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Etna – GT Food & Travel
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GT Food & Travel

Tag: Etna

  • Meet Anna of Vino Di Anna on Mt. Etna

    Meet Anna of Vino Di Anna on Mt. Etna

    Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Anna Martens at her vineyard on the slopes of Mt. Etna, Sicily. Anna hails from Adelaide, Australia where she grew up surrounded by vineyards. At Adelaide University, she earned a post-grad degree in viticulture and oenology, while working for the Petaluma Winery. In 2001, she packed her bags to harvest in Argentina before landing in Tuscany, Italy. She never looked back.

    DSC_0159In 2005, she first set her feet on Mt. Etna. She fell in love with the terraced vineyards, breathtaking Etna, and the indigenous grape varieties of Nerello Mascalese and Carricante. In 2008, she bought two parcels of fruit on Etna and she produced 600 bottles of Vino Di Anna using only indigenous yeasts, no sulfites – wine made naturally. The rest is history. Last week, I had the chance to chat with Anna about her journey and Vino Di Anna. Continue reading “The Martens mission” for excerpts from our talk.VinodiAnnaVineyards

  • Cave Ox – Where to Eat on Etna

    Cave Ox – Where to Eat on Etna

    Although Sicily is a region of Italy, it is a country itself, made up of many states to be discovered. At every turn there’s a new discovery and unique food made with care and attention. I’ve visited Catania and Mount Etna many times. I’m drawn back by the volcano, the people, the food and wine. There’s something magical about the soil and the air that surrounds la  Muntagna (Etna in Sicilian dialect). There’s something captivating about the people who call Etna home. If you find yourself near Etna visit a vineyard and stop at Cave Ox to eat seasonal food and drink wine from Etna and afar. Chat with the owners. You won’t be disappointed. For more about Cave Ox…   CaveOxpastaasparagus

    Cave Ox
    Via Nazionale Solicchiata, 159
    Solicchiata (CT)
    Open: Wednesday to Monday for lunch and dinner (closed on Tuesday)

  • Meet Vini Scirto on Etna

    Meet Vini Scirto on Etna

    I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Sicily in 2015. During one of my Etna explorations, I had the pleasure of meeting Giuseppe Scirto and Valeria Franco, the owners and wine makers of Vini Scirto. Vini Scirto is located in the beautiful Etna zone of Sicily, which is rich in Sicilian wine traditions. Giuseppe and Valeria invited us to their farmhouse for a home-cooked Sunday lunch where we were fortunate enough to spend time talking, eating and sharing life stories.

    Continue reading here for my interview with Giuseppe and Valeria.

    Scirto

  • The Etna Wine Buzz

    The Etna Wine Buzz

    vignabosca2

    Despite the looming presence of Europe’s highest active volcano and the labor-intensive terraced vineyards, Etna currently is one of Italy’s most exciting wine regions. Etna is not only drawing attention to Sicily but is in great company with some of the best wines in the world. It’s no wonder that young Sicilian winemakers are making a stake on Etna, embracing agriculture and quality wine production over quantity. They are breathing life and personality into distinctive Etna wines.Etna_VineyardVisit

    So why all the buzz about Etna? It’s impossible to point to any one factor. Likely it’s the volcanic soil and extraordinary climate but also an increased love and interest in the native grape varieties that have existed on Etna’s terraced vineyards for centuries. Whatever the reason may be, Etna wines appeal to wine novices and connoisseurs alike.IVigneriTasting

    What can you expect from Etna wines? Continue reading….

  • Sicily Part 1 – 5 Cherished Memories

    Sicily Part 1 – 5 Cherished Memories

    This is part 1 of a 3 part post of my favorite memories from a recent trip to Sicily. Anyone who has met me knows that I am a bit obsessed with Sicily. My Sicily obsession has grown since the death of my Sicilian grandmother Maria in 2003. I am thankful to her for sharing her memories of Sicily. I admire her sarcasm, stubbornness and strength. She was a testarda (stubborn person) and for that reason I proudly hold my Italian passport. She was my last grandparent to immigrate to Boston allowing her to retain her Italian citizenship.fishermanSince 2003, I’ve visited Sicily countless times. Initially I searched for my roots to understand more about myself, my family and my attraction to the island. Every trip brought a new adventure from midnight fishing off the Aeolian Islands to walking the vineyards of Pantelleria. I fell in love with the energy, the smell, the tastes, I fell in love with the food, the wine and the people. When I received a call from the most difficult clients asking me to plan a trip of a lifetime to Sicily for them, I knew I was up for the challenge. The group was my mom, dad and three cousins. DSC_0058It may seem obvious that all clients want their vacation to be a trip of a lifetime. Understanding what a client envisions is the first step. My clients (family) wanted to stay in a villa near Siracusa with a pool, garden and outdoor kitchen and direct access to the sea. They wanted to relax, cook and most of all spend time together creating unforgettable memories.

    My 5 most cherished memories from this very special trip of a lifetime are…

    1. Stealing an hour with mom on Mother’s Day for a plate Sicilian cheese, semi-sundried tomatoes, eggplant parmesan and wine at Gusto dei Sapori Smarriti in Ortigia. cheeseplatemom
    2. An indulgent breakfast  at Caffé Sicilia in the city of Noto which is a UNESCO Heritage site. Cannoli, brioche, granita and cappuccino were exactly the sugar and caffeine jolt required to kick off a day of sightseeing.  cannolicaffesicilia
    3. Leading my family on a tour of the Ortigia food market  to buy fish, vegetables and bread for an evening BBQ.fishmarketortigia
    4. Spending a morning at I Vigneri vineyards on Etna with the Etna Wine Lab.20140515-familywEtna
    5. A farewell swim at the ramp of our Think Sicily villa rental. Despite living in Italy for more than 7 years, I still have New England blood which means I’ll jump in the sea in May despite chilly temps! That’s Mom and me.

    swimsiracusa

     

    to be continued…Sicily Part 2 – On Etna with The Etna Wine Lab & I Vigneri


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