Vino Sfuso - "Fill 'er up!"

To Italians, wine isn't a special occasion treat; it's a daily staple like salt and pepper. Italian kids grow up on watered down wine at the dinner table like American kids drink soda pop. So, do Italians opt for expensive wines at every meal - no. If it's not wine that grandpa made, it's sfuso.

Sfuso is fresh, bulk wine that hasn't been aged in wooden barrels for one or two years. There's no brand name, no label, and no bottle to add up costs.  Sfusos are local wines said to be made from the grapes that are not bottle worthy. Known as vino da tavola (table wine) or vino della casa (house wine), it's the wine families drink and restaurant serve and, honestly, can be damned good! Sfuso has no additives or preservatives and is best drunk quickly - And who wouldn't?

Gotta find a sfuso shop when I'm in town!

Sfuso stores are typically small, family owed shops filled with huge bottles or stainless steel tanks tapped by hoses. Why the hoses? So you can "fill'er up," of course. It's a BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) situation of wine on tap. You bring an empty bottle (water bottle, corked jug or whatever) and hose into it the wine you like. Then, you bring the bottle up to the cashier and are charged by the liter for the type wine you've selected. Prices are as low as 1 to 3 euros a liter.

You'll be overwhelmed in a sfuso store because there'll be many varieties of wine from which to choose. Don't know which one you'll like? No problem. Pull up a plastic cup and do a tasting until you find the one that suits your tastebuds. The fella or gal behind the counter is happy to answer questions and give suggestions.

The next time you're in Italy, ask a local where to find their favorite sfuso store and head over with your empty bottle. Then, go to the local cheese and salame store and fill a bag with some goodies. Next, sit yourself down at a park bench with a pretty view (lotsa them in Italy) and ENJOY! Having your wine outdoors is legal in Italy. Or, if you're at a restaurant in Italy, ask for vino della casa or vino da tavola - it's sfuso and you'll enjoy it there, too, plus save a load of money on your bill.

Ciao!

- Nina Spitzer

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Say "Cheese"...When in Italy!

Italy is known for many wonderful things, among which are art, music, architecture, ancient history, wine and food! Tops on the food list, with over 300 varieties is - CHEESE! Yup. Over 300 varieties. I strongly suggest you not walk into an Italian cheese shop hungry or you'll want them all.

Whether it's a grocery store...

Outdoor market...

Indoor Market...

or at the farm,

deciding on which to purchase is a challenge in itself.

On a past trip to Sicily, my Italian relatives took us to a small ricotta cheese farm. Watching the cheese making process was fascinating. 

We even met the cows who were to be involved in their own part of the process.

And the ricotta - was absolutely AMAZING! Delicious and unlike any we'd ever tasted before.

Of course, enjoying it with my Italian family made it even more special.

One thing I've never understood is how my 100% Italian father didn't like cheese or wine. Really! He wouldn't touch either one.  Strange! As an Italian, shouldn't the love of cheese and wine be a part of one's  genes? Thank goodness I didn't inherit that from him! When it come to Italian cheeses and wine I say, "Bring it on!"

Ciao!

- Nina Spitzer

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Italian Graffiti - Update from Our 2015 Trip

One thing I've noticed on our trips to Italy is how creative Italians can be with their graffiti. I suppose it's because throughout history, Italians always been a very artistic and expressive people.

We visited Sicily again this May and, as always, my camera is on the lookout for graffiti. Scroll down to the end of this post are some of the new ones I found. You'll even find one 50 feet long! It's interesting that no graffiti did I see in Sicily that was obscene or negative. Instead, they were all romantic and/or philosophical. 

The author of this graffiti certainly had an opinion of McDonald's food!

Translation:  McDonald's is shitty food - Boycott it.

The pressing question is...

Who would even want to eat McDonald's food in Italy with all the marvelous Italian food available everywhere?

Italians have always been romantics and so their graffiti is frequently about love.

Here, it looks like someone got ditched and was looking for a second chance.

