My Italian adventures

After two and a half days  busy with sightseeing in Milan and a little bit of shopping, we arrived at the lakes. Beautiful scenery! Cozy little towns with plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants and gelato places.
Someone said  the best gelato is in Como.
Well, it is great!
After Como we went driving on our cute Peugeot. It was very scenic route, gorgeous sundown!  Long tunnels under the mountains. We were driving through  lots of little beautiful  and very old towns .
We are at the lake Lugano right now. And adventures on the lakes are expecting us tomorrow. The weather is still gorgeous! The food is amazing! I  wish I  never had to leave!
And our hotel is pretty nice to.
We are staying at  Lake Lugano. It is a beautiful hotel with a gorgeous room facing the lake, I feel like a princess.
We drove to Lake Como. From there on the ferry we went to Varena and there we climbed a very steep hill with a rocky road to see the famous castle- Castello di Vezio.  It's a very old castle with a lot of history.
You can have the greatest view of Lake Como from the top of the castle.
But I loved the village at the foot of the castle! With a little old church, people live on this steep mountain and enjoy their lives for generations! Even though it's not easy to get there.
So we climbed and climbed these steep hills, but it was worth it!
The view was magnificent!
Varena is a small and very quiet village.
Then we went to Belaggio. What a difference! The narrow streets going up the steep hills are filled with all kinds of shops. Selling silk, souvenirs and all kinds of clothing and things one might find interesting. And of course there are tons of cafes and restaurants. You can find amazing espresso  everywhere.
From Belaggio we wanted to get back to Menaggio but instead the ferry brought us to a close by town. We were told that the walk was not really far. Well, it was far and after climbing Varena's hills, we were exhausted!
But the walk was along big villas and we enjoyed walking and sightseeing.
That is all, unfortunately I had not much time at the lakes, but I loved it!
Amazing views, one can never be tired of it. Relaxing atmosphere, I could stay here forever.
Tomorrow I'm parting with my brother and sister in law and heading to Turin for a new adventures. I hope my next  journey to Turin will be as wonderful as my days at Milan and at the Lakes!

Canal in Milan

Lakes

At the hotel

Duomo

My Italian adventures ( part one)

My Italian adventures

Well, I'm on the plane. First to Paris, then to Milan. Just ate superb dinner of beef with wild mashroom and mashed potatoes. Amazing, doesn't taste like airplane food at all! I'm so full now!

So, I'm in Paris! Last time I was here 13.5  years ago, on our way to Toronto. This time I'm probably in a new terminal. It's big, modern, airy and there is lots of light!
I ate a nice breakfast, it's 3 in the morning at home. I took a little nap, walked around.
Of course first where I looked were wines!Sauternes 12 euro!  I'll take it, merci!

I'm flying to Milan. I  look out the windows and see mountains - gorgeous!
I'm in Milan. I took a bus to the central station, bought a card for my phone.
Went to the subway , after getting lost a little finally found my hotel! I love people here! So helpful!
I'm hot, it's summer here! I'm tired and I'm hungry!
Across the street there is a caffe. I come and ask for food. And there is whole table of food! But the lady says, "It's just the appetizers! I'll make a panini!" I ate appetizers--little sandwiches with this and that and an amazing panini, the bread is out of this world!
I had a cocktail and a Merlot from Venezia.
I'm sitting in this cafe and smiling. There are people coming in, everybody is nice and I feel right at home!
I ordered a cappuccino at the end and I don't have the words to describe this!
Everyone is talking, smiling, and I'm smiling too, that is what I came for! Not for museums (of course I will come and sight-see tomorrow as much as possible), but for this! Great food, wine, people, atmosphere!
And that's just my first day!
And now I'm going downstairs to wash my jet lag out in the pool!

Bordeaux after work party

I love parties! Especially when it a Bordeaux party! With the iYellow club!
http://iyellowwineclub.com/blog/bordeaux-after-work-party
We tasted some great wines!

Calvet Saint-Emilion 2009 Merlot and Cabernet franc blend. This is my cup of tea! Full bodied, aromatic, not very heavy, dry with some nice tannins.

Chateau Pey La tour 2009 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvingon.
Typical Bordeau blend. Lovely Merlot and Cab balance. Medium bodied with a long finish.

Chateau de Panigon 2005 Cabernet Savingnon, Merlot.
This is amazing wine! Full bodied, with balanced tannins and acidity, full of fruit, herb ans spice flavours.

Chateau Ferran Blanc 2007
Fruity and aromatic,  medium bodied and dry with medium finish. Nice oak adds more flavour. I enjoyed
sipping this wine during the party.

 Chateau Liot 2007 This is my favourite!Sauternes!
Sweet with ripe fruit aromas, deliciously thick, balanced with long finish.

Thank you for the nice party, Angela!

Ripasso Valpolicella

I discovered Valpolicella some time ago. I liked this Italian wine. But little did I know!
This wine comes from Veneto region. It is a red wine, blend of  Corvina Veronese, Rondinella and Molinara, three Italian grape varieties. From this blend Amarone is made and also sweet recioto dessert wine. Those wines are made from dried grapes.
So, when I first tried Valpolichella, that was simple and nice wine.
Recently I found difference, when I  tasted ripasso. Valpolicella. Ripasso is little different style of making wine, when varlpolicella is left for extended maceration with partially dried skins and lees wich left from  Amarone or recioto fermentation. That method boosts alcohol and body of the wine and also adds complexity.

So, the two wines I tasted were - 2009 Ripasso Valpolicella Zonin

 It is a fruity, complex red wine. Ruby red color, rich fruit aromas, plums and spice. Dry with medium body,  ripe fruit on the palate.








And Sartori Vigneti di Valdimezzo, Ripasso Valpolicella 2008.

You have to be ready for this wine.It is very different. Peppery, spicy, mature. Deep ruby, complex of aromas of dry fruits, leather, coffee. Dry with nice texture, balanced tannins.

I don't want to say anything about pairing. Those are Italian wines and would go great with Italian hearty flavourfull food.
Cheers!