september

San Gimignano Cont'd

Wonderful day trips too! Many of our clients have enjoyed Fattoria Poggio Alloro, an agriturismo in nearby Ulignano offering cooking classes and delectable regional cuisine.

have been superbly preserved and were the visual inspiration for the gates of Dante’s Inferno, is also close by. The adjacent Chianti region, with its well-known reds made with the Sangiovese and Canaiole grapes, offers more excellent wines and great views. Or, if you’re up for the excitement, partake in the twice-yearly revelry of Palio di Siena, a medieval-style bareback horse race in neighboring Siena. So much to do, see and eat at any time of the year, making San Gimignano and La Toscana a fabulous destination no matter when you go!

Mio Amico Enrico!

Enrico was born around 1927 in the village of Greve in Chianti in the very heart of Tuscany. He served in the Italian Army in WWII, and then followed in his father’s footsteps as a wine merchant. In fact, Enrico became a major supplier to the chain Publix (prevalent in the SE of the US). He was an avid hiker and our friendship blossomed one December day about 20 years ago when he took me for a Sunday hike in the incredible

The next three days were spent exploring Chianti and the area around San Gimignano. As a lifetime resident and second generation wine merchant, Enrico knew every hill, every bend in the road and every vintner! And did I mention his singing voice? A wonderful tenor! He passed away about eight or ten years ago but I think of Enrico every time my clients visit lovely hillsides and towns around Greve! Thank you Enrico for showing me your region in depth! Your legacy lives on as we are able to share Chianti with our clients even to this day! We miss you!

Wine Shopping?!?

San Gimignano: Featured Destination

The picturesque town of San Gimignano, nestled on a hilltop in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, was originally built as an Etruscan settlement in the III-c BC.

In the Middle Ages, it was a stopping point on the pilgrimage route to Rome. During Renaissance times, San G flourished as a center of agricultural trade. To showcase their wealth & power and for storage, local merchant families built 72 towers. Today, the 14 remaining towers give San Gimignano its signature medieval look and helped put the town “on the map” with UNESCO designation. For a good look at San G, rent “Tea with Mussolini”! You’ll get to see Cher in La Cisterna, our favorite San Gimignano hotel!

cuisine and wines. This fertile region is characterized by rolling hills dotted with vineyards, farmhouses and villas. Tuscany’s fertile farmland produces an abundance of the best quality grapes and olives for its famous Vernaccia wines and olive oils. ...read more

Night at the Vatican Museums!!!

This fall, visitors to Rome will have an extraordinary opportunity to visit the Vatican Museums after hours!

Every Friday in September and October the Museums will be open to visitors until 23h00 (last entrance at 21h30). These extra hours give visitors a unique chance to avoid daytime crowds and see the museums’ important collections in more leisurely way!

Tickets for this unique opportunity will sell out fast so be sure to let us know if you’d like to go!

PASSPORT UPDATE:

Currently, most US passports are issued for a ten-year span. In the past, you could use your passport right up ‘till the end of its validity, but that is changing. These days it is increasingly common for countries to require “six months

April ‘10 AT LEAST. Ireland, Ecuador, Turkey & Croatia all adhere to this requirement, and there are more. In addition, several other countries require 3 months extended validity,,,

The best policy to avoid unwanted headaches is never to let your passport get within one year of its expiration; i.e. to renew it as you enter the tenth year. No reason to delay, check your dates today! By renewing in a timely fashion you'll have one less thing to worry about as you prepare for your next vacation!

See the TSA website.

extended validity” - translation - your passport has to be good for at least six months BEYOND your stay. So, if you travel in September ‘09, your passport has to be good thru'

Euro Update

Don't let this stop you though, since regardless of the strong Euro, economic forces have made Europe more attractive than ever with airfares at historic lows and hotel rooms more attractive than ever (please see our July 2009 newsletter).

Spice it up with Zafferano!!

The spice was important to many ancient civilizations such as the Chinese, Persians and Phoenicians. Historically, it has been used to treat over 90 diseases and medical conditions.

Saffron was also regarded as an aphrodisiac and at one time was used to treat the Black Plague. Modern studies have confirmed its anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant properties. Saffron spice is made from the threads of a crocus flower (crocus sativus) and since each saffron flower produces exactly three threads it takes about 200 flowers to produce just one gram of saffron! ...read more

While preparing the item about San Gimignano, fond memories of my friend Enrico Trentanove came back to me.

US-based travelers to Europe are still confronting a strong Euro! It had eased off a bit, but the Euro is currently back around 1.50, $/€, putting price pressure on us all! We’re hoping for some abatement this winter!

Commuter Connections

For "green" reasons a lot of European countries have odd/even license plate days. In the US, it’s much simpler! Car Free Day will be celebrated 22 Sept. Participants are asked to go to www.CarFreeMetroDC.com and pledge to be car free for a day, a great way to help reduce traffic, emissions and gasoline demand.

