The 31st annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is underway north of Seattle through the end of April. It is one of our favorite Spring stops. Imagine acres and acres of tulips in full bloom!

In Italy wine tasting can seem to be more like a meal then the “here’s a few tiny glasses, drink up and leave” experiences we often have back home. Be patient and enjoy!

Italian agriturismo (farmhouse) – working farm holidays, farm guest houses, B&B’s, farm restaurants and wine and olive farms draw thousands of visitors each year. Nestled in view of the beautiful Renaissance town of Pienza and overlooking the farmlands and estates in the Tuscan Val d’Orcia we found the Podere Il Casale cheesery and farm restaurant. Sandre and Ulisse, the owners of this 170 acre farm, have established a reputation for crafting wonderful goat and Pecorino cheeses and their private olive oils and wines. Following our meal featuring delectable products from their sustainable farm – such as chestnut pasta over lentils and kale and various cheeses, of course, Sandre escorted us through the farm full of baby goats, peacocks in full plumage, donkeys, chickens, sheep and pigs. In the cheesery she gave us a thorough understanding on the processes they use and what it takes to be a recognized sustainable farm in Italy.

While visiting the Tuscan hilltop town of Montepulciano, we dropped in on Césare Mazzetti, a third generation master coppersmith and an Italian treasure. The Vatican Museum features one of his copper plates and his renowned copper pots and pans, marketed by his Rinomata Rameria Mazzetti Company, are hard at work in top flight restaurants from New York City to Hong Kong. The jovial Signor Mazzetti treated us to a private tour of his workshop filled with anvils, hammers of many shapes and sizes and forges. He was especially proud of his many antique stamps and dies passed down from his father and grandfather. He demonstrated some of the techniques of his trade and then described the history of some of the pieces in his family museum. As a surprise departing gift he made family copper plate mementos for each couple commemorating their marriage dates, children and grandchildren. Wow!

We have met up with four close friends and seasoned Italy fans. Our host, Niek, from Holland, owns a lovely, spacious villa near Perugia that we are delighted to offer to our travel guests. (see our Italy itineraries). Our goal is to develop an itinerary for guests who would wish to rent Niek’s beautiful villa. Yesterday we toured the cellars of the Lungarotti fine winemakers. Last night was cooking lesson night as Letitia and Lydiana of the Agriturismo Malvarina near Assisi put us through our paces. We learned how to prepare authentic Umbrian farmhouse dishes including stuffed rabbit, gnocchi, fried artichokes, fresh pasta made with spinach, fried dough with mushrooms, dough-wrapped spiced pears and more. Following two hours of cuisine prep we enjoyed our farmhouse meal by the warm glow of the fireplace….a perfect evening.