Tag: Ernest Barela

Kindness, an Italian village trait

Posted on by Ernest Barela

Village life in north Tuscany is best described with one word, Kindness. Time moves in increments of centuries here and you will appreciate just how short and precious life really is. The steps are steep, the bugs are plenty, and life takes a little more effort in this quiet Italian village. The beauty of this area is easily seen but the real beauty is felt in the actions of the villagers. The genuine smiles are everywhere and even though english is not spoken here people communicate with strangers through attentiveness and generosity. A gift of basil and tomatoes to say hello. Bottles of water on our front step to help bridge the utility gap after a storm. Potatoes and onions to fill our kitchen. Rural Italian life is indeed complicated but all is made simple through kindness.

Varano, Licianna Nardi, Italia

“Understanding Wine”

Posted on by Ernest Barela

Wine is absolutely fascinating. Like an ancient artifact, wine is history and technique in a bottle just waiting to be discovered. When we look at a bottle of wine it is as if we are looking back in time. Looking beyond the year on the bottle to understand the efforts that came together to create this beautiful wine. So many contributors to be evaluated. The wine maker, the technique, the vineyard, the locality, the country, the people, the packaging, the environment, the history of the moment. Much like the many flavors of a wine stimulate the senses, the infinate number of contributions stimulate the mind. Expanding your knowledge begins with opening a book and speaking with a winemaker. So many avenues to stimulate your mind and experience the love of wine to a greater degree

“Capire”