Barbaresco, and surroundings Barolo the king !!! A wine tasting at t Mauro Veglio near La Morra.

Our visit to Wine country was  great. Our agritourisme IlPedaggio idealy situated for 5 days Piemonte and wonderful people. What scenery day 1 Barberesco , Mango, Nieve ... Trezzo, then back to Barberesco for a late simple lunchon the square and a glass on the terras of Boffa with our agritourisme in the back ground . i cannot tell you how many hairpins i went round and how manu oh and Ah at the magnificent views from Pattys Wagon. Day 2 Grinzane Cavour a wnderful Chateau and expresso macchiato, Barolo, Montforte d.Alba , back home over the roof of Piemonte via Diana , D,alba , hectic of traffic around Alba .next day we climbed the mountain ainfront of Pedaggio no mean feat , a days rest for Pattys Wagon and my arms. Today day 4 The king at Mauro Veglio in La Morra and lunch at Monteu Roero , auntie sent us almost via Turin and the Bax Bax brought us home in 20 minutes no mean feat here with no road numbering and maps missing villages etc. very difficult to orientate . The back ground story : both Ellen and I where not really at home with this region hence our visit to Piemonte. I had experienced the food on my visits to Turin for Slow Food and through my studies and my own lessons plus the wines on my wine list from Jean Defize and Peter Renalda my two wine merchants. Ellen had done her research well not only was our Agritourisme ideally situated in the middle of the heart of the region but she also had notes from the wine institute with her and we had a kitchen !!! We criss crossed the region experiencing views equal if not better than the Beaujolais and Chianti with regards to nature, the wines another story. Day 1 whow I thought what now so many hairpins but Pattys wagon took it all in her stride and the views from our lofty seat fantastic, I love her for this , climbing in and out can be difficult thought but it is worth it. Leaving the flat valley floor we suddenly started climbing and did no seem to stop , on both sides views of steep hillsides full of vines or green , in the distance small hilltop towns or villages , we toured most of them in the 4 days we where there . We had some great lunches, one in Barolo we never got to ordering our lunch it just arrived , and then also a few extras as Ellen had said I cooked , the quails where delicious and the best in the world they said . Almost as good as Toscaninis !!!!! On my rest day of driving we walked to the hill top village near our Il Pedaggio . Quite a climb . once there we wandered around and eventually found a cup of macchiato. Oh how I love coffee the italian way better than anywhere else.,I still remember my first cappuccino with a heart in it in Turin at Slow Food when I went there with Sylvia Borger by night train , what an adventure.and such fun in those days. now it is more business like but still a fantastic movement to save our real food and ambachtelijk producers. We bought supplies in a small shop run by 3 generations then rolled own the mountain to spend the rest of the day a la maison. Where we are staying is a fruit farm and fruit preserver , super products great packaging , maybe I should import the products. For all in Holland to enjoy more later.This is also run by 3 generations. And Mama is still super active The new auto strade Alba ---dissects there land, but seeing it is not finished ( and may never be ) it is not too busy and no hinder qua noise. Whilst lunching in Barolo I had found the Nebbiolo wine that I used in LCF and liked so much, we phoned the wine maker and went along for a visit. she immediately asked if I had my wine from Peter Renalda and Olle from the wijn winkel of course so long chats about that wine growing , barolos traditional style of her parents and grandparents who where wine farmers. s an only child , daughter she was not educated to the vineyard but for commerce as the life was o hard for a girl. Now she is happily married to A wine grower and brings extra dimiension tothe business, her English was perfect and we really enjoyed our 2 hours with her. It opened our eyes to these very special wines . We hada tasting of 2 fine Barolos and where sent away with a bottle to enjoy with our evening diner which we mostly make ourselves. fantastic. Peter and Olle I will be along to treat myself , despite the fact that these wines are a more expensive they are so refined, elegant and different . As I have so often said to my students explore food , try things , taste sometimes above budget , share with friends, life is too short not to experiment enjoy and experience, as I on my trip now . It enriches ones life A good moment to stop this installement. We are now in Annecy homeward bound, Ellen leaves Wednesday and I spend time her with my goddaughter Claire who husband Michael is a top,patisserie chefs and has started his own boulangerie pattisserrie called Gato her in Annecy. His mother and step father have the 2 Star Michelin restaurant Clos de Sens in Annecy ! Bon Appetit