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Taste of Portugal
Antonio Mauriello Wine Tastings By Antonio on 9/29/2005 5:20 AM
My Latin experience in Toronto, after the Spanish tasting day, lasted until Thursday, the day I "moved" to Portugal! This narrow country, so exposed to the furious Atlantic Ocean, seems to be known only for Port.

Well, there is more... Much more.


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Taste of Spain
Antonio Mauriello Wine Tastings By Antonio on 9/28/2005 4:12 AM
The Taste of SpainIf somebody asks me what is my favorite wine country, then they also probably would guess that my answer would be Italy. Well ... yes, Italy is my "passion" country, where my heart and my roots reside. Though, it doesn't mean that Italy is, in absolute, my "only" favorite w ...
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Homeward Bound
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 7/22/2004 8:04 AM

A farewell to Italy

On July 22, 2004 I was on a plane travelling westward toward Ottawa.
What a journey!
It was very sad to leave Italy, however I am happy to be back in Canada!

I hope you found my stories interesting and that you are now, more than ever, attracted by the beauty of that warm peninsula, one of the best sites in the world.&l ...

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GWL Day 30-34 - Peaceful resting at Cremolino (PIEMONTE) (86 km)
Antonio Mauriello By Antonio on 7/6/2004 5:48 AM
The GWL - Day 30 These last days of my journey are going really fast. Therefore I decided to slow them down as much as I can.

I feel that I have, by now, a deep understanding of all the different wine areas of Piemonte. I still believe it is the most difficult region of Italy to study, because ...
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GWL Day 32 - Alto Monferrato (PIEMONTE) (174 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 7/5/2004 5:55 AM
The GWL - Day 32In the heart of Barbera

I know this is going to be my last day visiting wineries and vineyards. My Italian trip is coming to an end. My energies are diminishing. So is my money (..!). That's OK... after all,..I am satisfied..

I left the to ...
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GWL Day 29 - From Barolo to Dolcetto (PIEMONTE) (115 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 7/2/2004 5:42 AM
The GWL - Day 29I left Alba in the morning of July 2, heading southeast towards Acqui Terme (province of Alessandria). A friend of mine was waiting for me in a small town called Cremolino and I was supposed to arrive late in the afternoon. I had the entire day in front of me and I really did not want to leave the ...
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GWL Day 28 - Still in the Langhe area (PIEMONTE) (89 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 7/1/2004 3:47 PM
The GWL 2004 - Day 28The Roman town of Bra

On July 1 I was wearing my Canadian T-shirt with the red maple leaf and large text "CANADA" written on the back. I found myself explaining to locals what it was all about. They were surprised of how much an Italian can bec ...
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GWL Day 27 - Tour of the Langhe-Barolo sub-region (PIEMONTE) (126 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/30/2004 3:36 PM
The GWL 2004 - Day 27Compared to the four towns of the Barbaresco region, the Barolo DOCG area, which includes 11 townships, seems like an empire. A kingdom. Yes, it really is. Every one of the 11 towns shows off a castle. And each one of these castles is different in the architecture, size and age.
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GWL Day 26 - Tour of the Langhe-Barbaresco sub-region (PIEMONTE) (60 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/29/2004 2:20 PM
The GWL 2004 - Day 26The incredible splendor of the Rabaja

Rabaja..this name sounds as if it has just come out from an Oriental fable. The entire atmosphere of this part of Piemonte is just too mystical! The tiny tiny village of ...
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GWL Day 25 - Tour of the Roero sub-region (PIEMONTE) (110 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/28/2004 12:24 PM
The GWL 2004 - Day 25Roero is the first area of the three I decided to visit around Alba. You may find interesting the fact that I planned to visit Roero today, Langhe-Barbaresco tomorrow and Langhe-Barolo the day after tomorrow based on the closing weekday of their respective Enoteche Regionali. As you recall fr ...
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GWL Day 24 - Vignale Monferrato (PIEMONTE) - Asti - Alba (PIEMONTE (140 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/27/2004 12:20 PM
Another native grape variety North of Asti: Ruche'

I am leaving Vignale Monferrato to change wine areas. It seems that in Piemonte, at every kilometer, there is a different DOC! The area I am entering now, interests me particularly because of a red grape variety cultivated h ...
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GWL Day 23 - Vignale Monferrato (PIEMONTE) Continued
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/26/2004 9:33 AM
The GWL - Day 23Touring Vignale

The day after I went for a walking tour of the village of Vignale. A beautiful town on the top of a hill dominating the surrounding vineyards.



