Too busy to write a long, incisive analytical post. Well, when do I ever?
Still, I thought I'd immortalize a few scenes from the recent trip into Unknown Parts. Your intrepid heroes' (we are all heroes these days) various stops are thus documented in foto...
Stop 1: Veneto
I didn't take any pix there this time. The weather sucked and I was too jetlagged to bother. "Sir, you are no Jeremy Parzen!" True, true. Here's a Veneto pic from another trip.
What city is this?
a. Treviso
b. Venice
c. Vicenza
d. None of the above
Stop 2: Piemonte
We tasted several wineries' wares and liked one well enough to Continue the Dialogue. Jeff was in heaven as he took in the traditional Barololand scenery...a Wine Spectator photo spread come to life!
OK, what the hell happened to the new pix of Piemonte? I've got thousands of photos in iPhoto and those are MIA. Here you have Piemonte in February.
Stop 3: Emilia Romagna
This is considered by many Italians to be the best governed, most functional region in the country.* It's one of the richest. The cuisine too -- Bologna is known as "Bologna la grassa" (Bologna the fat) because of the city's wealth and the richness of the cuisine. Which is why Lambrusco -- the good, dry, minerally kind -- is a great counterpoint to the fatty foods.
This is a view of a vineyard of Venturini-Baldini, a very good biodynamic farm/winery. I wrote about them in June.
* Long ruled by the Communists and their post-USSR descendants. Cf. the United States today. Hmm...
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And here is our Jeff with Donata Baldini:
Note sandy, well-drained soil.
(What would Mrs. Ari say?)
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Mandatory dog photo: Luna at the very lovely Villa Alberelli via de Gasperi 35 in San Polo D' Enza. (Just outside Reggio Emilia.) One of the nicest places we stayed, incredibly spacious and well-appointed. 
Nicoletta Alberelli
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Stop 4: Montepulciano
We visited with Susanna Crociani, whom I had initially met at last year's Vinitaly. She got us rooms at a gorgeous place in Montepulciano -- look at the view!
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Stop 5: Maremma
We spent a couple of days at Poggio Argentiera with Gianpaolo Paglia. We had a good time with GPP. I no took pix. The weather sucked, etc. But we did spend a few gluttonous hours in Siena.
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Us gargoyles before we ate at the famed Osterie Le Logge.
(Gargoyle courtesy Duomo di Siena.).
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Hideous ambulatory gargoyle in Piazza del Campo
(Oh, the humanity! But the creature's shirt matches the color of the buildings. Autochthonous beast, wot?)
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The rest of the photo documentation will be doled out to you later.
Now, to expunge that last, vile image from your innocent minds...
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.Dusk at Montepulciano
Glad you returned safely. I am still in Piemonte and hopefully without rain we will pick some nebbioli domani matina. Otherwise it might be another day shoveling shit- http://www.flickr.com/photos/farmstead/2902248735/
Ci vediamo,
Anthony
Posted by: Anthony Nicalo | September 30, 2008 at 05:34 PM
Shoveling shit, eh? Nothing wrong with that. Look at me!
Seriously, I hope the harvest proceeds w/o too much more rain. When are you back to BC?
Posted by: Strappo | September 30, 2008 at 05:49 PM
Back on Oct. 8...are you coming to the WBC in Santa Rosa?
Posted by: Anthony Nicalo | September 30, 2008 at 06:01 PM
Hell no...I'll either be in Piemonte OR welcoming a shipment from il Bel Paese.
Posted by: Strappo | September 30, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Perfetto. Io arrivato a Piemonte 30 Octobre.
Posted by: Anthony Nicalo | September 30, 2008 at 06:06 PM
Nice facial hair, old man. Welcome back to the real zoo.
John
Posted by: John Hughes | September 30, 2008 at 08:06 PM
yes, bro, 'tis a real circus. italy almost looks sane at this point. certainly the food's better.
Posted by: Strappo | October 01, 2008 at 10:06 AM
What? Got a problem with burgers AND fries?
Posted by: John | October 03, 2008 at 11:51 AM
The first pic (which city?) is Venice. It's from that park just off Corso Garibaldi, isn't it?
Posted by: El Tvrle | October 07, 2008 at 04:48 PM
You are correct, sir! Buon lavoro!
Posted by: Strappo | October 07, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Jeremy Parzen doesn't hold a candle to you, ol' man!
Thanks for the shout out... which I am only seeing now.
Abbraccio, J
Posted by: Jeremy Parzen | October 17, 2008 at 02:05 PM
WOW! That is a beautiful place! Nature at its best! What an idyllic place. It is now on my list of places to experience in my lifetime. Thank you very much for sharing.
Posted by: New England Lodgings | December 19, 2008 at 02:21 AM