Snapshots from Istria Wine Trip, October 2011

In October 2011, Brava Wine Company took the first group of travelers through Istria to experience the beautiful wines and the culinary riches. It’s also truffle season and time for the olive harvest, so we had a very full weekend of amazing food and wine!  A similar trip will be repeated again several times in October.

You can read all about this trip here or join us in Istria for a weekend in October of 2012- more information about upcoming trips can be found here.

Arriving at the Truffle Festival…

…on a crisp autumn day, one traveler is saving his energy for the truffle tasting.

The group in Livade for the Zigante Tartufi festival

At Misal Winery

Ana pours sparkling wine at her family winery.

A long day of truffles, wine and fresh air calls for pizza and… more wine!

The pizza wiz

The next day, we are enjoying a four course traditional wine lunch in Višnan.

Joined by Peter Poletti who introduces us to his delightful wines.

Helping Poletti pour for my guests.

Muškat Ruža to go with the fritule we brought back to his winery.

In Poletti’s winery

Poletti gets up in the archive section to fetch a bottle of wine for us!

Vines. olives and the sea as seen from Višnjan.

Freshly harvested olives to be pressed.

Admiring the olives.

Pouring a bottle of freshly pressed olive oil.

It’s onto Roxanich Winery in Nova Vas

Pouring Roxanich for one of my great guests!

Barrel samples in the winery at Roxanich.

A post-tour glass of wine on the terrace at our place before we head out to dinner. (Sorry boys and girls, the fingerless rainbow gloves aren’t for sale).

Our final dinner at Divino in Poreč, specialized in gourmet preparations of fresh fish.

White Zin… Once in a Blue Moon?

White Zin for the people.

This post is in honor of cousin extraordinaire Aimee Jean.  She’s a connoisseur of adult beverages herself (just don’t ask her to go halfsies on a pear cider). Miss Aimee Jean and I have on multiple holidays had the pleasure of being stuffed into a house crammed to the gills with extended family.  And if we’re not flinging mashed potatoes at each other (actually we only did that once…sorry, grandma) sometimes we’re marveling a what a wonderful, and huge, family we have.

By and large, our family is made up of the type of folks who usually reach into the cooler during the aforementioned holiday get-downs for a reduced-calorie American pilsner. But, once in a blue moon (and there’s one this month, you know), or if it’s a special occasion (i.e. it’s Sunday and the liquor store’s closed) they might also reach for a glass of vino. In which case they open the fridge and pull out the timeless and elegantly packaged box of Franzia White Zinfandel. There are many special things about this wine I’m sure, but the true magic of it is that it manages to offer both refreshment and sweetness, while leaving your breath smelling all boozy and watermelon-laced (this only applies on the way down, teens).  Not to mention, it’s a spot on perfect pairing with tater tot hot dish.

To you and your family, and to my cousin Aimee Jean, on this non-holiday I raise a glass and say CHEERS!