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THE WINES OF EMILIA ROMAGNA

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Despite the region’s food fame –Emilia Romagna is world known as a food mecca– this region has a proud wine-making tradition and many of its wines deserve to be discovered.

Viticulture began here in the 7th century BC, vines were introduced here by the Etruscans and later adopted by the Romans. ER, as the name suggests, was once two distinct regions (Emilia and Romagna), and there still are different climates and soils, that create very disparate wines.


The most important wine of the region is produced in Romagna: Sangiovese (DOC from 1967).
Sangiovese grapes are cultivated in several areas of central Italy, in particular in Romagna and Tuscany (Brunello of Montalcino and Chianti are made of). Characteristic of this wine is the high acidity and light/medium body.


In terms of white wines, Albana and Trebbiano are the most important in Romagna. Albana of Romagna was Italy’s very first white DOCG wine (from 1987), when only the “famous”  reds enjoyed the same status.

It is an extremely versatile and aromatic wine, produced in several versions – dry, amabile, sweet and passito and also sparkling and spumante versions.


Emilia is also known for Lambrusco, a red sparkling wine, that matches perfectly with the local food such as prosciutto and salumi and Parmigiano. After a period of low reputation abroad as a cheap, low-quality wine, some years ago Wine spectator rehabilitated this wine, that now is having a very good success also due to the hard work of young Lambrusco producers who have done their utmost to create a large variety of different and interesting Lambruschi.

Pignoletto (which awarded DOCG in 2010) is another Emilia’s indigenous wine produced mainly in Bologna hills. It is successfully created in still, sparkling and spumante versions and it is gaining very positive international recognition as a delightful alternative to Prosecco.


Last but not least Pagadebit DOC, from grape bombino bianco and cultivated in Romagna, is a vigorous white wine whose name literally means “pay debts”. It is an extremely sturdy and weather-resistant variety, which helped the farmers to pay the debts accumulated during the years even in bad years.

If you are interested in visiting Emilia-Romagna, we have limited space available for our November 4-9, 2018. Click for more information.

Marcello and Raffaella Tori invite you to come and taste Italy in an authentic, unclose, and personal way. Everything is arranged, from food and wine tastings to cooking lessons, walks in the countryside and meanders through beautiful villages. Marcello and Raffaella live in Bologna and have over 20 years of experience working with people just like you who want to taste all Italy has to offer. Their unique experiences are enduring in their simplicity and authenticity. Join us for a day trip or a 4-7 day tour and taste and see amazing Italy through the eyes of Marcello and Raffaella. What are you waiting for? Come and Taste Our Italy! Find our more at bluone.com and follow us on BluoneCookingWineToursItaly/.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

 

A Marseille Celebration

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Anne & Kirk Woodyard – Music and Markets Tours

“Where can we see some great Bastille Day fireworks near Aix?” we asked our in-the-know French friends…and Marseille was the top reply – now we know why! In addition to festive fun (Kirk’s birthday happens to be the same day as France’s National Holiday!) we were looking forward to an air conditioned respite from the oppressive heat, and a swimming pool thrown in for good measure! Right on the historic Vieux Port, the Radisson Blu was a perfect choice – with a fabulous view from our 4th floor windows! Although we were tempted to stay in the marvelously cool room (you don’t know how much you miss air conditioning until you live without it for a while, as we do in our Aix home!), we decided to relax poolside instead – cooled with a refreshing dip and breezes as we basked in the sun, the 17th century Fort St. Nicolas looming beyond. Since Marseille is such a big city, I always imagined it as hotter than Aix – but no, it’s seaside location tempers the heat nicely – it’s bearable to stroll around near the water, unlike on those 89 degree afternoons in Aix.
Enjoying the beautiful architecture as we seek out a restaurant for an early (for France, that is – around 8) dinner, we find many well-recommended spots right near the Vieux Port, and request an outdoor table at L’Oliveraie, on restaurant-lined Place aux Huiles. Jazz from the restaurant next-door entertains us as we relish a delicious dinner under the olive trees – we do recommend this place!
Police and Emergency Medical Teams are setting up all around the Vieux Port in preparation for the fireworks at 10, and early arrivers are claiming their spots chosen for the best view.

