Meet Verduno Pelaverga, Barolo’s eccentric cousin: a pale, fragrant Piedmontese red with a serious white-pepper streak. Discover its curious history, why Burlotto helped save it, and why it makes a surprisingly brilliant match for seared tuna.

In Rome, I arrived expecting carbonara but discovered tripe, quinto quarto, and the rich traditions behind cucina povera. A story of Roman food, forgotten cuts, and the Verdicchio wine that brought it all together.

A recent trip to Rome inspired a fun thought experiment: if Italy's greatest artists were wines, what would they be? From Giotto to Modigliani, I've paired iconic artists with iconic Italian wines, exploring the personalities, places, and stories they share. It's entirely subjective, a little geeky, and written for anyone who loves art, wine, or both. Saluti! 🍷🎨

Our anniversary falls on December 29, caught between Christmas leftovers and New Year’s chaos. So we turned it into a spaghetti-western night: wild boar burgers, smoked Gouda, Cognac mushrooms, costumes, Morricone, and a bottle of Barolo playing sheriff at the table. Dinner became a little bit of theatre and exactly the celebration we needed.

A glass of Sicilian Nero d'Avola, a rich and full-bodied red wine sourced from the picturesque Baroque town of Noto. This exquisite wine pairs beautifully with a savoury dish of Eggplant Parmigiana, featuring layers of tender, sautéed eggplant, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil, all baked to perfection in a comforting tomato sauce.

Sicily is Italy’s largest wine region and boasts a diverse array of exquisite wines that reflect its rich terroir and cultural heritage. While there are numerous options to explore, I will highlight just a few exceptional selections that you can readily find in local stores here in Alberta, Canada.

Pantelleria is a tiny volcanic speck between Sicily and Africa, a place where wind, sun, and sea shape everything, including its vibrant Zibibbo wines. Floral, citrusy, and touched with salt, they taste like the island’s own heartbeat. Paired with delicate sole and the island’s legendary capers, the flavours form a bright, aromatic trio that turns a simple dish into a sun-soaked Mediterranean escape.

Aromatic white wines are a shortcut to impressing even the pickiest wine snob. Think bottles bursting with terpenes: floral Muscat, dramatic Zibibbo, bold Gewürztraminer, sharp Riesling, or flirtatious Torrontés. These grapes glow with citrus, flowers, and herbs, whether dry or sweet. When lost in a wine shop, just whisper “terpenes” and follow the aromas, your most fragrant allies.

I went to Rome with my sister chasing art, history, and Christmas magic, and somehow ended up sipping Amaretto like we belonged in La Dolce Vita. Years later, that almond sweetness still tastes like nostalgia, adventure, and a reminder to savour the moment.

From the Dolomites’ crisp mountain air to the smoky depth of Speck and the dark-berry richness of Lagrein, Alto Adige is a region where every flavour tells a story. This post brings together its food, wine, and Alpine spirit - along with a simple, delicious pork tenderloin recipe inspired by the landscape itself.

Visiting the East side of Sicily: Syracuse, Taormina, Noto, Ragusa, Modica, Mount Etna

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, is a treasure waiting to be explored! To truly immerse ourselves, we picked two wonderful base towns: vibrant Palermo on the west side for the first week and charming Syracuse on the east for the second week.