The Associazione Italiana Sommelier publishes an annual guide to Italian wines. It tastes about 20.000 wines and this year only 298 wines were considered worthy of the “5 grappoli (bunches)” award. 16 out of the 298 are from the Marche and 1 is from the winemaker Fiorini. This vineyard is at Barchi a few kilometres from San Giorgio. It scored its success with its “Colli Pesaresi Sangiovese Luigi Fiorini 2004″ wine at 20 euros a bottle.
Archive for November, 2009
Fiorini vineyard wins a prize
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009San Giorgio Informa
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009The second issue of the bimonthly newsletter “San Giorgio Informa” is now out. The main points are:
Cineforum
From October to March there will be weekly films shown in the Museum. The first film was “Braveheart”, followed by “The Queen”, “Paths of Glory”, “Saving Private ryan”. Each month will have a different theme: in October the theme was history, in November it is war.
SMS Service
A new messaging service called “Il Comune communica con te” has been set up. This free service allows residents to receives texts informing them about events in the Commune.
Interview with Councillor Antonio Sebastianelli ( resposible for Environment, Town Planning)
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Antonio lists the priorities for the new Council as: repairing roads, rubbish collection by type ie. plastics, paper etc. and the creation of a solar power plant.
Questioned about making the roads more efficient and safer Anotonio said that they plan to make “Via de Gaspari” one way, create new parking areas and increase the number of road checks by the Municipal Police. |
The garden in November
Monday, November 23rd, 2009 |
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Autumn has arrived. The vines are turning gold. Next year the vine should be dense enough to let us sit under the pergola during the day. The pomegranate which still hasn’t given fruit is worth having for its autumn colour. The evergreen medlar, at the side of the house, is a star in this period as it is now in full flower and in the evening fills the air with its strong honey scent. |
Olive oil
Monday, November 23rd, 2009 |
This year we had a good olive harvest and ended up collecting about 2 quintals (200kgs) of olives. They were also in good condition with only a few damaged by the olive fly. We have been very fortunate as in some neighbouring areas the harvest has been very poor.
Sanzio, our more than kind neighbour / agricultural consultant took them to the mill for us and we brought us back 26 litres of olive oil. |
From Rembrandt to Gauguin and Picasso: Masterpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
Saturday, November 21st, 2009 |
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We to go to see the exhibition of masterpieces from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts which is currently on show at Rimini. Our “exhibition going companion Elizabeth” joined us for the day.
We took the autostrada towards Rimini and as is our custom stopped off at a service station for a capuccino and a brioche. We then bypassed the turn off for Rimini as we had decided to visit the recently opened Ikea at the Rimini North Junction. You will not be surprised to discover that it is like all other Ikeas. When we moved out 3 years ago our nearest Ikea was in Bologna. Now, here in San Giorgio, we lie equidistant from the Ikea at Rimini and the Ikea at Ancona. The only difference between the two is that in the Ancona Ikea you walk clockwise around the shop and in Rimini you walk anticlockwise. We proceded to stroll anticlockwise and ended up buying a glass bowl and some lamp shades. Elizabeth opted for some candles.
From Ikea we drove into Rimini and parked the car near the exhibition. However, as it was now noon we first proceded to a cafe for pre lunch prosecco and then went searching for a nice restaurant. The first restaurant we came across had the less than impressive name of “Picnic”. But it turned out to very good and managed to eat a first and second course.
This took us up to 2.30 and we then went to the exhibition at the Castel Sismondo. On show are 65 masterpieces of the European painting from the 16th to the 20th century. It was excellent and well worth the 10 euros entrance fee. It was excellent. There were so many great paintings it was difficult to choose favourites but I particularly liked the painting by Govanni BattistaMoroni an Toulouse Lautrec.
After the exhibition there was time for a cup of coffee and then the autostrada home.
Will we be the only English in the village?
Friday, November 20th, 2009
A couple of years ago we heard that an English couple had bought a house near the church at the top of our alley. Then the nationality was changed from English to Danish. But nothing happened to the house. About a year ago we heard some workmen hammering in the house but they were only there for one day. Now work appears to have started again with scaffolding being put up.
When work has been approved there is always a board put up with the names of builder etc. From this board we now know the work is being done for Pamela and John Roscoe. So we may have English neighbours after all.
2012
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009Went to see the film 2012 on Sunday evening. Have never seen so many people in a cinema in Italy and have never been to such a bad film in Italy. One friend who had decided not to go said that seeing the trailer on tv with scenes of city collapsing meant one had seen the film. She was right.
We were shocked to discover that the film shows the Queen of England and her corgis taking shelter in the arks being built to save the rich of the world, while the Prime Minister of Italy decides to stay and die with his people. This confirmed our view that the film had lost touch with reality.
Art exhibition in Cartoceto
Thursday, November 12th, 2009 |
On Saturday evening we went with Thomas and Erica to the preview of an art exhibition in Cartoceto. Every year there is a festival to celebrate the olive harvest and for 11 years an exhibiton of work from local artists has been part of the event. Thomas was exhibiting some of his recent work. |
Autumn weather
Friday, November 6th, 2009
The weather has been very variable here in the Marche but one morning this week we woke up to the valley between us and Mondavio being filled with low lying mist.
Influenza A in Italy
Friday, November 6th, 2009
Here in Italy the news is full of reports about Influenza A in Italy. Naples has been particularly badly affected with 7 or 8 deaths as a result of the flu.
As Christmas approaches Neapolitan craftsmen are creating their cribs which they often people with carvings of people currently making news. This year the craftsmen have decided to reflect the arrival of Influenza A in Naples.
(photo taken from: <a href><“http://www.ansa.it/web/“></a>)