andiamotrips - campania, italy with karen phillips

Recently I've been closely following Tom Hyland' s web site on Italian wines. His most recent post is a list of his top wines of the decade. It is great to see wineries from Campania such as Feudi di San Gregorio, Mastroberardino (no surprise there), and Cantine Marisa Cuomo . Click here to read the full article.

After publishing yeaterday's blog on the finest sparkling wines, I heard from some friends with their thoughts on the subject. Francesco Continsio , Enoteca Mercadante , said that his number one seller is French champagne, a weakness for him as well. Topping the list Laurent Perrier Brut , in the sans annèe category and right after that, Pommery Noir , exclusively produced for the Italian market, fresh, full bodied.In third place, we Italian spumanti from Franciacorta, Monterossa Brut Cuvèe and Bellavista Brut Cuvèe . I’m new to this bollicine world and I was a little surprised (maybe disappointed) that I didn’t see more Italian bubbly on the list. Then I opened an email from Giulia Cannada Bartoli , journalist and event organizer. She is a fan of these Italian offerings: Grotta del Sole Asprinio di Aversa Spumante Brut, Cantine del Mare Falanghina Brezza Flegrea Spumante Brut, and F iano sSumante Cantine i Favati . I also read an article by Angelo Di Costan...

I’ve had the good fortune of attending two amazing sparkling wine tastings over the last several weeks. Ever since then, I have become very interested in the subject. With New Year’s Eve coming up, I was curious what the bollicine scene was like around Naples, so I called on a few friends for their input. Here are their responses: Tomasso Luongo , professional sommelier and president of AIS Napoli (Association of Italian Sommeliers, Naples) likes Italian sparkling wines, but when it comes down to it, he is a big fan of champagne “ Mi attraggono per la capacità di esprimere: grande finezza aromatica, sferzante acidità e vellutata cremosità delle bollicine. In other words, he is attracted by its ability to express itself; great aromatic elegance, striking acidity, and the velvety, creaminess of the bubbles. Viva la France ! Mimmo Brasiello , voted the Campania region’s best nonprofessional sommelier, picked Italian sparkling Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore . I looke...

Saturday January 2, 2010 Villa DI Livia, Pozzuoli, 1930 It will be a magical evening in an unique location. A concert to celebrate the beginning of the new year. Opera, classical Neapolitan music, Disney instrumentals (for the kids!), and more performed by "Onde Armoniche Ensemble". Afterwards, we’ll toast the New Year with spumante ‘malaze’ offered by Cantine Babo. What a way to immerse yourself in the culture while we still have the Christmas spirit! Admission is free but you just need to reserve your spot by emailing info@flegreando.org - or calling 3496537921. Idid! Hope to see you there!

In Naples, Christmas is spent with the family ( i toui ). New Year’s Eve, on the other hand is spent with whoever you want ( con chi voui ). This was something I learned my first Christmas in ‘ famiglia ’. So, If you are still deciding, here are a few ideas….. There are many restaurants throughout the area that are having their big Cenone dinners. See if your favorite place is celebrating that evening, grabs some friends and go. A few years ago my family was in town. I took them to an agriturismo in Avellino where we rang in the New Year with a huge meal, great wine, and Chinese sparklers. Agriturismos are great, especially if you reserve a room and spend the night. Many places have packages which include an overnight stay, dinner, and breakfast the next morning. ( www.campaniatour.it is one place to look for ideas) Another popular idea is to have dinner at a friend’s house. This is a great time to get together with your buddies and reflect on the past year. I ...

The next Winerdì at Ciao Vino is scheduled for the 15th of January at 8 pm. Mark your calendars because the theme for the evening will be Pinot Noir. This grape is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine. Come and taste some of Italy’s finest in the comfort of Enoteca Ciao Vino located in Varcaturo, Via Madonna del Pantano 50. The cost of this evening is € 25 which includes a wine tasting of 4 wines as well as an amazing buffet.. For more info, call 348 590 7349 or email andiamotrips@gmail.com.