After a sunset stroll along the water, we head up to our room, waiting for the show. Just after ten, the streetlights surrounding the port turn off, music booms from the speakers, and here we go! 16 pontoons are lined up down the middle, and flare in unison with beautiful firework displays, while to our left, above Fort St. Nicolas, more fireworks fill the sky – what a show! Happy Birthday Kirk!
The celebrations continue on Sunday – France is in the World Cup! But the day starts quietly, with a walk around the port (check out the mermaids!)

after the delicious buffet breakfast at the Radisson Blu.
You’ve heard of Savon de Marseille, I’m sure – now available worldwide, and one of the most popular booths at any south of France market – well why not buy fragrant olive oil soap right here in Marseille, IN the Vieux Port?

One more delicious Marseille meal – fresh seafood -with-a-view at Caravelle – thanks, Corey of French La Vie for the recommendation!
Then under the so-cool reflective canopy we walk, snap a photo of ourselves, metro to the station, and bus back to Aix with revelers ready to watch the big game – yes, Les Bleus are World Champions again! Last time was 1998, and we were in Paris for that unforgettable revelry. Aix celebrates more calmly, we’re glad to say ?
What fun this second-largest city of France, Marseille, has been – we’ll be back!

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The best way to describe us (Kirk and Anne Woodyard) is that we’re interested in the stories that make the places we visit come alive.
We’ve visited Europe more times than we can count, learned some entertaining stories there, and met some warm and helpful people who also enjoy the wonders of music and life in Europe. We look forward to sharing these stories and friends and experiences with our Music and Markets guests.
Between our music-related travels, we split our time between our homes near Washington DC and the south of France.
While both of us have experience in organizing travel and music groups Kirk’s background is in project management and competitive writing, and Anne is an accomplished pianist with over thirty years of teaching experience, and a travel and food writer specializing in France and Italy.

The Marble Quarries of Carrara

We have taken many groups to the Tuscan city of Lucca over the years. We enjoy going back there and never get tired of this relaxing, elegant town with so much to do within its massive walls.

Lucca City Walls


We always plan day trips for our groups when we’re in Lucca. One that we enjoy very much is a visit to tiny Montecatini Alto and a ride up the antique funicular railway.
When we’re in Montecatini Alto we always take our Sojourners to lunch at La Torre, one of our favorite restaurants. We’ve been gong there for twenty five years.
This year we gave our Sojourners a special treat. We’ve taken day trips to Carrara before, but never actually took a group into the marble quarries. We began the day with a stopover in the art town of Pietrasanta. There’s always public sculpture set throughout the town.

Some of the outdoor sculpture in Pietrasanta can be quite awful

Almost always more interesting is the former monastery that’s home to many of the maquettes and full-scall works of art created in Pietrasanta. We stopped for lunch at an amazing pizzeria with a great view just below the Carrara quarries.

After lunch our driver proceeded up the winding roads into the towering mountains.

At the tour company we donned our orange vests and hard hats and loaded into Land Rovers for the rough dusty trip to the highest quarry in the mountains, with loose stone, no guard rails, and sheer drops hundreds of feet down, it was not a trip for the faint-hearted.

Our very cute and informative guide was obviously not afraid of heights.

Our guide’s cell phone and thermos


Our tour guide told us the history of the quarries and how the marble was extracted in Roman times through to the present day. The views were unforgettable.

It’s nearly impossible to get a sense of scale from the photos

The enormous earth-movers look like tiny toys from above.

Matthew and Barbara DaubMatthew Daub is a professional artist and university professor with works in major public and private collections throughout the United States and Europe. He has been leading plein air painting workshops in Italy since 1994.

In 1999, Matthew and his wife Barbara formed Arts Sojourn as “a vacation for artists and their friends.” The program is designed to appeal to artists of all levels as well as non-artists who enjoy the company of creative people in a slow travel format.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

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