A taste for adventure: Brian Larky of Dalla Terra celebrates 25 years of importing fine Italian wines
by Paul Franson For the founder of a wine import company, Brian Larky's love for adventure travel is a great perk. He worked as a river guide to pay for college, and he's ventured down many of North America's, Europe's and Asia's major rivers. Other water trips include a three-month stint as head whitewater guide on the Afric...
Castello di Amorosa: A Winery Fit for a King
Inspired to build an authentic Medieval castle to honor his Italian heritage and showcase his exceptional wines, Dario Sattui studied architecture for 30 years before he created Castello di Amorosa. The 121,000-square-foot fortress took 14 years to build, stone by stone in Calistoga, California. The Castello has 107 rooms, 95 of which are...
Jackson ravioli maker cranks out pasta the old-fashioned way
Jim Vinciguerra, one of thousands of Italian Americans raised in the rolling hills of Amador County, never got over his grandmother Teresa's ravioli. "It's the best I've ever tasted," said Vinciguerra, 63. He so craved the plump little pasta pillows stuffed with savory meats, mushrooms, spinach, cheeses, spices and other secret fillings th...
Figone olive oil to open new Petaluma location
by Anna Ferrari Figone's of California Olive Oil is expanding its current operation to include a new retail store in Petaluma. Opening Saturday, June 14th at 10:00 a.m., the new location can be found at 1370 Industrial Avenue, just one block off the 101 freeway, and offers tasting opportunities, as well as enrollment in Figone's local olive oil cl...
Terùn, la pizzeria di Palo Alto che riunisce Zuckerberg e Tim Cook
di Camilla Baresani A Palo Alto e a Stanford, l'epiteto Terùn non è un insulto ma il luogo dove tutti vanno a mangiare. Tra ville milionarie, stuoli di Tesla, densità di intelligenze digitali e scientifiche, ci si dà appuntamento da Terùn per la pizza cotta nel forno a legna e per la cucina italiana 2.0, con piatti tradizionali eseguiti in...
Lucia’s Pizzeria opens this week in heart of Berkeley
by Kate Williams Like most college towns, Berkeley does not hurt for pizza. Much of it comes in slice form, satisfying in that way that only excess cheese and pepperoni really can be. Of course, there is also the Cheese Board, and Cheese Board siblings, serving thicker crust, sauceless seasonal pies; and there's takeout champion Emilia's, selling...
Romance at Sattui: Italian guest chef provides a sneak peek of wedding menus
Stefano Masanti, a Michelin-star chef from Italy, was in St. Helena last week to lay the groundwork for a guest chef residence he'll be doing at V. Sattui Winery from April 11 to Nov. 6. Masanti and his wife, Raffaella, are the owners of Il Cantinone restaurant in the ski resort village of Madesimo in the Italian Alps. Longtime friends of...
E. & J. Gallo Winery Acquires U.S. Distribution Rights For Luxury Italian Wine Brand, Pieropan
E. & J. Gallo Winery (Gallo) announced today that it has been awarded the exclusive rights to distribute Italy's famed Pieropan wines in the United States beginning May 9, 2015. Pieropan will join Allegrini and Poggio al Tesoro wines in Gallo's new Luxury Wine Group (LUX Wines). Gallo started LUX Wines in 2014 to meet the evolvin...
Diego Meraviglia and the secrets of Italian wine
by Nancy Casas Having grown up in an area in Italy bountiful in vineyards, Diego Meraviglia has made a successful career as a sommelier. After beginning as an aspired musician, his journey took a different route, influenced by his love for food and wine. Now he is VP and Director of Education at NASA (National American Sommelier A...
Spigariello, a leafy edible with the taste of Italy
By Jeff Spurrier For Craig Ruggless of Winnetka Farms, one of the most prized plants this season is spigariello, a leafy cool-season green that tastes like broccoli and keeps growing after you've harvested it. Spigariello resembles broccoli rabe (aka rapini) in appearance but has white flowers and a sweeter, slightly peppery taste. Ruggle...
Sparkling holidays with Franciacorta in North Beach: Mona Lisa and Colosseo to Serve Signature Italian Wines
by Roberto Natalini Christmas and New Years' Eve are just around the corner, and that means it's the time to indulge in traditional Italian meals and sweets, combined with fine bubbly wines to celebrate the festivities in style. All it takes is reaching the neighborhood of North Beach, where you can find everything to enjoy an aut...
Regional wines: Piemonte Wine Tasting, February 10
Wednesday, February 10, 2016. 6 to 8 PM. Italian Cultural Institute - 1023 Hilgard Avenue - LA 90024. Fees: $45 ($40 for IIC & NASA members). To register please call 310-824-7408. or email to [email protected] Led by Diego Meraviglia, Gold-Pin Pro Sommelier, Master Taster, North American S...