How Italy Helped Me Find the Love of My Life

Many of my friends have asked for my help in learning to appreciate wine. The thing is, I’m not a sommelier by any stretch of the imagination. Rather, I know what I like and can recommend how to get started, but that’s a blog for another day.

It was over 20 years ago on a trip to Italy to study Renaissance Humanism that I “discovered” wine.

As a young teacher, my budget ruled my choices the month I was in Florence. Back then, a small glass of Coke was $3 with no refills and a full bottle of wine was the same price.  Hello wine!

If you’ve traveled in Italy, you know that many restaurants and small towns offer their own locally made wine and surprisingly, it is all wonderful!

Upon returning home, I found myself craving a glass of wine to go with my meal. You’ve probably heard, I like to cook with wine and sometimes I put it in my food.

Well, that’s me. Being in the kitchen, glass in hand while I whip up a meal for friends is my happy place.

The farmhouse table I chose for my dining room was purchase because it brought to mind scenes from the movie, “Under the Tuscan Sun.” Some of my favorite times are gatherings around that table over a shared meal, glasses of wine and conversations connected by hearts.