A Vineyard in Tuscany : A Wine Lover’s Dream
Every once in a while a book comes along that grabs me- one that I don't want to put down, that I want to get through.
This was one of those books. This was one of those times.
A Vineyard in Tuscany, Ferenc Maté's memoir is about his (and his family's) trials and tribulations of acquiring an abandoned property in Montalcino, Tuscany, restoring it and creating a vineyard from scratch!
As fate would have it, he was lucky enough to be offered help and advice from his neighbors- none other than Banfi and Gaja- two of the biggest wine giants in Italy!
The author had me rolling on the floor on more than one occassion.
Not wanting to "give everything away" – let's just say some of his funniest stuff involved single-handedly bringing down part of his rebuilt house at the hands of a crane, trying to get deer from eating his vines, over-filling the barrels with their first elixir and creating a grape explosion of huge ( and messy) proportions and almost destroying his property- trees, vines and chicken coup- in an entire chapter dedicated to his learning to use the tractor with four-hundred ninety-seven levers.
And if he wasn't lucky enough already- his wines get rave reviews and he unearths treasure after treasure on his land- both of the historic Etruscan and the culinary variety.
This memoir is a romantic style Under the Tuscan Sun- with the addition of a vineyard- and more descriptive, humorous prose.
If you like Tuscany, Wine and Laughter- you'll love this book!
What is one of your favorite memoirs about Tuscany? Or Italy?
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April 27th, 2009
Another fun book to add to my summer reading list! thanks Robin ;o)
April 27th, 2009
this sounds great! i am writing it down right now…I’ve definitely been in the ‘I miss Italy’ mood lately so this sounds perfect
April 27th, 2009
You bet. It’s a great read
April 27th, 2009
It might be even better Erin, with a bottle of his wine- prolly outta my price range for a bottle though
Hope you are doing well! xo
April 27th, 2009
Sounds just the book I would read too!! Thanks for the review
April 27th, 2009
You bet Anne! And my bet is that your would like it too!
April 27th, 2009
I’ll have to see if I can get the audio book– It’ll make me feel as if I’m driving through Tuscany.
I’m listening to David Sedaris right now– When You are Engulfed in Flames and his parts about Normandy are great, so I recommend it if you haven’t read it yet. Best, N
April 27th, 2009
Have to look into that one
Thanks Nadine!
April 29th, 2009
First you tickle my tast buds and now you’re stimulating my mind. I’m glad I visited today.
April 29th, 2009
Well, thanks so much for the poetic words Clive!! I am glad you visited too then!
May 2nd, 2009
I’ll be linking back to you next week when I focus on books about Italy at A Traveler’s Library. Thanks for this suggestion.
Vera
May 2nd, 2009
Great, thanks! Glad to be of help! Looking forward to reading your article.
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