Tag: Featured

Center, Wineries, Wineries in Italy

Tuscan Wines from Tenuta Licinia in Lucignano: The Beauty of Flavor in Every Soil

Tenuta Licinia sits quite literally behind my house, yet it took a visit with James Marshall-Lockyer to fully grasp the depth of thought behind this small but serious Tuscan estate. Walking through the vineyards with him and his dogs, it quickly became clear that Licinia is not just a place where wine is made, but where ideas are tested, refined, and translated into the glass. … Continue reading Tuscan Wines from Tenuta Licinia in Lucignano: The Beauty of Flavor in Every Soil

Rowena Dumlao
Other Wine Labels, Wine Labels, Wineries, Wineries in Europe

Beaujolais-Villages La Cascade 2023: A Taste of Château Grand’Grange

Tasting Beaujolais-Villages La Cascade 2023 offers a clear window into the philosophy of Château Grand’Grange. The grapes come from south and south-east facing vineyards at around 300 meters on granitic sandy soils, ideal for 100% Gamay. All harvesting is done by hand, preserving freshness and precision. Fermentation lasts about two weeks, using a mix of 50% destemmed fruit and 50% whole clusters, with gentle punch-downs … Continue reading Beaujolais-Villages La Cascade 2023: A Taste of Château Grand’Grange

Rowena Dumlao
Central Italy, Restaurants, Restaurants in Italy

Osteria Le Logge: Where Tuscany Sits Down to Eat in Siena

Gianni Brunelli, founder of Osteria Le Logge, often said, “Eating is important, but eating well is essential,” a phrase that still defines the spirit of the restaurant. Tucked into a narrow medieval street that climbs from Siena’s main piazza toward the ancient Pope’s Lodge, just steps from Piazza del Campo, Le Logge feels inseparable from the city itself. It was here, in 1977, that Gianni … Continue reading Osteria Le Logge: Where Tuscany Sits Down to Eat in Siena

Rowena Dumlao
Destinations, Italy, North, Northern Italy, Restaurants, Restaurants in Italy, Wineries, Wineries in Italy

Vinchio Vaglio and the Heart of Monferrato: Wine, Culture, and Culinary Heritage

Monferrato unfolds like a living canvas of vineyards, rolling hills, and sunlit or often in autumn, magical with the nebbia when it sets in the slopes , where centuries of history meet human devotion. Here, every corner tells a story—of resilient growers, of noble families, of kitchens where tradition and innovation coexist. My journey through this region was anchored by the Cantina Cooperativa Vinchio Vaglio, … Continue reading Vinchio Vaglio and the Heart of Monferrato: Wine, Culture, and Culinary Heritage

Rowena Dumlao
Events, Italy, Restaurants, Restaurants in Rome

Pizza Night with Greece and Italy at Allegrìo on Via Veneto, Rome

Some dinners stand out not just for the food, but for the story they tell, and “Allegrìo’s Friends – Greece & Italy” was one of those nights—a vibrant meeting of Mediterranean traditions hosted at Allegrìo on Rome’s iconic Via Veneto. On November 20, 2025, three acclaimed pizza masters came together for a one-evening collaboration: Giovangiuseppe Aiello and Daniele Cretì, Allegrìo’s Master Pizzaiolo and Executive Chef, … Continue reading Pizza Night with Greece and Italy at Allegrìo on Via Veneto, Rome

Rowena Dumlao
Michelin-Starred Restaurants, North, Restaurants in Rome, Wineries, Wineries in Italy

Grosjean Vins: 400 Years of Heroic, Winemaking in Italy’s Aosta Valley

High in the Aosta Valley, where dramatic slopes meet crisp alpine air, the Grosjean family has cultivated vines since the early 1600s. Their story is one of heritage shaped by passion, with each generation caring for the same mountain soils. The modern rise of the estate began in the 1960s when Grandfather Dauphin committed fully to winemaking and bottled the family’s first Ciliegiolo. Its warm … Continue reading Grosjean Vins: 400 Years of Heroic, Winemaking in Italy’s Aosta Valley

Rowena Dumlao
Events, Italy

White Gold of Umbria: The 45th Salone Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco Pregiato in Città di Castello

Every autumn, the Umbrian town of Città di Castello transforms into the beating heart of Italy’s truffle culture for the Salone Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco Pregiato, a festival celebrating the region’s most prized delicacy — the white truffle. Known scientifically as Tuber magnatum Pico, this rare and aromatic fungus grows beneath the roots of oak and poplar trees and can only be discovered with the … Continue reading White Gold of Umbria: The 45th Salone Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco Pregiato in Città di Castello