December 29, 2010 at 2130 hrs Ais Napol i and Enoteca Ciao Vino want to help you get a head start on you New Year's Eve Celebration. Tomorrow evening at BAG (Bacoli Art Gallery) you can begin your celebration with live music by Cock 'o' Drills, a rockabilly band. Entrance to BAG is free, and you can order off their pub-stlye menu. If you have something particular in mind toast in the New Year, then call Fabrizio at Ciao Vino to reserve that special bottle of bubbly. For more info or to reserve, call Ciao Vino at 081 509 0425 or 333 726 7080 or BAG at www.bacoliartgallery.it or 081 523 7080 BAG: Piazetta Adriano #5 Bacoli (NA)

Growing up in the states, cauliflower wasn’t the most exciting vegetable around. The Jolly Green Giant presented it in a couple of ways. Boiled with a melted cheese sauce on top was not one of my favorites. (Sorry, Mom) In Naples, however, cauliflower plays an important role on the menu during the holiday season. It is the backbone to the famous insalata di rinforza . Each family has their own variation to the recipe. After 16 Neapolitan holiday seasons, I finally came across a version that I had me asking for seconds. Wanda Ranier i ( Fabrizio Erbaggio’ s mom), cooks her cauliflower until it is morbido morbido (very soft), then adds vegetables which she has marinated herself; peppers anchovies, mushrooms, capers, and olives to name a few. Then, just the right amount of olive oil before she mixes it all together. Wow! I’ve had the opportunity to try this dish on several occasions during the last couple of weeks, and Wanda, you have made cauliflower my new friend! ...

Since I started this blog a few months ago, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many people. One person who I’ve gotten to know, (virtually) is wine writer/photographer Tom Hyland . He is an American living in Chicago who has a vast knowledge of Italian wines. He has several blogs and writes for magazines such Decanter, Drinks , and Quarterly Review of Wines . Recently he wrote an extensive piece for Sommelier Journal on Campania wines. He sent me the link ( here ) and I’m happy to pass it on to you. It is great to see the Campania region getting recognition in the states, particularly wineries such as La Sibilla (my Winerdì partner, Vincenzo’s winery), Feudi di San Gregorio , and Villa Matilda . The article is very informative, with great photos as well as his wine tasting notes. Tom has been to Italy about 40 times, his next visit is in the spring. I hope to get a chance to take him around to some other great Campania cantinas or at least an evening at Ciao Vino . U...

What do you have lined up for Capodanno (New Year’s Eve)? Still undecided? Here’s an idea. Spend your Cenone (dinner) at one of the best restaurants in Naples, Veritas on Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Here is what they have in store for you on Thursday, 31 December beginning at 2030 hrs: Blinis di polenta, mantecato di cavolfiore, e uova di salmone Baccalà fritto allo zafferano, crema di patate alla maggiorana, praline di pasta soffiata olive e capperi Polpo affumicato, giardiniera in agrodolce, spremuta di papaccella Paccheri di Gragnano in soutè di vongole pomodorini e bottarga Pasta e fagioli alla pescatora Cilindro di calamaro ripieno di scarola uvetta e pinoli, salsa all’acciuga Spuma di fichi secchi Bavarese al roccocò, granita di Carpano Antica Formula e coriandoli di frutta candita. The evening costs 60 euro, and does not include beverages. For more information, or to reserve, call Info 081 66 05 85 or 329 721 97 42. AUGURI!!!

Ok. Here is the scenario. You are a group of actors from Hollywood visiting Naples for a couple of days to thank the ‘troops’ for all they do. During your visit, you have a strong desire to try the best Italian wines the country has to offer. What do you do? Where do you go? One answer-CiaoVino. Monday evening, F abrizio Erbaggio, Vincenzo De Meo, Cinzia Dalmonte , and I had the pleasure to present Italy throughWine to a group of very special people from the ‘States’. Wanda Colon from TLCs ‘Home Made Simple;’ Bill Brochtrup from NYPD Blue ; Daphne Reid from Fresh Prince of Belair; James Reynolds from Days of our Lives ; and Lissa Layng from movies ‘ Say Yes’ and ‘Night of the Comet’ were ready to embark a journey through this beautiful country with us. Fabrizio enjoys talking about wine. I am always excited to see what he chooses to degustare during our wine tastings. He selected well, even Vincenzo was impressed. First Round –White Wines. We b...