For those who live or work downtown there will be “Car Free Day” street closure with music and giveaways at 7th and F NW (Gallery Place). See Commuter Connections for more information, or to network for carpools.

...Wine Shopping Continued

hefty baggage fees and duty. Shipping direct from the seller is usually the best way to go, but if the wine is less than $15/bottle the shipping costs will be more than the wine itself! Due to regulatory laws shipping wine home can be a big

And by the way, if social activism is your thing, check out this group that is working to enact laws that favor more consumer choice. Stay tuned for updates…

Caravaggio and Bacon at the Borghese Gallery in Rome

From 01 Oct 2009 to 14 Jan 2010, Rome’s Galleria Borghese will celebrate the 400th anniversary of Caravaggio’s death by displaying his masterpieces together with twenty paintings by the modern painter Francis Bacon. Bacon, whose life is portrayed in the film "Love Is the Devil" is considered one of the great artists of the XX-c. Caravaggio’s baroque masterpieces are complemented by Bacon’s surrealist paintings and both artists portray the torment of the existence with intensity and creativity. Their lives, separated by three hundred years, will encounter each other for the first time at the Galleria Borghese in this exciting exhibition!

Besides the town itself, the area around San Gimignano has so much to offer! Here you are in the heart of Tuscany, known for its fine

Enrico & Guido (younger then)

Enjoying unique vintage wines is one of the supreme delights of traveling in countries like Italy, France, Chile or New Zealand. A trip through wine country is a fabulous way to sample the abundance and

variety of wines that the world has to offer. But when it's time to bring it home you’ll be faced with a bit of a quandry. Due to TSA limitations, carrying on is not an option. You could put it in your checked luggage, but then you risk breakage, and of course if you take more than a few bottles you’ll be hit with ...read more

countryside above Greve. Then we adjourned (naturally) to a wonderful lunch at the Abbey of Passignano, where we visited the Last Supper by Ghirlandaio.

headache. Each state has its own laws, and Maryland, where we live is one of the most restrictive. For specifics on state-to-state laws see here. We think these laws are a bit antiquated (When did prohibition end????)

Zafferano (Saffron) is one of the oldest cultivated spices in the world. Used since ancient times in dyes, cuisine, and medicines, it is prized for its vibrant color and delicate flavor.

San Gimignano offers more than just great views! In Summer, enjoy the outdoor cinema at La Rocca, an XIV-c fortress turned park (hint: spectacular views of the town from here!). In Fall, the excitement is all about winemaking and the grape harvest. In the heart of the town is the Collegiata, an XII-c Romanesque church with its lavish allegorical frescos depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

As for museums, don’t worry! The historical center of San Gimignano holds the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Ornithological Museum (housing local and exotic birds) and many in between! Or why not check out La Rocca’s wine museum or the torture museum?

Lovely Volterra is known for its delicate alabaster craftwork and wealth of ancient monuments. Monteriggioni, whose circular fortification walls

Saffron Cont'd

Zafferano dell'Aquila, —defined by unusually pungent aroma, and intense color— is the “Cadillac” of Saffron and grows exclusively in the Navelli Valley of Italy's Abruzzo region. Saffron is also grown in Tuscany around San Gimignano. In fact, it is so important to the area that, in 1228, the Town Council of San Gimignano paid part of its debts in saffron! If you’re lucky enough to bring some home from your next trip, why not try this recipe for a classic Italian saffron risotto?

Recipe: Classic Italian Saffron Risotto

Ingredients

Arborio Rice – 2 cups

3 TBS unsalted butter

Pinch of saffron

Small green onion or leek

3TBS oz parmesan cheese

6 cups Chicken or vegetable soup broth

Brown the onion or leek in a little butter in a deep pan. Add the risotto and half cup of broth and cook until the liquid is absorbed. Continue adding broth one cup at a time as it is absorbed by the rice. Be sure to stir the risotto continuously as it is cooking and add the broth a bit at a time. When the risotto is creamy and still a little al dente, add the saffron and remaining butter and remove from the heat. Mix in the parmesan cheese and let it stand covered for about 15 minutes and you are ready to enjoy!! Buon Appetito!

Drink Local!!

Anyone think prohibition-era alcohol regulations are a little antiquated? You’re not alone! In the course of our research on wine shipping we discovered an organization that is working to encourage changes in regulations through the political process. See mbbwl.org

If you’re interested, Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws, in conjuction with Giramondo Wine Ventures is hosting Drink Local: MD & VA Wine Seminar and Tasting on 08 October 18h00 - 21h00 at the Whittemore House (1526 New Hampshire Ave NW - Dupont Circle). The event includes a degustazione of wines from three MD and three VA wineries, local cheeses and two speaker panels: Understanding the Virginia and Maryland Wine Terroir and The Politics of Wine in Maryland and Virginia. (Early Bird $49 until 15 September, $59 thereafter). Guido & MaryAnne will be there too! For more information see the Whittemore House website

BTC Newsletter ed 8: Buon Appetito