Archive for category: Wine

The Bacari of Venice

One of the true delights of a trip to Venice is the cuisine… unless you have no idea what to look for and end up at one of the plethora of terrible tourist traps serving up uninspired portions of bland food no self-respecting Venetian would eat.  An excellent choice that will satiate your hunger and suit pretty much any budget is a Bacaro (plural – Bacari).

Bacaro Risorto in Venice

Bacaro Risorto – one of my favourite’s in all of Venice!

Bacaro is the Venetian word for “bar”.  The typical Venetian bacaro offers “ombra” (a small glass of wine), aperitivo (think Spritz Campari or its milder cousin Spritz Aperol), and a nice selection of fresh cicchetti (small snacks or side dishes – like tapas in Spain).  Some of my favourites also have a small selection of tasty craft beers as well, like Bacaro Risorto, pictured above.

A small glass of wine and a plate of cicchetti as pictured above will only set you back a few euros.

Locals and visitors-in-the-know will make a nice evening visiting a few bacari, sharing drinks and snacks with friends – old and new alike!  It’s easy to meet new people at a bacaro – people generally crowd around the bar or stands on the square or sidewalk chatting with each other while enjoying their finger foods and drinks.  However, if your feet are tired from a day of sightseeing, you can probably find a table to relax at.

Locals chatting with the bartender about football and local politics.

One of my commitments when I started Eat and Drink Like a European was to ensure that in addition to high-end fine dining, my guests would always get a chance to connect with the locals and eat the way they do every day.  I hope you can join me on a Bacari “crawl” on our next Very Best of Northern Italy Tour!

 

 

Prosecco

An hour north of Venice are the beautiful rolling hills of the prosecco region. This sparkling white wine is a protected agricultural product that can only be made here, to exacting standards. On our Eat and Drink Like a Northern Italian Tour we visit the best of the best along the Prosecco road, and enjoy a wonderful tour and ample tastings of the various styles of prosecco accompanied by local food and great company! Join us for this and many other exclusive activities that you simply cannot find on your own or on any other tour on the market!

Where to After Florence? 3 Tuscan Hill Towns to Explore.


Our Grand Tour ends in Florence, the gateway to Tuscany with its picturesque hill towns surrounded by endless wineries and sun-drenched countryside. The Tuscan hill country is a worthy option for those looking to extend their stays and do some further exploring. The following post from bloggers Beth & Randy is guaranteed to leave you hungry (perhaps quite literally) to explore more of this iconic region of Italy. 
Siena and San Gimignano are the most well known hill towns in Tuscany, but they certainly are not the only ones. In fact, central Italy is famous for its hill towns. Their crumbling stone walls seem to cling to every rocky peak, watching over the manicured valleys and vineyards as the rush of the 21st century passes by below. During our stay with Stefano, we visited three hill towns, including Chianciano Terme, in the Siena Province. Each offered a taste of what eludes so many visitors to Italy: tranquility and tradition.

CHIANCIANO VECCHIA

i zC6J65f L 3 Tuscan Hill Towns to Add to Your Bucket List

Wine tasting in the cellar of Agricola Fontanelle.
Separated by a valley, Chianciano Vecchia is only a 10 minute walk following Via Madonna della Rossa from Agriturismo La Pietriccia. We spent most of our time in Chianciano Vecchia exploring the wines of Agricola Fontanelle. In the cave-like cellars of the small batch winery, we met with winemaker Riccardo Rosati who, along with his two brothers, produces world-class wines from experience they’ve inherited from generations of family winemaking. We spent a few hours with Riccardo and his family, sampling their wines and incredible selection of cured meats and olive oil. The family’s warmth made us feel like locals, just visiting with some friends on a weekday night.

MONTALCINO

Montalcino Italy Copyright Bethany Salvon BeersandBeans 2013 e1384450990309 3 Tuscan Hill Towns to Add to Your Bucket List
If Virginia is for lovers then Montalcino is for wine lovers. This medieval hill town is famous for its Brunello di Montalcino red wines, featuring an array of enoteche (wine bars)Heck, even the 14th century fortezza contain
s one. Just outside of Montalcino sits the Abbey of Sant’Antimo. Located in a valley of olive trees, the abbey is considered to be one of the top architectural remains of the Romanesque Period. Several times a day the church’s community of monks fill the 12th century stone hall with the harmonious sounds of traditional Gregorian chants. We got to hear the chants in person and it was mesmerizing. The performances are free and open to the public.

PIENZA

Pienza Italy Copyright Bethany Salvon 2013 Beersandbeans e1384451187963 3 Tuscan Hill Towns to Add to Your Bucket List

A beautiful, typical scene in this perfect Italian town.
Named after pope Pius II, Pienza is full of renaissance architecture, moving with the feel of a modern day medieval village. As I looked out over the gentle, carefully cultivated hills of Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was easy to see the inspiration behind pope Pius II decision to remodel his hometown in the style of his day: Renaissance. Besides the hill towns’ grand views and classic architecture, Pienza is also known for its sheep’s milk cheese, pecorino. Plus, with streets names like Via Dell’Amore (Love), Via Del Bacio (Kiss) and Via Della Fortuna (Fortune), it is difficult not to fall head over heels for this charming hilltop town.