tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46488049749641327962012-02-16T17:16:50.553-08:00Perspectives on Italian wine and living from an expat sommelier in Florence.Todd's Tuscan Trailshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17764802792358250178noreply@blogger.comBlogger51100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648804974964132796.post-91599740215792395812011-11-09T05:24:00.000-08:002011-11-09T05:24:15.487-08:00

I set out recently to explore a traditional stone olive mill with the final pressing on fiber discs. This ancient style of olive production is a dying breed. Most modern mills utilize mechanized presses in stainless steel foregoing the stone mill and fiber discs completely. The mill I wanted to check out was at Belladonna farms, and I was shown around by Ilaria at her family’s mill in the Orcia

Todd's Tuscan Trailshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17764802792358250178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648804974964132796.post-32345175653004443832011-05-16T21:18:00.000-07:002011-05-16T21:18:20.265-07:00

Italy produces nearly a quarter of the world’s wine, and is home to the richest diversity of grape varietals and wine production methods anywhere. It’s simply impossible to get bored as a wine consumer here. But, understanding the wines and how they’re classified is frustrating at best, even for wine professionals. Let’s start with a simple fact. Italians are a creative people, easily associated

Todd's Tuscan Trailshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17764802792358250178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648804974964132796.post-35252115840456061482011-04-05T14:47:00.000-07:002011-05-11T00:39:20.001-07:00

Spring may have officially started over a week ago, but here in Florence, it wasn’t until this past weekend that we actually felt it. It's time to head to the hills and enjoy spring's first fruits and say goodbye to the last traces of winter. Heading east of Florence, there is an area locally known as Casentino. With its two medium-sized mountain ranges, Casentino is home to the headwaters of the

Todd's Tuscan Trailshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17764802792358250178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648804974964132796.post-55735319032199843672011-03-17T09:13:00.000-07:002011-05-11T00:39:04.297-07:00

In over 9 years of living in Italy, I think I have seen Italians pull out and wave the “Tri-colore” only twice. The first was in 2006 when Italy beat France in the World Cup, and, the second, in these last couple of days to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification. You must first understand, Italians are not a particularly nationalistic people. Due to a long history of city-state

Todd's Tuscan Trailshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17764802792358250178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648804974964132796.post-18108406955149402012010-12-07T06:52:00.000-08:002011-05-18T11:33:04.792-07:00

I am new to blogging and in my first post I decided to write about learning the Italian language. It seemed fitting because upon my arrival here over 9 years ago, it was my first priority.  Now Florence has become home to me. I have started a business here (http://www.tuscantrails.com/), I have great friends here and of course, with and through my wife I have wonderful family here. Fortunately,

Todd's Tuscan Trailshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17764802792358250178noreply@blogger.com0