Ciao Vino officially kicked off the holiday season with an evening dedicated to sparkling wines. Vincenzo Di Meo and Fabrizio Erbaggio guided a packed house through a wine tasting from prosecco to French Champagne. First-a mini lesson on metodo charmat and metedo classico .; the two ways to produce the wines that we would be having that evening. Next- a wine tasting with the following wines: · Prosecco di Conegliano -Nino Franco, Veneto · Dubl Greco - Feudi di San Gregorio, Campania · Franciacorta Metodo classico Cuvèe Storica 61 -Berlucchi, Lombardia · Champagne Premiere Cuvèe -Bruno Paillard, Francia It was interesting to note the differences as we tried each wine; from the quantity of bubbles, the diverse aromas, the different flavors, the various blends…I could go on. Our hostess, Cinzia Dalmonte, then laid out a buffet that Ciao Vino is famous for complete with pizza from Stefano Pagliuca as well as trippa alla napolitana. Fa...

It will be hard to choose, lets start with · Winerdì at Ciao Vino , December 18 th . This week we will tasting sparkling wines and champagne and discussing the wine making process on our quest for the best holiday bollicine. I hoped you signed up because it is sold out. · My home away from home is having a big weekend. The 18 th through the 20 th , Taurasi (Av) will celebrate the grand opening of its Enoteca Regionale. There will be guided visits in the local cantinas, Castello Marchionale located in the centro storico will host guest speakers, AIS Campania , Slow Food Campania and Gambero Rosso Campania will be on hand as well. There will be a dinner based around themes such as “ Sapori della tradizione rurale campana ”, starting from the Terre di Mezzo (Irpinia, Sannio, Matese, Vallo di Diano e Monti Picentini), onto Le Terre del Fuoco (Aria Vesuviana e Campi Flegrei) then dell’Aria (Terra di Lavoro e Piana del Sele), finally arriving at Terre de...

About a month ago, friend and mentor Fabrizio Erbaggio, and I were having a conversation about a wine tasting that was held at Ciao Vino. I mentioned that I didn’t really like one of the reds that he served. He asked me why. I said that it didn’t taste like Aglianico. Wrong answer? OK, I know over the past couple of years I have been playing it safe. I found a wine that I liked and I stuck with it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? Don’t get me wrong, I have other ‘favorite ‘wines; Piedirosso, Pallagrello Nero and Bianco, Fiano di Avellino, Falanghina. They are Campania wines, but it’s a big world out there; I felt I needed a little help to expand my horizons. Last weekend I was at Fnac, a bookstore in the heart of Vomero. There I think I found un pò di aiuto. I purchased 101 Vini Da Bere Almeno Una Volta Nella Vita-spendendo molto poco by journalist and author Luciano Pignataro ( www.lucianopignataro.com ) . This book has been out for a few weeks and...

I really didn’t feel like going out Thursday evening. I had papers to grade, it was cold, and the last time I went to Cantina Astroni in Agnano, my car started to slide as I drove up the very steep driveway. I even got stuck in traffic on the way between Varcaturo and Licola. But, I continued on. I’m glad I did. Last week, I wrote about my impressions of slow food. I learned Thursday evening that my thoughts were only the tip of the iceberg. I was treated to a mini lesson on Terra Madre (mother earth) and Slow Food by experts from the Campi Flegrei area. The evening began with a short film on Terra Madre-a movement that highlights the importance that we, citizens of the planet earth, have a responsibility to take care of the earth so that it can take care of us. Highlights from a Terra Madre convention in Turin, Italy in 2008 showed speakers pushing their local products and their livelihoods. One speaker in the film said that if the land is sick, we become sick. ...