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“Fresh and fruity with a tangy undertone. Medium body. Light tannins and a vivid finish. Taste Tuscany and enjoy.” - 90 Points James Suckling

LAKE COMO – Glitterati, Gourmands & George. Why did it take me so long to get to Lake Como? It is undeniably breathtaking with gorgeous landscapes and towering snowcapped mountains.  It is an ideal spot with beauty, style and great food, frequently peppered with a movie star here and there.  Join us this week for a feast worthy of a movie star!

Venice: Warm Autumn Days and New Beginnings. “L’Estate di San Martino”, Saint Martin’s Summer, is a time when warm weather returns, albeit briefly, before winter – our Indian Summer.  In Italy, it is a moment to bask in the joy of the harvest and wine making when the coffers are full of the bounty from spring and summer’s hard work in the fields.  It has come to symbolize a time of change and “new beginnings.” The new vintage is almost ready, which means barrels need to be fully emptied from last year’s wine to be cleaned for the new. Venice’s way of celebrating this time of year is one of the most festive, especially for children. Our menu this week...

The 2016 Tolaini Al Passo is a super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the Chianti Classico region. "Al Passo" is a small circular forest with an interior passage ("al passo") at the highest point of the Tolaini vineyard with a breathtaking view of the towers of Siena and the towns of Montalcino and Montepulciano to the east. It was in Al Passo that Etruscan tombs and ruins were discovered and restored. With this wine, spicy notes of oak rise above distinct aromas of cherry and berry. The fruit purity and varietal signatures are testament to the meticulous care given to the vines.

In was October 18, 1971…the day I fell in love with Italy. My fate was sealed that crisp autumn morning when I went to harvest olives for the first time.  The moment they strapped that woven willow basket around my waist, I couldn’t wait to ascend into those silvery branches.  The olive harvest is a unique opportunity to participate in an autumnal ritual that is essential to Italy’s agrarian and culinary culture. This week’s menu highlights the use of olive oil, exalts the flavors of the season and features some of the dishes you might find at an olive harvest feast.