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...
Read moreTravel Inspiration Series: Making it Happen
This weeks dose of travel inspiration comes from my friend, Valerie Quintanilla, who has contributed quite a few posts here on Carpe Travel regarding her wine travels and traveling to Italy. Her tale today though is about taking the...
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read moreThe Salzburg Arrival: “I made it!”
Day one of my aunt’s Return to Salzburg after her maiden voyage 44 years ago! She’s met lots of lovely, helpful people. Meeting people is my favorite part of flying solo! Enjoy! – Valerie Quintanilla By Teresa Kao I made it!...
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 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...
Read more
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...
Read moreTuscany Wine Adventures: On the road to San Gimignano
By Valerie QuintanillaIt was time to make our way into the hills of Tuscany. We found a little farmhouse outside of San Gimignano, Il Vicario, that features a cooking class and nightly dinners. It sounds perfect.The drive from Florence...
Read moreA night in Florence
On Friday we had a spectacular night in Florence… We had dinner at Lisa’s favorite restaurant in Florence, L’Brincello. She not only goes every time she’s in the city, but also every night! We sit down and it’s like...
Read moreSorrento: Villa Adriana Guesthouse
Our plan for Sorrento included a day trip to Positano, but we didn’t make it. We arrived in Sorrento around 2 p.m. and had a 6 p.m. cooking class. The bus ride to Positano is an hour each way,...
Read moreTraveling to Lecce: wine, burrata and siesta
The things I’ll remember most about traveling to Lecce include the local wine, burrata (an amazing cheese) and siesta.I’ve been to a number of places in Italy and have long heard about the fabled practice of siesta. Problem is,...
Read moreTips on Train Travel in Italy
Traveling by train is so easy and convenient in Europe. I was able to get my five-day, one country flexi pass in mid-August. From the date of activation, the pass can be used for two months. Visit Trenitalia Web...
Read moreFourth Stop: Wine class in Siena!
When I arrived in Siena I was ready to learn. First on the agenda, a wine class! The wine class in Siena I enrolled in was with English-speaking Rebecca from Denmark. In March of last year she opened The...
Read moreSecond Stop: Fair Verona
By Valerie Quintanilla Mission: Explore Valpolicella wine — specifically Amarone I began my Verona experience with a lonely walking tour. I was lost — the hotel’s instructions did not take me to the promised bus stop. I hiked up...
Read moreFirst Stop: Venice
By Val Quintanilla Mission: Rest and recover from my travels to Europe. I’ve been to Venice before, so I planned my first stop here simply because I was so taken by its magic. I didn’t plan any touristy adventures,...
Read more
