Week two begins on Sunday 9 January The spell-binding sight of a tree in winter? a book that enthrals? a place that grounds? a person that intrigues? a bird that captivates? music that moves? … or a poem that entrances:- Beowulf - and the problem of ‘knowing reality’ I’d like to claim Beowulf for my … Continue reading And what will early January 2022 bring, I wonder?

We’ll not remember 2021 fondly - as I wrote in last week’s Christmas cards! It was a year of frustrations; interrupted work or school, little chance of travel, loss of the familiar patterns which none of us realised at the time were fundamental to our daily rhythms and mental health; and for some, illness, fear, … Continue reading And what will 2022 bring, I wonder?

Sunday 31 October 21  After a slow start, we drove south (by a more conventional route this time) to meet Niccoletta Bocca of San Fereolo in the Dogliani DOCG, high up above the town. We had been greeted energetically yesterday by two large noisy dogs - which, were they not labradors, I would have considered … Continue reading Piemonte 8: Langhe 2: 31 Oct – 5 Nov 2021

Sunday 24 October 21  We woke at 09.00 and edged our way to a slow breakfast; saying farewell to our very attentive hostess and the very distinctive Villa Sironi and its fine location just off Corso Montebello in Tortona, to drive to Alba via the motorway towards Allessandria, then just south of Asti to turn … Continue reading Piemonte 7: Langhe 1 : 24 – 30 October 2021

Thursday 21 October 21  We left Gavi at 08.15, heading east towards Novi Ligure to pick up the motorway for Tortona; leaving via the toll just north of Tortona and weaving east through acres of industrial estate (and MacDonald’s) until we found a kindly woman in charge of a fuel station willing to tackle our … Continue reading Piemonte 6 : Colli Tortonesi : 21 – 24 October 2021

Wednesday 20 Oct 21 : Ovada  A different model today: a morning of appointments with various producers of mainly Dolcetto in the Ovada Consorzio office itself - half hour’s drive away to the south west. (It’s not a well known nor much appreciated denomination - but we leave no stone unturned) As we left Gavi … Continue reading Piemonte 5: Ovada DOCG : 20 October 2021

Friday 15 October 21  We left La Romana outside Nizza at 09.00 after a warm farewell from La Receptionist, (yes - they use the french!) taking a northerly deviation towards Alessandria to avoid a road repair. The plain of the river Bormida makes a dramatic contrast to the runs of hills, ridges and winding valleys … Continue reading Piemonte 4: Gavi DOCG: 15 – 19 October 2021

Tuesday 12 October Valentina, driving her beloved Cinquecento, arrived at La Romana promptly at 09.00. She freelances with the consorzio and other wine-related organisations putting her excellent English to good use as a guide and interpreter with real knowledge and love of wines, having qualified as a Sommelier. She also turns out to be wine … Continue reading Piemonte 3: Monferrato DOCG: 12 – 14 October 2021

Armed with the NHS vaccine pass, a negative covid antigen test and a successfully completed Travel Locator Form (assembling these added an extra day and shed-loads of worry to travel preparations) we set off at 07.30 for Stansted on Wednesday 6 October. The up train was late, and we lost half an hour en route … Continue reading Piemonte 2: Nizza Monferrato: 7 – 11 October 2021

This will be a brief record of five happy days in Lancashire and Yorkshire, firstly to celebrate a wedding, and secondly to try out the car! More will follow when the Piemonte adventure is chronicled!