Every culture that’s ever rendered grapes into wine thinks theirs is something special, a vintage apart from the pedestrian pretenders. That’s certainly how the Italians view things. Some think for good reason.
Context Travel is ready to reveal why so many people revel in the relation amongst sun, soil and soul that exists in Italy. A trained sommelier will guide you through the streets of Rome in search of libation and learning.
Over the course of the journey you’ll visit a couple of characteristic enoteche, or wine bars. It’s here Romans gather to eat, imbibe and forget about the ills of the planet for a while. Soak up the ambience and savor the vintages.
During the sojourn you’ll learn about the basics of wine production, and why the production calendar is so critical. First, says Context, there’s the vendemmia, the harvest of the fruit itself. Then comes the autumn debut of the year’s young wines, the vino novello.
Each region of the country prides itself in its own varietals, reflective of soil, sun and moisture. Winemaking is rooted in the good earth, the practices of the people who till it and gather the harvest. This trip will show you more than merely how to read a label, or properly pair the fruit of the vine with great table fare.
The journey gives you the option of exploring the region surrounding the Eternal City itself, or venturing a bit farther afield to sample the wines of Tuscany, Sicily, or Le Marche.
As for the drinking itself, Context says, “We usually start with whites at the first stop, then reds at the second, with appetizers to keep us going along the way.” What will keep you going is more than mere drink, more than food. It’s the insight you obtain. The taste of that will linger on.
(Featured image by John Bruckman)
