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November 22, 2010
Our Landlords in Italy, Francesco and Cid are perhaps the most interesting people I have met in a long time. Those of you who know me know I have met a lot of people; thousands perhaps, but I couldn’t tell you for sure. As the owner of thumbprint cellars I have spent numerous years as your personal host at our year-round busy Downtown Healdsburg tasting room. Guests from all over the world have shared their lives with me while we enjoyed a taste of our local wine. However, the absolute honesty of this couple compels me like few have. Cid is a British artist who has spent the last couple of decades living in and remodeling the 10th century castle where we all live now. Her Italian born husband, Francesco inherited this building and has put an immense amount of effort into rebuilding and renovating this hilltop villa to show off its stunning views and unique landscape. I have the sense that I will be sharing their stories frequently in my blogs.
Cid invited us to dinner last night to a local ‘place of the people’ in a small village near by called Troghi. We threw the boys in the ‘boot’ of the car and headed down the hill and in minutes arrived at communal dinner. Peasant soup, stone-oven fired pizza and a bottle of wine for Erica and I was $20 Euro – Total! Although the wine was barely drinkable the food was spectacular and the company fantastic! Fortunately, I had opened and enjoyed a glass of Torcicoda 2007 Primitivo, Salento, ‘Non Filtrato’ before we left. When we returned, this black hued wine had a beautiful blackberry and nutmeg spiced nose and flavors that opened layers of complexity. Not too much unlike the zins I make at home. This wine will be even better tonight with my Eggplant Parmesian a la rustico. Both better after the ‘stewing’ overnight!
Ciao.
Scott