"Fattore K"...

I unfortunately did not get to spend as much time at the wine tasting in Verona the other weekend due to a last minute conflicting engagement.

So…this post is going to be dedicated to Karezza (or Carezza).

Now I do not want people to think I am writing about Karezza just to write about something…a kind of half-ass or sub-par posting.

I had been planning on dedicating at least one posting to Karezza. Actually, more than 1 may need to be devoted to this brilliant place, and specifically to the unbelievably interesting, fun and fantastic group of people I met over New Years.

Yes, Karezza is where Chiara and I spent an intimate and tranquil New Years Eve (and the first few hours of New Years Day)…with a crew of about 40 people.

Picture in the lower right is from New Years - in the middle is Alberto (Chiara's brother) with his classy lady Giulia on the left and Roberto (the first victim of an influenza that roughly 50-60% of the people from New Years ended up getting) on the right.

Some facts on Karezza:
1. Located in the Dolomites
2. Great place to ski, snowboard, cross-country ski, romp around in the snow…whatever your pleasure
3. Known for having one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy, Lago di Carezza
4. Location of the Grand Hotel Karezza (inaugurated on July 8, 1896). Winston Churchill regularly stayed in this hotel with his wife, as well as Agatha Christie
5. Agatha Christie actually set the plot for one of her novels here, The Big Four

Back to New Years…

The intriguing, wonderful and unique thing about the New Year’s Eve crew is that they all have been going to Karezza for the past 10, 15, 20+ years...to ski, eat a slightly unhealthy amount of speck (actually that may just have been me - btw, speck is a salt-and-cold-smoke cured ham, similar to proscuitto, but boned before curing and super tasty and originally from the region of Alto Adige/Sudtirol), partake in Apres Ski and more importantly, to take a breath, relax, laugh their asses off and just have a damn good time and forget about everything else...which you can’t help doing when you are in Karezza, especially with this particular group of people.

But I need to warn anyone planning on visiting Karezza about something...“Fattore K” or Factor K. You are bound to catch this after spending 2-3 days there. Nothing serious. It basically explains why everyone in Karezza is a bit off their rocker.

And once you have it…sorry, you’re stuck with it.

As you can tell from the photo above, Chiara is suffering from a terrible case.

And I don't think she would have it any other way.

- Zucca

Soave wines...

Time for some quick facts on Soave wines:
1. The Soave wine production zone is situated in the eastern part of the hills in the province of Verona

2. The zone includes part or all of the lands belonging to the municipalities of Soave, Monteforte, San Martino B.A., Lavagno, Mezzane, Caldiero, Colognola, Illasi, Cazzano, San Bonifacio, Roncà, Montecchia and S. Giovanni Ilarione

3. Garganega is the designation’s principal grape variety...with Trebbiano di Soave being another indigenous grape to the area

4. The specific classification of "Soave Classico” is reserved for those wines made from grapes harvested and vinified in the municipalities of Soave and Monteforte d’Alpone (the oldest, original “classic” zone)

5. In order for a wine to be considered a "Soave" wine...it has to have at least 70% garganega grapes. The remaining percentage can be made up of any combination of Trebbiano di Soave, Pinot Bianco or Chardonnay

Ta da!!

- Zucca

“Il Soave incontra il mare e mette pace tra…Pisa e Livorno”

This translates to…”Soave meets the sea and makes peace between Pisa and Livorno”.

This was the theme of the wine tasting I went to last Friday in Pisa organized by the Consorzio di Tutela Vini del Soave (an organization that works on behalf of the Soave wine producers). Lucia Vesentini, the lovely lady in the photo with Chiara and I, actually works for the Consorzio…and is also the one to talk to if you find yourself in Verona jonesing to do a little tango or salsa dancing.

And yes, as you can see by the photo in the upper left, I did indeed get to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa (or "La Torre di Pisa")...which caused me to have another one of my “what a lucky girl am I” moments.

Actually manned the Coffele stand with Chiara, which entailed giving out tastings of 3 out of the 8 wines produced by her vineyards.

Love manning the Coffele stand...Always a good time and always end up with some interesting stories. Honestly, how many times does a girl get propositioned by an Italian boy looking for a woman to “milk his cows”? Okay...maybe more than one would expect.

It was the first and only time that I have positioned my lack of experience as a reason why I wasn’t qualified for or couldn’t possibly take on a particular position.

Okay. Back to the tasting in Pisa…

The 3 Coffele wines included:
1. Basic Soave Classico – 100% Garganega (grape variety) and aged in steel tanks
2. Ca’ Visco Soave Classico – 75% Garganega and 25% Trebbiano di Soave, also aged in steel tanks
3. Alzari Soave Classico – 100% Garganega and aged in large oak barrels, or “botte grande” for 14 months

There were 21 other Soave wine producers at the tasting…Links to their individual websites (where available) are listed on the left under “Hmm...Interesting.”

Going to another tasting in Verona with Chiara this Saturday. I’ll keep you posted on any additional propositions received.

Moo…

- Zucca