Italy's spring weather has been cooler and wetter than normal but with summer comes the sun! It is incredibly beautiful and verdant, accented with colorful bursts of red poppies and roses in every color.
We've eaten and drunk our way through the Veneto and Piedmont regions, plus more research for our new Emilia-Romagna tour. Next stop: the Betty Ford clinic, with a detour through Provence to drink a little rose' first!
We were thrilled that many of our Piedmont guests fell in love with Vermouth while on the trip. During our vermouth tasting, we learned it was invented in Torino in the 1700s and was the preferred aperitivo of the royal Savoy family. The old Carpano factory now houses the original Eataly store in Torino. Vermouth is enjoying a resurgence in Italy.
Vermouth is a fortified wine made by infusing medicinal herbs, spices, roots, seeds, flowers and barks. Originally used as a medicine and digestive aid, it became popular in the 1800's to drink as an aperitivo when they began to add sugar. In the 1900's it was widely added to cocktails and the name for the classic martini comes from the Martini & Rossi vermouth that was mixed with gin or vodka. Today, vermouth is often left out of the modern martini - not nearly as interesting! But the name "martini" remains and its roots are in Torino!
Try some Carpano Antica Formula, Martini & Rossi or Cocchi, widely available. Below are some summer cocktail ideas for you to try!
Gina's doing another pop-up dinner in Louisville. Join her at Louvino Middletown on July 18 featuring central Italy dishes. Think trofie pasta with pesto, summer panzanella salad and wood-grilled steak.
Click here to find out more and register to join her!
Buon viaggio e buon appetito!
Gina and Mary
