Uncorked: Italy Edition

Analise Gregory March 25, 2019

“In vino veritas.” - Italian Proverb

This popular Italian proverb means “Wine makes people tell the truth” . Wine has played such a huge role on the Italian peninsula since ancient Roman times. During our trip in January we were able to experience some of the wines Italy had to offer, and we were not disappointed.

When we visited Italy, one of the highlights from our trip was visiting Rimessa Roscioli. The staff not only introduced us to some wonderful new wines, but gave us a spectacular history lesson on the Italian winemaking process. We were able to learn about some of the amazing wine regions around Italy as well. Our experience at the wine shop was spectacular, and we were so thrilled that they were able to ship us some lovely bottles back home.

Today I’m sharing what wines we enjoyed and purchased in Rome.

*Admiring all of the wines Rome has to offer.*

*Spending some quality time with Paola Carlomosti our lovely wine sommelier for the evening.*

What We Picked: Sparkling

Cascina Ronchi - This is a blend of Malvasia and Spergola varietals. The wine is well balanced, clean and crisp. The bubbly is the perfect compliment to any dish, especially seafood.
SoloUva - This is a Chardonnay grape and is aged in stainless steel for approximately 36 months. Also, this wine is Vegan, which is so unique for a bubbly. I definitely cannot wait to enjoy this during the warmer months ahead.

*Getting acquainted with the Cascina Ronchi.*

*My new favorite bubbly the impeccable SoloUva.*

What We Picked: Reds

Castello Dei Rampolla Chianti - I was on the hunt for a Chianti wine during our visit, especially since it is my Dad’s favorite. So, when we tried this bottle, I knew it was the one. This wine is a blend, 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot - all of my favorite grapes. The wine is balanced and absolutely amazing.
Primitivo di Manduria - This wine is full bodied, but encompasses soft tannins. It has notes of red jam, cherries, raspberries, and blueberry. It would pair perfectly with cheese, and especially pasta.
Bressan Schioppettino - I was blown away by this wine, and it is undoubtedly one of the most unique wines I’ve ever had. It has notes of black pepper, blackberries, raspberries and bilberries. Also, the bouquet of the wine encompasses woody and musk aromatics. We really enjoyed this wine with the Cacio e Pepe dish paired at Rimessa.
Cascina delle Rose 2014 'Donna Elena' Barbera d'Alba - The notes of the wine exuded cherries, plums, tobacco, dark chocolate, and cinnamon. This wine is so incredibly well balanced, and we couldn’t wait to add it to our collection.

*Enjoying a red wine tasting at Rimessa.*

*The standout red, and our new favorite - 2013 Bressan Schioppettino.*

*The full red lineup: (L to R) Castello Dei Rampolla Chianti, Primitivo di Manduria, Bressan Schioppettino, Cascina delle Rose 2014 'Donna Elena' Barbera d'Alba*

What are some of your favorite wines? Share below!

XO, Analise

When In Rome, Part II

Analise Gregory February 6, 2019

“Rome is not like any other city. It’s a big museum, a living room that shall be crossed on one’s toes.” – Alberto Sordi.

In Part II, (check out Part I) of our wonderful trip to Rome, I am sharing all of the places we visited. G and I tried to fit as much as we could into our week long trip in Rome, while making sure we living and enjoying in each moment.

There are so many stops to make in this city. Visiting during the off-season was an excellent decision. We were really able to enjoy each monument, and not have to rush or be overcome by large crowds of people. Going during the month of January was the perfect choice for us, and luckily a lot of tours were not booked or crowded.

Also, if you are interested in vacationing in Rome, bring your walking shoes! We rarely took a taxi in the city, and literally walked everywhere. I brought a lot of comfortable sneakers, and was so grateful I did.

First, I will start with where we stayed …

Hotel Artemide

*The gorgeous how restaurant, Ambrosia.*

Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum

This was such a cool experience and a dream come true for G. We were able to learn so much about these wonderful monuments and how they became to be. There is so much history on these stops, and we actually did a combined tour that highlighted each area.

*G & I decided to take the extended Colosseum tour, we were lucky to go into parts of the arena that were not accessible to the public.*

*One of the many arches erected in Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.*

Milivio Bridge

My best friend, Alisha gifted me a locket to put on the Milivio Bridge. It has G’s and I initials engraved on the front, and our wedding date on the back. We were able to secure it on the bridge, and it was such an amazing way to cement our memory and spot in Italy.

*Our gold locket secured on the bridge.*

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain was gorgeous and breathtaking, we instantly felt calm as we approached this stunning structure. This is where visitors make their wishes by throwing coins into the fountain, also there are people who drink the water as well, as a form of good luck. It was a bit crowded, but we were able to make our way to the fountain to make several wishes.

Altar of the Fatherland

This historic museum not only was breathtaking, but filled with artifacts from the Italian Unification. Also, the monument is dedicated to king Vittorio Emanuele II, and his resting place is inside the Altar of the Fatherland. This museum has some of the most amazing views of Rome. They even offer an elevator ride at the top of the building for visitors to enjoy the landscape from up high.