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GWL Day 22 - Vignale Monferrato (PIEMONTE) (90 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/25/2004 9:27 AM
The GWL - Day 22A tranquil day at Tenuta Colonna

The Tenuta Colonna estate is a paradise. A beautiful mansion with rooms, a family restaurant and a cellar for wine making. After breakfast, served in a warm ambiance with typical "locanda" furniture, I spent almost t ...
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GWL Day 21 - In the heart of Monferrato (PIEMONTE) From Cocconato to Vignale Monferrato (123 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/24/2004 9:18 AM
The GWL - Day 21A small incident, happened as soon as I left the B&B, helped me to wake up completely. I left the car's trunk door unlocked and at the first turn, going uphill, the trunk opened completely and one of my bags crashed on the asphalt. Fortunately no car was behind me. So nothing in the bag was de ...
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GWL Day 20 - From Canavese to Monferrato (PIEMONTE) (91 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/23/2004 9:02 AM
The GWL - Day 20A short drive through rice and corn fields brought me to the town of Roppolo with its beautiful castle of Serra, which hosts the Enoteca Regionale della Serra. Unfortunately this Wednesday morning it was closed. It opens only from Thursday to Sunday. No luck! So far I visited 2 enoteche in Piemont ...
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GWL Day 19 - From Gattinara to Canavese (PIEMONTE) (127 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/22/2004 8:55 AM
The GWL - Day 19Tasting at "Enoteca del Nebbiolo"

Another reason that made me decide to stay in Gattinara was the desire to visit the Enoteca Regionale del Nebbiolo that is closed on Mondays (the day I arrived in Gattinara). So, this morning, Tuesday June 22, my first morning thought w ...
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GWL Day 18 - Gattinara (PIEMONTE) (61 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/21/2004 8:30 AM
The GWL - Day 18A splendid awakening looking at the blue "Lago Maggiore" lake and at the green forests around it….the "Canadian" landscape that I am starting to miss...

I crossed the river Sesia leaving the province of Novara, going west into the province of Vercelli, very ...
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GWL Day 17 - From Monza (LOMBARDIA) to Ghemme and Arona (PIEMONTE) (168 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/20/2004 9:22 AM
The GWL - Day 17On the road again...

After a well-deserved break, I am more than willing to be on the move again. My desire to learn, to see, to discover is now strong again. Time to go. Time to say goodbye to my best friends who put up with me for 10 long days...
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MiWine Day 3
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/16/2004 8:17 AM
MiWine Day 3The tasting that made my day: a vertical of Cervaro della Sala from Antinori

9 am - 1 pm
Producers visited in the morning on the show floor:

Montesissa Colli Piacentini - EMILIA ROMAGNA
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MiWine Day 2
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/15/2004 8:08 AM
MiWine Day 2After the success of yesterday afternoon's guided tasting, from my personal point of view, I wanted to start them as early as I could today as well. So, I registered for the earliest one right after lunch. As in Italian streets, here at the show between 1 pm and 2 pm, everybody is at lunch. The boo ...
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MiWine Day 1 - The first wine fair held in Milano (LOMBARDIA)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/14/2004 7:59 AM
MiWine Day 1What else could be more thrilling!

I spent a wonderful weekend in Monza with my friends Maurizio and Daniela, who are giving me the best hospitality I could ever receive from a friend. Their 2-year old boy Ivan is a "train" at full speed all day long! ...
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GWL Day 16 - From Piacenza (EMILIA ROMAGNA) to Monza and Milano (LOMBARDIA) (135 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/9/2004 7:55 AM
The GWL - Day 16Milano: the capital of the fashion world.

This day signs the end of the first part of my trip. I am now going to stay at a friend's house for about 10 days before continuing my "GLW".

Not that I am taking a vacation... actuall ...
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GWL Day 15 - Colli Piacentini (EMILIA ROMAGNA) (190 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/8/2004 7:44 AM
The GWL - Day 15The tortuous high hills south of Piacenza.

Taro Valley:
Not a good night last night... Nothing to say against the hotel where I slept... or trying to... Unfortunatelly the hotel was located near a truck stop. Hundreds of trucks were maneuv ...
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GWL Day 14 - Reggio Emilia (212 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/7/2004 7:41 AM
The GWL - Day 14An itinerary amongst Legends: from Ferrari to Parmigiano Reggiano.

A route with few natural beauties, but still very interesting. Away from hills and vineyards, today I am driving through many industrial areas and truck routes. A good exercise for my drivi ...
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GWL Day 13 - Bologna (73 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/6/2004 7:12 AM
The GWL - Day 13Bologna: the capital of the home made pasta.

Tortellini, tortelli, tortelloni, ravioli, agnolotti are only a few of the names identifying the different varieties of "pasta fatta in casa", a great specialty of this region. Out from Romagna I am no ...
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GWL Day 12 - Ravenna (140 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/5/2004 7:08 AM
The GWL - Day 12A day "off" to visit the art city of Ravenna.

It is the city of the Byzantine, in a time when everything was art. Churches with an oriental Orthodox touch were built in this city near Venezia and are now famous for its "mosaici". Scenes ...
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GWL Day 11 - Dozza-Faenza (EMILIA ROMAGNA) (100 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/4/2004 6:56 AM
The GWL - Day 11

From Dozza to the Colli Bolognesi DOC

I am leaving Dozza in the morning ... but with a smile on my face ... I am not going away... I know I am going to come back later on to spend a last night here!< ...