Translation:  Shall we start over?

(little scribbled heart and all)

Unfortunately, I never snapped a picture of the very first "love" graffiti I saw in Italy. I believe it was in the city of Siracusa. Stretched across a huge cement overpass, in letters perhaps 3 foot high, was painted a graffiti that read,

"Ti amerò per sempre, per sempre, per sempre,per sempre...per sempre!"

Translation:  I will love you forever, forever, forever...forever!"

The graffiti started at one end of the bridge and the "forevers" extended repeatedly to the other end.

That's a LOT of forever - and a lot of love too!

(The lovers probably split the next week.)

I say, if ya have to look at graffiti, it should at least be about love. Right?

I'll make sure to be on the lookout for more good Italian graffiti on our next trip to Italia.

Ciao!

Graffiti Update from Our May 2015 Sicilian Trip

We visited Sicily again this May and, as always, my camera is on the lookout for graffiti. Here are some of the ones I found. It's interesting that no graffiti did I see that was obscene or negative. Instead, they were all romantic and/or philosophical.  Take a look:

"Piccola mia, ti amo da morire. La mia principessa. By Il tuo cucciolo!"

Translation:  "My little one, I love you to death. My Little Princess. By Your puppy!"

"Dove c'é odio...io porti amore."

Translation:  "Where there is hatred...I will bring you love."

"Tu che della mia esistenza sei l'essenza."

Translation:  "You who are the essence of my existence."

"L'uomo e irragionevole, illogico, egocentrico: Non importa..Amalo."

Translation:  "The man is unreasonable, illogical, self-centered: That's not important..Love him."

"P. Ti Amo. Sei tutta la mia vita."

Translation:  "P. I love you. You are my whole life."

"La vita é preziosa, abbine cura."

Translation: "Life is precious, take care."

And...this was the best one of all, covering over 50 feet of cement wall. It took six photographs to capture it all. You'll be amazed at the translation of this lengthy statement at the bottom.

"Scusa per non averti dimostrato quanto é forte il mio amore per te...ormai é tardi ma non smetto disperare che un giorno sarai di nuovo mia. 25-11-11 (E+V)"

Translation: "Sorry for not having shown how strong is my love for you ... now it is late but I do not stop to despair that one day you will be mine again. 11/25/11 (E+V)"

Does that one tear your heart up or what! That griffiti was written over three years ago. I can't help but wonder if they ever got together again.  Hmmm...Maybe not if the graffiti is still there. 

Well, that's Italians for ya. Romantics to the end. 

Ciao!

- Nina Spitzer

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The Sicilian Donkey Cart

Sicilian donkey carts date back to the early 19^th century.  It was the ancient Greeks who introduced these carts to the island. The carts reached the height of popularity in the 1920s, when thousands were on the island.

The "caretto" cart was like the family car, taxi or truck of today. Carts used for hauling items as produce, wood, wine were called "Carretto del Lavoro" (cart for work).  In cities and on flat plains, it was common to see horses pulling carts. In rougher terrain, it was donkeys or mules that did the heavy work of pulling. 

Family owned carts were popular and, like cars of today, a family’s wealth was often assessed by the showiness of their cart. The animal pulling the cart was often elaborately adorned with fancy handmade harnesses, ribbons and feathers. "Carretto de Gara” were carts used for festive occasions such as weddings and parades.

Cart making was a craft handed down from generation to generation. The handmade carts were made in several provinces in Sicily and each had its own distinct style. The wooden cart is two wheeled with iron components. Carts were works of art beautifully covered in carvings and brightly painted scenes from Sicilian history, folklore, scenes from famous operas, as well as intricate geometric designs. In the past, scenes served as a way of conveying historical information to those who were illiterate.

The decline of the art and craft of cart building began during the 1950s. In came cars and other motorized vehicles and out went the donkey cart as a means of transportation. Today, the carts are used for parades and other special events as a beautifully reminder of the past.

Ciao!

- Nina Spitzer

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