Rowena Dumlao
Central Italy, Restaurants, Restaurants in Italy

La Clandestina Cocktail & Food: The Secret Pulse of Arezzo

Hidden within a historic building on Corso Italia, in the very heart of Arezzo, lies La Clandestina Cocktail & Food—a place where memorabilia from different eras come together to create a playful, time-bending atmosphere for one of the city’s most intriguing bars. Founders Alessandro Di Salvatori and Linda Giangeri have shaped the space into something both cinematic and intimate, part speakeasy, part living room, and … Continue reading La Clandestina Cocktail & Food: The Secret Pulse of Arezzo

Rowena Dumlao
Restaurants, Restaurants in Rome

Inside Out Menu by Allegrío Rome: Where Emotion Meets Italian Flavor

IOn the iconic Via Veneto, where the echoes of La Dolce Vita still hum beneath the Roman sun, Allegrío continues to redefine the art of dining. Led by Creative Director Sabrina Corbo, this vibrant restaurant is more than a place to eat; it is a space where flavors become feelings and color meets cuisine. Each visit is a celebration of joy, memory, and human connection … Continue reading Inside Out Menu by Allegrío Rome: Where Emotion Meets Italian Flavor

Rowena Dumlao
Restaurants, Restaurants in Rome

A Table in Testaccio: Discovering Rome at Romeo

In the most genuine of Rome’s neighborhoods, Testaccio, where daily life unfolds between market stalls, neighborhood bars, and the hum of local conversation, Romeo, founded by Massimo Scordino, opened its doors this past March. The restaurant fits naturally into the area’s rhythm — a place that doesn’t chase trends or reinterpret tradition, but simply honors it. It celebrates true Roman identity through honest cooking, convivial … Continue reading A Table in Testaccio: Discovering Rome at Romeo

Rowena Dumlao
Europe, Events, Wineries, Wineries in Europe

Austria in Layers: How ÖTW Defines the Character of Its Vineyards

From the Danube Valley to Burgenland and beyond, a tasting of 560 ÖTW Erste Lagen wines reveals how Austria’s vineyards express their landscapes, histories, and identities in every glass. Austria’s wine country may seem small on the map, but it contains worlds within it. From river valleys carved millions of years ago to sunlit terraces of loess and limestone, each landscape shapes its own story … Continue reading Austria in Layers: How ÖTW Defines the Character of Its Vineyards

Rowena Dumlao
Central Italy, Restaurants, Restaurants in Italy, Restaurants in Rome

Pasqualina Frascati | Sincere, Revisited Italian Cuisine with Local Wines & Authentic Dining

In the spring of 2025, a new story began to unfold in the hills of Frascati. Pasqualina opened its doors with quiet excitement and a clear purpose: to be a home for sincere cuisine, the kind that tells stories, evokes memories, and celebrates freedom at the table. Born from the shared vision of chefs Daniele Bonanni and Simone Giuliani, Pasqualina is more than a restaurant; … Continue reading Pasqualina Frascati | Sincere, Revisited Italian Cuisine with Local Wines & Authentic Dining

Rowena Dumlao
Restaurants, Restaurants in Rome

Oasi Kadir: From Farm to Table on the Outskirts of Rome

Just beyond the bustle of Rome’s city center, in the city’s northeastern hills, lies Oasi Kadir—an expansive 200-hectare agritourism estate and restaurant set within the serene Marcigliana Natural Reserve. Since opening in 2018, Oasi Kadir has become a haven for those who cherish authentic flavors and sustainable, zero-kilometer cuisine. Here, sustainability, tradition, and culinary artistry blend seamlessly, and every dish tells the story of the … Continue reading Oasi Kadir: From Farm to Table on the Outskirts of Rome

Rowena Dumlao
Center, Wineries

Meet Trebbiano Spoletino: Montefalco’s White Counterpoint to Sagrantino

In a land long celebrated for the power of its reds, a once-forgotten white grape is quietly reclaiming its place at the table. Trebbiano Spoletino, Montefalco’s luminous counterpart to the mighty Sagrantino, enchants with its elegance, versatility, and depth. Though its name recalls the ubiquitous Trebbiano Toscano, the two share no kinship — modern DNA studies confirm that Spoletino is a variety entirely its own, … Continue reading Meet Trebbiano Spoletino: Montefalco’s White Counterpoint to Sagrantino

Rowena Dumlao
Restaurants, Restaurants in Italy, Restaurants in Rome

Pici & Co.: Where Tuscan Pasta Tradition Is Hand-Rolled

In the heart of Valdichiana, in the town of Foiano della Chiana, stands Pici & Co., a small restaurant and pasta laboratory dedicated to preserving one of Tuscany’s most beloved culinary traditions: handmade pici. Set just across from the lively Valdichiana Outlet Village, a favorite stop for both locals and travelers, the space may be modest—but inside, it hums with the warmth of family, craft, … Continue reading Pici & Co.: Where Tuscan Pasta Tradition Is Hand-Rolled

Rowena Dumlao