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GWL Day 10 - Dozza (EMILIA ROMAGNA) (90 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/3/2004 6:43 AM
The GWL - Day 10The enchanting beauty of Dozza

I learnt about the existence of this village because it hosts the Enoteca Regionale of Emilia Romagna. As you know, an Enoteca Regionale is a place where we can find all the wines of the region and where we can taste a good ...
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GWL Day 9 - Rimini-Dozza (EMILIA ROMAGNA) (197 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/2/2004 6:27 AM
The GWL - Day 9

Emilia Romagna: wine, food, women, cars...

Today is cloudy and rainy... good, because I am planning to leave the coastline and move inland, so I won't be spreading many tears during the sad &quo ...

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GWL Day 8 - Pesaro-Rimini (EMILIA ROMAGNA) (78 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 6/1/2004 6:21 AM
The GWL - Day 8From Marche to Romagna

In the morning I kept driving north passing through a park in a rocky promontory. There were few nice spots here for pictures, high on the sea with a beautiful scenery.

Then, the road t ...
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GWL Day 7 - Morro d'Alba-Colli Pesaresi (MARCHE) (161km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 5/31/2004 6:04 PM
The GWL 2004 - Day 7Resting my tasting buds!

After yesterday's tour-de-force, I took a bit of rest. I took advantage of my vicinity with my beloved sea and I swam, suntanned, relaxed. By doing so, I also rested my tasting buds... a more than deserved break! ...
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GWL Day 6 - Matelica-Morro d'Alba (MARCHE) (119 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 5/30/2004 4:51 PM
The GWL 2004 - Day 6

From Verdicchio to Lacrima di Morro d'Alba: in the land of 2 native upraising.

On Sunday May 30, every region in Italy hosted a popular yearly event called: "Cantine Aperte". Almost all producers, wineries, est ...

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GWL Day 5 - Staffoli to Matelica (50 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 5/29/2004 5:35 PM
The GWL 2004 - Day 5Looking for a white wine to age in your cellar? Try Verdicchio di Matelica!

Very cloudy and wet today...It rained all day. This was a shame because I took lots of scenic roads and mountain passes. At the highest pass, my GPS was reading 1,200 mt of altitud ...
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GWL Day 4 - Monte Conero to Ancona to Jesi to Staffolo (MARCHE) (106 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 5/28/2004 5:23 PM
The GWL 2004 - Day 4From the sea back to the mountains in the heart of Verdicchio.

I left the window blinds up last night, so I could be awaken by the first daylight. So it was. A pleasant awakening. 5.30 am. The sky was pink and yellow and a red, red, red ball was coming out ...
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GWL Day 3 - Serrapetrona-Conero (MARCHE) (122 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 5/27/2004 6:58 AM
The GWL - Day 3A new promising DOCG in the wine region of Marche: Vernaccia di Serrapetrona.

A "take-it-easy" morning...!

I woke up at 9 am and hit the road at 10.00. After a short 10 km drive up to the mountain, I reached the first of the produ ...
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GWL Day 2 - Montefalco Bevagna Foligno (UMBRIA) to Serrapetrona (MARCHE) (134 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 5/26/2004 7:47 AM
The GWL - Day 2From Umbria to Marche. From mountains to sea.

I had an early awakening today: 7.30. I had to go to put money in the parking meter... In fact last night I parked in the piazza of the historical center of the town and walked to the hotel. It was a good excuse to ...
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GWL Day 1, Roma Montefalco (UMBRIA) (231 km)
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 5/25/2004 6:54 AM
The GWL 2004 - Day 1The king of the tannins: Sagrantino di Montefalco.
A nice 2-hour drive from my parent's home in Ostia (20 km from Rome on the Tirreno sea), brought me to the heart of Umbria. My first itinerary was "La strada del Sagrantino" ("The road of Sagrantino&qu ...
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The GWL 2004????
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 5/25/2004 6:51 AM
The GWL 2004 Today, Tuesday May 25, 2004, I am beginning what I baptized "GWL". I must be a true North American now, since I like acronyms! GWL = Great Wine Loop.

During the next 6 weeks I will visit some regions of North and Center Italy without coming back to Rome. This journey will b ...
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3 days at Montalcino: the cradle of Brunello
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 5/13/2004 9:24 AM
2 Days at Montalcino There are things in life that are extremely difficult to explain: finding the right words as well as reproducing the experienced emotions are great challenges. This happens to me every time I want to talk to somebody and narrate about Tuscany. Hard work. You have to be there to understand ...
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Italy: A country of cellphones
Antonio Mauriello Visiting Italy as a Tourist By Antonio Mauriello on 5/12/2004 6:10 AM
A country of cellphones Being in a public space is definitely different from what I remember 7 years ago. Sounds are different. People are different. They talk, talk, and talk. They communicate everywhere in the frenetic search for somebody to tell something to.

With the desperate n ...
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