7 Tips for International Travel with an Infant
Welcome back to our contributing writer, Valerie Quintanilla, a new mom who’s little man already has more stamps in his passport than I did when I was 25. Val is an expat living in Italy and a wine and...
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The Piemonte Wine Trail: Barbaresco Wine Tasting in Neviglie
Happy Wine Wednesday! We’re in for a treat this week with a guest post from Valerie Quintanilla, one of Italy’s newest expats, living her dream in Piemonte, Italy and sharing her wine tales at GirlsGottaDrink. Her recent wine adventures...
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Travel to Piedmont Italy: Champagne Sabering – with a wine glass!
On my travels in Piedmont travel my tour guides with Travel Langhe took us to lunch in the Barolo town of Serralunga d’Alba. We were greeted at Centro Storico by the restaurant’s lively proprietor, Alessio. Armed with nothing more than a bottle of champagne and...
Read moreItalian Wine Merchants Redux: Wine Tasting New York City
Our frequent readers (thank you!) may recall a post I did last year about a trip to New York City that included a stop at Italian Wine Merchants (IWM). I was on a hunt for a New York City wine...
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The Intoxication of Piedmont
By Valerie Quintanilla The food, the culture, and of course the people are nearly as intoxicating as the wines of Piedmont Italy. All have now firmly planted themselves in my heart and soul. Yes, if home is where the...
Read moreHiking and Wine Tasting in Barolo
By Valerie Quintanilla I wanted to hike in Lake Como, but Mother Nature had other plans. Luckily I had a day of hiking and wine tasting in Barolo Italy planned with Kerrie from Australia. We started the near the...
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Piedmont Wine Tours: Harvest Lunch in Barbaresco
By Valerie Quintanilla Tuesday morning started low key. I had no Piedmont wine tours planned so I thought I’d just hike it out a bit, write, read, and have a leisurely day in Neive. Returning from my morning walk...
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Wine Tours in Barolo Italy
By Valerie Quintanilla Saturday morning started bright and early with a quick breakfast at my B&B (they just kept bringing food – such is the theme here!) Then, I was off with Robert for a wine tour in Barolo...
Read moreItalian Wine Travels: Ah, Piemonte….
By Valerie Quintanilla If there is a heaven and we each get our own version, mine would mirror Piemonte. Calgone, take me away. In 2009 I had a business meeting with an Italian colleague visiting Denver for a project....
Read moreThings to do in Lake Como
Day two of my travel to Lake Como brought more rain. Ah well, it wasn’t pouring as it had in Milano or Bellagio (or my first 18 years in Vancouver, Wash.) I still had hiking on the brain and...
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A Rainy Stay in Italy’s Lake District: Things to do in Lake Como
By Valerie Quintanilla I made it to Varenna in just over an hour from Milano by train. The sun was shining when I arrived – I’d soon learn that wasn’t to last long. But, thank goodness for the dry...
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Back to Italy – Take 4
I love first class. So, I knew I was in for a treat going into this trip to Italy. But, international first class is a whole different animal. The layout seat makes such a difference. I felt like...
Read moreFind Home in Paradise: Beautiful Salento in Puglia
In September 2011 I found my way to the heel of the boot, beautiful Lecce, Italy. The region remains a lesser known Italian tourist destination. Don’t misunderstand, the lesser known part only means a more authentic experience, incredible wines,...
Read moreNew York City: A Trip to Italian Wine Merchants
Next stop on the Playing Italy Train: NYC for wine tasting at Italian Wine Merchants. I read Sergio Esposito’s Passion on the Vine over the New Year’s holiday in 2010/11, finishing the book in two days. I was enamored...
Read moreGifts for the Traveler
Confession: I haven’t done a lick of Christmas shopping yet (yes, I know it’s t-minus 14 days til jolly Ole’ Saint Nick arrives). As I continue to procrastinate my gift giving duties I created a list of ideal gifts...
Read moreItalian Cooking Class in Denver: Playing Italy in Denver
My recent Italian travel companion, Lisa from Canada, introduced me to a whole new Italy — one that starts and ends with cooking. Don’t misunderstand, I heart Italian food, but I always thought it was too difficult for little...
Read moreCinque Terre Relief Efforts
On Tuesday, October 25 the enchanting towns of Monterosso al Mare and Vernazza in Itay’s Cinque Terre were devastated by floods. News reports say unusually heavy flooding ravaged the region of Liguria causing flooding and landslides. Reports indicate nine...
Read moreTravel to Piedmont: More sensory overload (in a good way)
The second day I was in Piedmont I planned a wine tour, but with Aussie transplant, Kerrie. Her story is quite lovely. She and her husband traveled to Piedmont for their honeymoon. She said they were sitting outside admiring...
Read moreThe hills and wines of Piemonte
Today I start my Piemonte wine tours. I don’t think words can truly describe Piemonte (“Piedmont” to Westerners). Somehow breathtaking, beautiful, and awesome all seem quite hollow. The land showcases rolling hills, acres and acres of vineyards (150,000 acres...
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Travel to San Gimignano: A few minutes to relax
We stopped about five times in a kilometer in the hills of Tuscany en route to the farmhouse just outside San Gimignano. Talk about the photo ops. Grape vines and olive trees spread out as far as the eye...
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