Fabulous, Fun, Flavorful Ideas For You From ‘Wine & Travel Italy’

La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) is joyously pursued in Wine & Travel Italy, an intoxicatingly sumptuous and substantial (10-by-13-inch, five-pound, 304-page) coffee-table book released October 24 by luxury publisher Assouline. Authored by wine industry expert, Italian-born Enrico Bernardo, this alluring look at Italy’s landscapes, lore, loves and libations is his second tantalizing Assouline tome this month; his other new hardcover is Wine & Travel France. Bernardo has globe-trotted for more than 30 years on countless palate-pleasing adventures; created and owned Michelin-star restaurants; consulted for wine and food companies; and penned ambitious works such as The Impossible Collection of Wine (2016), The Wisdom of Wine: A Gourmet Book, An Ode to Life (2021) and The Impossible Collection of Champagne (2022).

“Since birth, Italian culture has run in my veins,” says Bernardo. “No matter where I go, my ancestral roots have given me lifelong Italian reflexes. A coffee in the morning at the counter of a bar in Naples; a Bellini on the Piazza San Marco in Venice; a chic dinner in Milan; fried calamari on a Sardinian beach; a gelato enjoyed while out for a walk in Sicily; a pizza in Rome: These are the culinary experiences that soothed me in childhood, educated me in adolescence and continue to expand my horizons to this day.”

More than 400 photographs and illustrations illuminate Italy’s unique charisma. Grin at images of Italians savoring pastas, pizzas, cheeses, breads, olives, seafood, vivid veggies—feast after feast. Gasp in delight at sweeping verdant scenery; many outdoor shots are so ethereal, even magical, that they beckon readers to gawk at length. Peek at wineries’ bounties of barrels, stacked in neat, colossal configurations. Gaze at crystal-clear blue waters, bright shorelines, scores of boats and ships and enticing smiles of passengers afloat.

Don’t miss the ancient temples, baroque churches, charming cucinas and cantinas, majestic villas, serene hideaways, one-of-a-kind shops and extraordinary artwork. Observe the treasured buzz of Italians socializing: dancers in traditional costumes at community celebrations; families regularly gathering to share platters of food on long tables; youthful flirting of sunbathers together under glorious skies.

“From the elegance of its cities to the simplicity of its rural life, the Italian character is always bold,” explains Bernardo. For armchair travelers and avid trip planners alike, Wine & Travel Italy evokes the spirit of Bel Paese (Beautiful Country), the popular poetical appellative for Italy. “For me, the entire Italian ‘boot’ is a land of friends, family, and a thousand years of history.”

Discover Italy’s Eternal Presence

Italy is a marvel, opines Bernardo. “In Italy, to an unusual degree, the past never feels far away; it lies right before our eyes. The Colosseum in Rome or the ruins of Pompeii bring antiquity to life, just as Florence plunges us into the High Renaissance and Venice launches us on a dreamlike journey along the Silk Road. History, in its continuity and in all its layers…is in Italy an eternal presence.” Today, Italy draws tourists from all over the world. In 2023, 57.3 million travelers touched down in anticipation of being lifted up by Italy’s distinctive pleasures. “Italy is universally loved,” Bernardo enthuses.

In organizing his inviting info, Bernardo focuses on 12 harvest regions: The Alps, The Adriatic Coast, The Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Tuscany, The Veneto, Friuli, Piedmont, The South, Lazio and Umbria, The Italian Lakes, Liguria and Sardinia. “As is true of all the world’s wine-growing countries, Italy’s wines reflect its history and culture. Its winemaking traditions are richly nuanced, with thousands of small terroirs and vineyards whose varietals, appellations and soils appear ever more colorfully varied the better you get to know them.” Indeed, some of Italy’s wines are legendary. “Each region has its own flavors, its own light. Local specialties offer intense gustatory experiences,” emphasizes Bernardo.

Bernardo’s best list? He details his ideal wine cellar—featuring Italy’s most outstanding winemaking estates—with heady recommendations. “Think of it as a chart of dreams that might come true, dreams in which each bottle finds its perfect moment.” For yourself or your favorite Italophile, consider Wine & Travel Italy as a delicious holiday gift. Ciao!

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