Please The Palate |

José Lovaglio Balbo Follows in his Mother’s Footsteps to Make Argentine Wine Shine

One of the most well-known names of Argentine wine is Susana Balbo. She has made a significant impact in the wine industry and now her son, Jose Lovaglio Balbo is following in her footsteps. I had the pleasure to meet him recently on a visit to Los Angeles where he shard his story, and his family's story, as well as his wines, as I wrote in my column in the Napa Valley Register and share here. If you have ever had a Torrontes from Argentina, there is a good chance that you drank Crios from Susana Balbo, one of the foremost winemakers in Argentina.

“Crios” means “offspring” and Susana Balbo created the wine in honor of her children José and Ana.

An entry level wine, the Torrontes is fresh and crisp with aromas of white peach, grapefruit and white flowers on the nose and bright acidity and minerality on the palate.

09 October, 2018

The Official Sparkling Wine at the Emmys Is From…Italy

Last month, the 70th Annual Emmy Awards took place in Los Angeles. Lots of sparkling wine was being poured and that wine was not Champagne.....it was a sparkling wine from Italy, the Ferrari Brut Trento DOC! I wrote about how an Italian wine became the official sparkling wine of the Emmys in a recent column in the Napa Valley Register which you can read here.

The 70th Annual Emmy Awards took place this week, and throughout all the pre- and post-Emmy events, as well as at the ceremony itself, sparkling wine was being drunk.

Logically, you might think it was Champagne. But, in fact, the Official Sparkling Wine of Emmy Awards is from Italy. It is Ferrari Trento Brut DOC, a blanc de blanc made from Chardonnay and matured for two years in the bottle.

04 October, 2018

Exploring Cultures Through Food Tours

My newest addiction is food tours. Each time I head to a new country, I search out a food tour to take on my first day in the city. It is a great way to get a sense of the place and an understanding of the cuisine, which I feel enhances the rest of my trip. I shared some of the great food tours I have found in a recent story in the Napa Valley Register which you can read here. The late Anthony Bourdain once said that “Food is everything we are. It’s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.”

On his show, “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,” he filmed 96 episodes over 11 seasons in which he shared his passion for culture, food, travel and adventure. His enthusiasm was contagious, and we were all inspired explore the world through food.

Or, at least, I was.

After all, what better way to explore a different culture than through its food? Of course, there is architecture, art, religion and nature, but food has so many meanings and incorporates everything. Food is a cultural identifier. Food is shaped by location and by history. Food can represent status and pleasure or can be for survival. Food is also about community and is a unifier across cultures.

As I traveled to countries for my first time, I have found myself in search of food. Yes, I like to eat. And, I can think of no better way to learn about a city and a culture than through its food. But, how does one decide where to go?

27 September, 2018