed in Bellagio, which was just
opening up for the season. Hard to believe these quiet streets will be jam-packed in a few weeks, by mid April
this photo will be impossible.

While Leslie and the group took the ferry to Varenna for lunch, I stayed back to gas up the van and check-
out a pizzeria we have yet to try, verdict: pizza was good, wine list not good, wine service cute/good, the
vino popolare (house wine) was served old-style in a Brocca.

I grabbed a cappuccino at the gas station and once again was reminded how serious Italy takes its coffee.


After dropping folks off at Malpensa airport, we stopped by the wine region Franciacorta to scope out some wineries
and restaurants for future trips when we stumbled on a cool wine shop specializing in bubbles! the sub zones
with-in the region were nicely displayed along with the producers. Sipping bubbles while shopping is mandatory,
wiener dog optional.

On a recent tour we took our quests to one of our favorite stops. " La Luna Buona"
a Robiola cheese producer. Olivia the owner (on left) is showing us her goats
they are free Range as is required by D.O.P. laws

Learning about the production facility.

The wonderful cheeses they make shown here dusted with herbs and
spices including vegetable carbon.

A fall in Piemonte is not complete with out a truffle hunt Robert got to
follow our neighbor Lorenzo on a hunt with his truffle dog Diana

Maybe a hit ?


Yes, they score !!!

Nothing beats the home made pasta at one of our favorite restaurants "Crota"

Harvest in done here in Barbaresco now the hard work in the cellar starts.
Pressing is a very messy job. Roberts hands remain Barbara red for two
weeks. But they are very soft.

The La Morra sherif detaining more tourists from the states Bob and Mila
were good sports and followed orders to email this photo to city hall.

Bob did a great job impressing the locals with his pizza making skills. They
think we Americans are strange for putting pears & Gorgonzola on a pizza
But putting french fry s on a pizza is normal ?

Harvesting nebbiolo behind our home. Producers in both Barolo and Barbaresco
are VERY exited about nebbiolo this year, looks very promising !!!

This is why so many people travel to Alba in the fall.

The famous white truffle of the langhe

It's always nice to have an American visitor show Italian winemakers how to
properly sciabola a bottle of champagne.

Daniele Panino!!!

Trying salsiccia di bra (raw sausge) for the first time yum !!

Tags: alba italy