Archive | March, 2016

Destination Napoli

7 Mar

The saying goes:

If you go to Naples for a day, you’ll hate it. If you go for a week, you’ll love it. And if you go for a year, you’ll never want to leave. 

This thought has rattled around in my brain for some time now. And since my maternal grandparents were born in this part of Italy, I really want to love it.

We’ve been to Napoli in the past, or perhaps more accurately, through Napoli, but never spending enough time to bond with this city. Here we are in 2007, enjoying the best pizza ever. In fact, it was this restaurant that inspired Len to begin his pizza making.

Pizza In Napoli, 2007 ©Blogginginitaly.com

Pizza In Napoli, 2007 ©Blogginginitaly.com

Today, as in the past, any number of trip review sites are filled with images and stories of the narrow streets, dirty alleys, and attempted purse snatchings. Our loving Tuscan friends caution us to stai attento!, be careful. But what makes me smile are the stories from travelers who stayed longer than one night and took the time to absorb the culture and befriend the people. They gush about their love of Napoli.

Two  years ago, when our daughter Benita visited Napoli as a student, she wrote:

Typically, when you tell someone you’re going to Naples, you either get a frightened look or a frank “be safe.” Usually, it’s both. I would soon learn that these people, many of whom have never even been to Naples, could not have been more misguided about this Italian city. (Rome is Always A Good Idea)

With great anticipation, we depart tomorrow. Stay tuned as our Italian adventure continues!

Ciao,
Judy

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Ennio Morricone

5 Mar

In case you missed it, Ennio Morricone, age 87,  walked home with an Oscar this year for his original score for The Hateful Eight. Born in Rome in 1928, he has achieved incredible success as a composer, orchestrator, and conductor. Over the past seven decades, Morricone has composed over 500 scores for cinema and television, as well as over 100 classical works.

Perhaps my favorite of all of his compositions is this, from Cinema Paradiso. It always manages to bring a smile to my face and a few tears to my eyes. Turn up your volume and enjoy.

Bravo, Signor Morricone! Complimenti!

Ciao,
Judy

 

 

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Italy #1 in Global Wine Market

2 Mar

According to TheLocal.it, Italy has taken over France’s coveted position as leader of the global wine market. Apparently, American drinkers are due much gratitude.

The article below was published in today’s THE LOCAL it

 

Italy is now the world's biggest producer and exporter of wine. Photo: Torbak Hopper

Italy is now the world’s biggest producer and exporter of wine. Photo: Torbak Hopper

Italy leads global wine market thanks to American drinkers

Published: 02 Mar 2016 14:38 GMT+01:00

Italy was the biggest exporter and producer of wine in the world in 2015, while the United States consumed the most of the Mediterranean country’s prized nectar, a study published on Wednesday showed.

“Today, one bottle of wine exported in five is made in Italy, the biggest wine exporter in the world,” Italy’s Coldiretti agricultural association said in a statement.

The country exported a record €5.0 billion worth, a 575-percent increase over 30 years, it said in the study, which examined how the sector had recovered following a 1986 methanol scandal.

The addition of wood spirits to table wine by a family business which wanted to increase the alcohol level of a poor batch had left 23 people dead and dozens of others poisoned, some suffering blindness or neurological damage.

“The image of Made in Italy foodstuffs was dramatically compromised across the world, but it was also a chance for a new start with a revolution which saw Italian wine set out to conquer first place” on the international stage, the association said.

The leap in safeguards and quality saw an increase in designations as well: 66 percent of bottles of wine exported are now classified with the quality assurance labels DOC, DOCG or IGT.

The number one consumer of Italian wine is the United States, which imported €1.3 billion worth in 2015, up 13 percent from 2014, pushing Germany into second place, with Britain ranking third, Coldiretti said.

The appetite for Chiantis and Barolos continues to grow in China, which imported €80 million worth of Italian wine, up 18 percent on 2014, while the market in Japan grew 2.0 percent on the previous year.

In October, the International Organisation of Wine (OIV) brought tears to French eyes by announcing that Italy had overtaken France to become the largest producer of wine.

Whenever we drive through the rolling and majestic hills of neatly planted Italian vineyards, I am reminded of a saying I read on the door of a restaurant:

Wine is the poetry of the earth.

©Blogginginitaly.com

©Blogginginitaly.com

Makes perfect sense to me. Complimenti, Italia. Many of us look forward to helping you keep this title!

Ciao,
Judy

http://www.thelocal.it/20160302/italy-global-wine-market-king-us-top-tippler-study

 

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