*G standing in front of the Altar of the Fatherland.*

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps consists of 174 steps, and when you finally reach the top, you're literally in awe of the gorgeous city and overlooking Piazza di Spagna. In front of the steps you'll find the Fontana della Barcaccia which is a work of art. Also, in this area you'll find a ton of high end shops - Fendi, Gucci, Hermes, Valentino, and so much more. During this stop I treated myself to my very first Fendi bag! Visiting this city, I really wanted to buy a special piece from Roma, and I'm so glad I did.

*In front of Fendi with my very first bag from the iconic store.*

Vatican City

This stop was one of my favorites. The city is amazing, and the bridge leading up to this area is stunning. The church was nothing like I've ever seen before and encompassed such great detail and design. Also, services were being conducted during our visit - if you are interested in attending it was super easy to find a seat and be a part of it. Cameras and videos were not allowed during services, as well as in the Sistine Chapel. We toured the Vatican Museum which connected us to the chapel super easily.

The Pantheon

This former temple, now church is simply lovely. The architecture for this building was so neat to see in person. It was very easy to get in and walk around. When visiting you'll find many artists sketching the iconic features of the church.

*In front of the fountain by The Pantheon.*

Teatro Dell’Opera

Our hotel was right around the corner from this amazing Opera house. G and I went to see La Traviata and the show was absolutely wonderful. Also, they provided English and Spanish subtitles during the show, which was super helpful to follow along. The interior and design of Teatro Dell'Opera was stunning. Also, there was a small museum inside that displayed the buildings history.

*Getting ready for the show, La Traviata.*

Thank you so much for reading part two of our Italian vacation!

Our trip was so much fun, and we are already thinking about planning another vacation soon! What are some of your favorite places to visit? Share below!

XO, Analise

When In Rome, Part I

Analise Gregory January 30, 2019

“When I'm traveling, I won't miss an opportunity to try great pasta.” - Meghan Markle

In Part I of my trip to Rome, Italy, I’m dishing on all of the food G and I ate. One of the most common questions I received upon returning from my trip was, “How was the food?”

The food in Italy was amazing, and we really indulged during our week long trip. Not only were our dining experiences out of this world, but we were able to have private cooking lessons at Rimessa Roscioli in their kitchen - you’ll be able to see our experience below as well!

What We Ate

*The creamiest and super delicious pasta carbonara not too far from the Spanish Steps.*

*The yummiest cheese plate during a wine pairing at Rimessa Roscioli.*

*Meatball appetizer at Rimessa Roscioli.*

*Grilled lamb chops, salad, and roasted potatoes.*

*Ravioli filled with spinach and cheese, sitting in a creamy, mild tomato sauce.*

*A Black Angus burger at the best burger spot in Italy, Burger Bistrot.*

*The juciest roasted chicken and potatoes, garnished with a side salad.*

*A warm dark chocolate cake, that paired perfectly with fresh berries and cream.*

Private Cooking Class & Wine Pairing

Rimessa Roscioli

Prior to our trip, I researched long and hard to find a shop that not only had amazing wines, but could ship some back to our home in Virginia. Rimessa was able to completely fulfill the request for us. Also, they offered cooking classes on-site in their kitchen, and I absolutely could not pass up on that offer. Our instructor, Alice, who is the head pastry chef at Rimessa was nothing short of amazing. She allowed us to try their fresh ingredients, and explained everything so perfectly. We were able to have a true hands on experience, and made four dishes - three pasta entrees, and a dessert. Learning how to roll fresh pasta, and make homemade tiramisu in an Italian restaurant, is an experience I will never forget. Also, Mattia, the manager paired wine for each of dish we made, his attention to detail and wonderful palette guided us through this class successfully.

*The quaint wine shop and restaurant tucked on the side streets of Rome.*

*Our amazing chef for the day, Alice. We spent four hours in the restaurant learning all about pasta making and trying amazing foods.*

*Mattia, our wine guide during our cooking class, created the perfect pairing menu for our day at Rimessa.*

*G cutting his fresh pasta for our Cacio e Pepe.*

Slicing pork cheek for our ravioli and mezze maniche with amatriciana sauce.

*The fresh pasta right before it was cooked.*

Dish one: Fresh ravioli, stuffed with cheese and garnished with pork cheek. — ***Dish one:*** *Fresh ravioli, stuffed with cheese and garnished with pork cheek.*

Dish two: Cacio e Pepe with a black peppercorn garnish. — ***Dish two:*** *Cacio e Pepe with a black peppercorn garnish.*

Dish three: Mezze maniche with amatriciana sauce garnished with pork cheek. — ***Dish three:*** *Mezze maniche with amatriciana sauce garnished with pork cheek.*

Dish four: Classic homemade tiramisu. — ***Dish four:*** *Classic homemade tiramisu.*

*Cheers to a successful cooking class with my favorite person.*

Our trip to Rome was so wonderful and a memory we will cherish for years to come. Stay tuned to Part II where I’ll be sharing all of the activities we did, and the places we visited in this wonderful city.

XO, Analise