One of the very best reasons to come to Italy in the spring are the wine festivals that start to happen in late April. Like Vinum in Alba, for example. That's a big show for Piemonte. This year we were just too busy and tired to go. Micha, however, convinced me to head up the road to Agliano Terme to a much smaller event, Barbera Days, in the town of Agliano Terme.I've written about Agliano before. Basically, it's adorable. Pristine, sweet, romantic.
And some of the best Barbera you have ever had.
We've been here for almost seven years, and have missed this festival every year, usually because we were in the throes of the beginning of the season. This year is no different. But I am so glad we took a couple of hours to go. What a wonderful festival.
First there were historic costumes. Ladies knitting, roasting coffee the old fashioned way, making pasta with a rolling pin.
Then there were the rope makers.
...and the usual suspects solving the world's problems, as they do every day all over Italy...
There was music...
strawberries and asparagus...
and lots of cork...
....and of course there was Barbera. Carlo Ferro, for example. A producer that makes 20,000 bottles a year, all the work done by Carlo and his family, rated highly in just about every book about Barbera d'Asti you can find, but no website. A robust but refined Barbera. We were hooked from the first sip. Time to pay him a visit, maybe with our guests.
Lots of producers. This guy was our favorite of the day.
6 comments:
Wow! Wish I was there! I love the rope makers and the strawberries looked devine!
As Rosabela said I wish I was there. Strawberries and wine - divine.
All I can say is that I hope discovering some great wine is in our future...
Lovely post and great photos. We have similar local small town and village celebrations in Maremma that are special because you don't need to walk far before bumping into someone you or your children know and so another conversation takes off and it feels like a great big family event.
But I have yet to see rope-making in Maremma.
Donna
Popping in for a quick hello while the little one sleeps. From the looks of it, you have been very busy. I can't say that I feel on top of things yet, but I am getting there.
Great pictures! The rope making reminds me of our legal wedding. It was in an old water mill and the "keeper" had us make a rope after the cermony... telling us that it was important to make sure that with our marriage that we always make sure to pull in the same direction instead of the opposite. Wow... already three years ago!
Schöne Grüße aus Hamburg!
So glad you made time to go! Looks wonderful.
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