Anyone going to VinItaly 99???

[Botafogo]

If any of you will be at the world's largest wine fair next month let's meet up at the Bodega dei Vini Wine Bar on the night before the first day. I'll be the one with the salt and pepper beard, a five gallon sized Reidel snifter of Amarone and my partner Jorge (a Mayan Warrior from Yucatan, probably rare in Verona) in tow at the bar chatting with Fabio the barman.

Ciao, Roberto

[Thomas]

Roberto,

Wish I could be there; went last year and fell absolutely head-over-heels for VinItaly. Of course, freelance writing doesn't allow for annual jaunts, unless some magazine would like to send me!!!

Re your Mayan friend, there is a fine Italian restaurant in New York City calle Bricco. Most of the wait staff is Ecuadoran. Are you affiliated?

[Botafogo]

Duuuuude, it is further from Yucatan (both geographically and culturally) to Ecuador than it is from Rome to Bagdad! Your NY friends are Incas if they are Indios.

We have a retail shop in Santa Monica, Ca which specializes in Italian Wines (and Champagne!).

Sorry you can't make it, Roberto

[Thomas]

I know that. Was just wondering what the connection to Italian wine and Central (Latin) Americans might be. And yes, they are Incas at Bricco. I asked them.

While you are at VinItaly check out Colle Bereto in the Tuscany area. Good wine and good oil.

[Botafogo]

That's a negative, Houston, Tuscany looks all strip mined out from up here and their prices are sailing by the window headed toward Pluto! Request permission to land in Puglia (we can see the flames of the Oil Refinery in Taranto from orbit and we could sure use a glass of Primitivo to calm the nerves, over.......)

But seriously, we find it a much better use of the (too short!) time at the Fiera to continue our systematic perusal of the REST of Italia (outside of Piemonte and Toscana) where there are wines of more intrinsic interest, much better pricing and probably not in the American market yet. Plus, all the Toscani and Piemontese come and see us every year anyway (they have the money!).

[This message has been edited by Botafogo (edited 03-08-99).]

[Thomas]

I take your point. In fact, I have lately been drinking a lot more Salice than Toscana, and a lot more Siciliano too. Always, however, have room for a fine Schioppetino, Refosco or Tocai Friuliana from Friuli, even if the prices are not exactly low-budget, they still are bargains over Toscana.

The Colle Bereto is a nice product, or was when I used to represent it.