Monthly Archives: February 2016

Labor of Love

Labor of Love – Monferrato Wine Families

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At 7:30 a.m. Central European Time on Monday, April 18, 2016, the presses at VeronaLibri (obviously in Verona, Italy) will begin to run, bringing to three-dimensional life Labor of Love: Wine Family Women of Piemonte. It will three years and one month to the day when I left for Italy to begin my Labor of Love odyssey (although I didn’t have a title yet, it was truly the beginning of my labor and I have certainly loved every minute of it).

First journal entry - 031813
First of many Labor of Love journals.
Departure for Italy from DIA on the first of many Labor of Love adventures.
Departure for Italy from DIA on the first of many Labor of Love adventures.
Monferrato Labor of Love Wine Families

Now I would like to introduce you to the three Monferrato wine families I did not know that day I left Denver International Airport for the unknown, but whose stories have become part of life and, as a result, part of my book. Yes, I know there are many more wonderful wine families out there with stories yet to be discovered and told, but a girl has to start somewhere. I believe that I chose 22 fabulous starting points for a journey that will no doubt last for the rest of my life.

Marchesi Alfieri
San Martino Alfieri

Orangerie at Marchesi Alfieri in San Martino Alfier.
Orangerie at Marchesi Alfieri in San Martino Alfier.

 

Marenco Vini
Strevi

The steepest and one of the most precious of the Marenco vineyards - Scrapona in Valle Bagnario
The steepest and one of the most precious of the Marenco vineyards – Scrapona in Valle Bagnario

 

Cascina Castlet
Costigliole d’Asti

Mariuccia Borio (left) with four of her cousins at Cascina Castlet.
Mariuccia Borio (left) with four of her cousins at Cascina Castlet.

So tell me, where next should I go on my labor of love odyssey? Sicily? Friuli? Tuscany? Valais, Switzerland?

Stay tuned for the opportunity to help crowdfund on Indiegogo my odyssey to prepare for the next book project in the Labor of Love series.
Cover - labor of love only - JPG - low rez

Labor of Love

LABOR OF LOVE – Barbaresco Families

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Twelve hour days, seven days a week over the last two months slowed me down a bit in keeping my loyal readers apprised of the final stages of writing and producing my first book. It’s time to announce the Labor of Love Barbaresco families that were so gracious to open up their lives to me. Barbaresco – specifically at Cà del Baio in Treiso – is where “Labor of Love: Wine Family Women of Piemonte” will launch on June 2, 2016.

On February 19, the photographs, primarily from Pierangelo Vacchetto and his daughter, Elisabetta, and son, Eugenio, traveled through cyberspace to Verona, Italy where VeronaLibri will begin the process of preparing the photos for print. Now comes the final, nerve-wracking days of the last proofreading, fact-checking, and lots of prayers before designer Cindi Yaklich of Epicenter Creative in Boulder, Colorado, hits the button to send the completely designed 9.25″ x 11.5″ (23.5 cm x 29 cm), 320 page book to Verona.

In addition to the six families below, I would like to thank Marchese Alberto di Grésy and cellar master Jeffrey Chilcott of Marchesi di Grésy in Barbaresco, Renato Vacca and his father, Adriano, of Cantina del Pino in Barbaresco, Aldo Vacca of Produttori del Barbaresco, and Andrea Sottimano of Barbaresco for their kindness, invaluable guidance and resources.

So, without further delay, here are the six Barbaresco families in Labor of Love:

Cà del Baio (Giulio and Luciana Grasso family)
Treiso

Giulio and Luciana Grasso bottling their precious Barbaresco Valgrande with two of their three daughters Federica and Valentina.
Giulio and Luciana Grasso bottling their precious Barbaresco Valgrande with two of their three daughters Federica and Valentina. Photo credit: Elisabetta Vacchetto

 

Albino Rocca
Barbaresco

Albino Rocca with his granddaughters (L-R) Paola, Monica, and Daniela.
Albino Rocca with his granddaughters (L-R) Paola, Monica, and Daniela. Photo credit: Vacchetto

 

Punset (Marina Marcarino)
Neive

Marina Marcarino of Punset.
Marina Marcarino of Punset with Giuggliola (the star of Marina’s cat family)  at sunset in Neive in January 2016. Photo credit: Vacchetto

 

Cascina delle Rose (Giovanna Rizzolio)
Barbaresco

Giovanna Rizzolio and husband, Italo Sobrino (rear), with their sons Davide and Riccardo.
Giovanna Rizzolio and husband, Italo Sobrino (rear), with their sons Davide and Riccardo. Photo credit: Vacchetto

 

Gaja 
Barbaresco

(L-R) Lucia, Gaia, Angelo, Rossana, and Giovanni Gaja on via Torino in Barbaresco. Photo credit: Andrea Wyner
(L-R) Lucia, Gaia, Angelo, Rossana, and Giovanni Gaja on via Torino in Barbaresco. Photo credit: Andrea Wyner

 

Cigliuti
Neive

Renato and Dina Cigliuti with daughters, Claudia and Silvia, and Claudia's daughter, Giulia (left).
Renato and Dina Cigliuti with daughters, Claudia and Silvia, and Claudia’s daughter, Giulia (left). Photo credit: Vacchetto