After breakfast at Panzera, JR and I in person and the fabulous Cleo got take away for Kat, we went to Berlucchi (pronounced 'burr-lu-key') Winery outside of Brescia. Again, spectacular train ride from Milan to Rovato where we were picked up by our Uber and transported to Franciacorta (pronounced 'fran-chia-korta' country. Guido Berlucchi - my mom's side - was one of the pioneers of this type of wine. Guido and his business partner Frank Zilliani wanted to make a bubbly white for Italians that was similar - OK, BETTER, than champagne from France - and succeeded. The first wine rolled off the presses in 1961. When we were here in 2016, we had a fabulous time with Frank's daughter Christine. Today, we were entertained and entranced with Laura who has been at Berlucchi for quite a while. She gave us the Titanium tour which included viewing one of the first bottles off the very first press, the cellar that houses ALL the wine that is fermenting along with the disgorgement process (removal) of the yeast and the final bottling with corks, metal and foil wrapper. Not only was this the coolest thing ever, but tons of opportunities for artistic shots. Laura could not have been more welcoming, joyful and indulgent. We concluded with trying two varietals accompanied by regional cheeses and meats. This intimate time in the salon of the Berlucchi house was magical. We not only enjoyed the history and food, but were able to just chat about current events and other things. It ended with all of us bonding over mutual experiences and threads that can be woven into a much richer tapestry.
We ate dinner at Panzera, because why mess with a good thing, and took a late train back to Florence, where the olds went to bed and the kiddos went for a burger, booze and karaoke.
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