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Ciao ORECON,

I am half Piemontese by blood and half Sicilian. (And then I guess I have some DUmmie Blood on my sword!)

You have chosen the very best of Italian wines, "The King of Wines and the Wine of Kings"... Although a Tuscan would probably start saying colorful things about Madonnas driving tractors, defending instead their Brunello.

When I am in the Alba Area (the hills of the Langhe) I always buy one bottle of Barolo, two of Nebbiolo, three of Barbera and two cases of Dolcetto.

I'm trying to remember the name of my favorite Cantina... a 1997 Riserva Speciale that is "Vino da Meditazione" (Meditation Wine)... with little subtle surprises from the bouquet to the persistence... (trace "organoleptic" qualities of licorie, tobacco, prune jams)

I'm telling you, it is marvelous! And one of the reasons to fight ISLAM!

If you go to Alba area, in a little town near La Morra, (L'annunziata) there is the Renato Ratti wine Museum inside an old abbey that the Ratti family has rented for 99 years. You will see the whole history of wine-making in that region that goes back to ancient Roman Times. Amphorae with the marks of local Piedmontese producers were found all the way in what is modern day Romania!

The Rattis also make excellent Barolos (and other varieties) and they are fine people. At the end of the tour, there will be a "degustazione" (a tasting) with the beautiful stiff served in Bohemian crystal.

When you are in Piemonte, you must try Agnolotti al Plin, like small ravioli, but with very light pasta fresca, so light that if you puff under the sheet of rolled out pasta (before it is "pinched" into tiny envelopes with the filling) it should ripple on the table.

You have chosen well. The Alba area is so hard working (so UN-stereotypical Italian) that even Calvin himself would want to start a Union. There is one Ltd. company every seven people!

Alba is also Italy's white truffle capital. The Piemontese use yappy little dogs instead of pigs, (like the French do) to find the ugly tubers... ugly, but verrrrrrrry good, sinfully good! I hope you are wealthy!!

If you like chocolate, nearby is the twon of Cherasco, once also a Jewish center, and also a place where many important peace treaties were signed.

There are small chocolate laboratories, private, family run businesses, where you will be in heaven.

Be careful because if you die, a hole will open up and you will slide straight to hell! That is how good the Cherasco chocolates are.

Scavino, Paolo Scavino... That's the name! EXCELLENT Barolo, and fine people. The daughter speaks good English and the father owner is very charming (and generous with the cheeses and prosciuttos while you taste). When you go away, slightly inebriated (in a good way) and lighter of some of the Euros that our fellow forummer Ivan detests, you will understand why human beings do things like dance and yodel.

Salute