I had a blast at the Nino Franco thirtieth anniversary tasting and party last night in Valdobbiadene with Primo Franco (who was amazing).

More on the festivities later but just had to share the above photo: my first kiss with the 2014 vintage in Italy.

It was fascinating to hear the Nino Franco enologists Giulio and Luca talk about the challenges of the harvest.

They’re going to make good and even great wines with this vintage. But, as nearly every winemaker has told me, Herculean efforts in the vineyards are what will make the difference.

“The wines are great,” said Roberto Anselmi, who also attended the party. “But I’ve never had to work harder in my life.”

More later. Thanks for being here…

Musetto (boiled pig snout sausage) and brovada (shredded sour turnips macerated in red wine) at Osteria al Cappello.

Borgo del Tiglio white blend. Even an older vintage of the winery’s entry-tier white blend always delivers. Great winery, great wines.

This trip has had some real highs and real lows. That’s the way it goes…

¡Qué lejos estoy del suelo donde he nacido!
inmensa nostalgia invade mi pensamiento;
y al verme tan solo y triste cual hoja al viento,
quisiera llorar, quisiera morir de sentimiento.
¡Oh Tierra del Sol! Suspiro por verte
ahora que lejos yo vivo sin luz, sin amor;
y al verme tan solo y triste cual hoja al viento,
quisiera llorar, quisiera morir de sentimiento.

From the department of “so much time and so little to eat”…

Posting in a super hurry today from the road in Franciacorta…

Just had to have a burger and beer at Bar Torre d’Ercole in Brescia on Saturday night.

Here’s the thing: they’re now making there burgers with dry-aged Chianina and roughly 10 percent ground uncured pork belly in the mix.

Definitely one of the best burgers I’ve ever had.

Italians are hamburger-crazy these days and I wasn’t surprised when I was wowed, once again, by the burger at Torre d’Ercole. Brescia province has always been an epicenter for beef, I’ve learned.

As fate would have it, my friends, the Brothers Pontiak, were playing Brescia that night and so we caught their super-packed show.

I don’t know how they do it but they tour with Steve Albini’s backline while in Europe. How cool is that?

They have a huge following in Italy and the show was awesome.

That’s all I have time for this morning. Stay tuned…

Posting on the fly this morning on my way to mxp: check out my client Luca Ferraro’s response to a col fondo detractor, including my translation of the comment that sparked the debate.

San Diegans, please come out and taste with me tomorrow at Jaynes Gastropub, where I’ll be pouring five wines, including Bele Casel Prosecco Colfòndo. Click here for details.

I’m not the first or the only to be entirely wowed by Walter Manzke’s cooking. But HOLY CRAP this was good at République in LA last night!

That’s “yellow fin tuna, celery root hummus, blood orange oil, pomegranate, pistachio, mint, and purslane.”

It was like tasting Sicily, the Middle East, and Greece all in one plate. The purslane took it over the top for me.

I was also very geeked to finally taste the Massica Annia, a wine that so many people are talking about these days.

It’s not hard to understand why it’s been such a hit among the “in” crowd: freshness, clarity of fruit, zinging but balanced acidity, and restrained food-friendly alcohol.

Beverage director Taylor Parsons, one of the top wine people is LA in my book, is now managing the restaurant as well and man, it continues to thrill me each time I visit.

Chapeau bas, Taylor! You’re at the top of your game and I’m loving every minute of it.

Ok, gotta run now and taste some more wine. Thanks for being here. Come out and taste with me tomorrow in San Diego if you’re in town!