I’ve only been in Italy for a few days but it’s been a whirlwind trip already.

On Tuesday, I presented the wines and vermouth of Amistà for a wonderful group from Miami at the winery’s farmhouse bed and breakfast.

Then it was off to Alto Adige for an extraordinary visit with Hofstätter.

Today, I’m back in Piedmont for an Amistà tasting with a group from Texas in Turin.

I’ve barely been able to catch my breath and enjoy the tide of spring flowers that have sprung up across wine country. It’s truly breathtaking to see.

The shot above is from one of Hofstätter’s top vineyards for Gewürztraminer. The ancient pine tree (directly above) stands nearby. And below a “money shot” of the famous San Michele Church in the Sant’Urbano vineyard where their top Pinot Noir is grown.

The weather has been very strange in recent weeks, with intense rains that caused some flooding and created major issues for some growers. Climate change and the accompanying challenges continue to keep winemakers extremely busy. And they all say the same thing: it’s the extreme nature of weather events that keeps everyone guessing.

Next week I’ll be heading to Milan to attend a concert with friends. Then it’s back to Piedmont for another event before I head to Abruzzo for a few days of tasting.

The best news is that Tracie and the girls will be joining me early next month! And we are going to have a genuine family vacation. The girls have made me promise that we won’t go to any wineries! We’re going to travel by train and the girls are going to get their first taste of the Grand Tour.

Writing on the fly today but it only takes a few days on the ground to be reminded that Italy’s ceaseless beauty, cultural richness, and warm humanity never fail to astound even the weary traveler.

Thanks for being here. I’m looking forward to sharing my notes from my trip.