Once you walk through La Mascareta’s front door, and especially if you’re lucky enough to meet its host Mauro Lorenzon, you’d better let go any traditional knowledge. As a matter of fact Lorenzon - who will probably be wearing his inseparable bow tie, a colorful vest and crazy, briar hair - renamed the wine bars “wine bevar”, where “bevar” means “to drink” in Venetian dialect and, in order to recognize a good wine, invented the “Stomachism” theory, by which stomach is conside

Owner of L'Antica Quercia farm and winery in the heart of Prosecco, the Francavilla family started a project that harmoniously connects the man-made with the surrounding environment. From the majestic oak tree (quercia, in fact) that always grew in this place to the local glera vine, brewed with indigenous yeasts, nature has been deeply respected and followed in its rythm. The winery, whose vineyard enjoys the wind blowing from the Dolomites, produces biological prosecco, spa

When Zanovello's family, in the 60's, bought this countryside refuge on the Euganean hills, probably didn't expect its descendants would convert it in a farm of 42 hectares, 25 of which are currently covered in vineyards. Franco and his sons Marco and Linda, along with some contributors, run Ca' Lustra winery not only with strenght of purpose, but with an original approach that suits perfectly the soil's unique geology. The territory, a Bio-District and a UNESCO MaB candidate

Walking through a vineyard may seem the least expected in Venice. Yet, on Sant'Erasmo island, home to the violet artichoke and considered for centuries the garden of Venice, it is possible. In this small nature paradise, almost 15 years ago, French wine lover Michel Thoulouze bought a piece of land and converted it in a grapevine. Last summer we visited this amazing place: here's a short story about it. Our water route twists and turns through the sand banks toward Northeast,

Celestino Gaspari's Zýmē vineyard, born in the heart of Valpolicella more than 15 years ago, is represented by a logo that itself stands clearly for the company values. A grape leaf overlaps a pentagon, whose five sides symbolize soil, water, sun, vine and man, five elements essential to yield one of the most exquisite wines in Veneto. The philosophy of Gaspari, a passionate character who learned to work the land according to tradition, sees wine production as research, testi

Should I make a list of the best bacari in Venice, certainly Al Prosecco would be on top of it. First and foremost, it is located in the stunning campo San Giacomo dall'Orio, one of my dearest ones. Out of the most beaten tracks and populated by Venetians, the lively campo hosts one of the oldest churches in the city, boasting splendid paintings by Lorenzo Lotto and Paolo Veronese. Shaded by tree areas, Al Prosecco offers typical cichetti prepared with the freshest ingredient

In the sleepy village of Premaor, nestled in the Prosecco verdant valleys, the Gregoletto family has been cultivating vines since 1600. Their work from the vines to the bottling is done by hand, artisanally, carefully and patiently, based on oral traditions passed down over the centuries. While the 83 year-old father Luigi represents the tradition, his two dynamic sons, Giovanni and Giuseppe, work hard on innovation. Get caught in conversation with Giovanni, a wonderfully ecc