Ciao Tutti!

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market,we will taste a new wine to our collection, the La Lupinella Superiore DOCG ($21.50, 13.5 ABV) from the Bitossi Winery’s Sant’ Ansano vineyard in Toscana. This wine area contains the Montalbano Hills and has long enjoyed a reputation for producing great wine that led to its being recognized as early as 1796 as a prestigious wine area.  “Lupinella”  is named for a local wildflower and the eye-catching label was designed by an American artist, Don Carney. The “Lupa” (wolf) image pays homage to . the legendary she wolf. In Roman mythology, she rescued the twins Romulus and Remus who were abandoned in the Tiber River and nursed them until a shepherd found and raised them. The twins grew up to found the city of Rome. 

La Lupinella Superiore DOCG ($21.50, 13.5 ABV) from the Bitossi Winery’s Sant’ Ansano vineyard in Toscana

The Bitossi family has been in Toscana since the 16th century where they first became renowned ceramic artisans. The clay soil of their land is the common denominator of both the raw material that is spun to create their ceramics and the amphoras in which their wines are now made. Artist Don Carney also designed several tile patterns for the family. I have several pieces of Italian ceramics so I was fascinated to learn that since the early 1920’s, some of the most important Italian and international designers such as Aldo Londi and Ettore Sottsass have collaborated with Bitossi in their laboratories in Montelupo Fiorentino.

In the late 1970’s,Vittoriano Bitossi acquired parcels of land SW of Florence that would become his vineyards, in the commune of Vinci (birthplace of Leonardo). Like many other winemakers, he began making wine for his family and for local consumption until the mid-1990s when Bitossi sought distributors and importers for their wines. 

Today, Owner Marco Bitossi and Winemaker Manuela Marzi work their 10 hectares in Montespertoli and 2 hectares in Sant’Ansano. Their vineyards of Canailolo, Colorino, Sangiovese and Trebbiano are certified organic and their annual production is 2500 cases. Emily and I tasted La Lupinella recently and we liked its aromas of fresh red berries, its medium body, light tannins and long finish. La Lupinella is named “Rossa” for its variety of grapes including Sangiovese (85%),Canaiolo (15%) and Trebbiano (5%). 

We thought it was a refreshing take on Sangiovese so come join me on Friday from noon to 5:45 and Saturday from noon to 4:45 to see if you agree!

Cin Cin!

Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center at 218 N. Washington St., suite 23, in Easton, MD.

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Ciao Tutti!

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market we will taste a white wine from the Langhe Nas-Cetta del Commune di Novello 2021 ($26.99, 12.5% ABV) from the Azienda Agricola Cogli  L’Attimo di Serena Anselma in Piemonte. “Cogli L’Attimo” translates as “seize the moment”, which a fitting phrase for how this wine has made its way to Piazza’s shelves. 

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market we will taste a white wine from the Langhe Nas-Cetta del Commune di Novello 2021 ($26.99, 12.5% ABV) from the Azienda Agricola Cogli L’Attimo di Serena Anselma in Piemonte.

Last year, Emily attended Vinitaly, which is the leading international wine & spirits trade fair for exhibitors, buyers and wine lovers. Emily sought out small scale producers, one of which was Serena Anselma, who asked Emily for advice about breaking into the US market. Emily seized the moment and contacted one of Piazza’s importers, Doria Wines, since they seek out artisanal winemakers. The brother and sister duo of Marco (Torino) and Cristina (DC) seized their moment and Marco visited Serena and now they represent Cogli L’Attimo!  The winery is a perfect fit to Doria Wines’ criteria of native grape varieties, sustainable farming, minimal intervention, small scale production and winemakers who are personally involved from planting the vines to bottling. 

Serena Anselma

Serena Anselma left her career of teaching languages to fulfill her dream of producing wine from her family’s old vineyards, whose grapes had previously been sold for bulk production.  In 2016, she founded her own winery on her grandparents’ land in Novello, one of the eleven municipalities that produce Barolo. Her annual production is small (about 15,000 bottles). Her winery may be less than ten years old, but it is rooted in the beautiful Langhe hills. She works with Sergio Molino, a renowned oenologist, to produce wines that are authentic native varieties since a great wine is dependent upon the quality of the grapes.  

Currently, Serena produces Barolo cru Cerviano Merli, Nebbiolo d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba, Dolcetto d’Alba, Nas-cetta and one orange wine. The native grape Nas-cetta almost disappeared, but has a new life thanks to its rediscovery by small producers in the municipality of Novello like Serena and her wine entered the market in 1994. Eight years later, it became part of the Langhe DOC. In 2010, the Langhe Nas-cetta del Comune di Novello DOC designation was created to recognize only one municipality, Novello, for the use of 100% Nas-cetta grapes. 

Emily has fond memories of this white wine’s floral and fruity aromas and its vibrant citrus flavor. Pair with fresh seafood or risottos, white meat entrees with lemon and herbs, dishes with asparagus or fennel, goat or feta cheese.  

Come seize your moment and join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 and celebrate this new wine’s debut at Piazza!

Cin Cin,

Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center, suite 23, in Easton, MD

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Ciao Tutti!

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market we will taste the 2021 Cannonau Capo Ferrato DOC ($15.99, ABV 13.5%) from the Cantina Castiadas winery. Founded in 1959, the winery takes its name from the region in which it is located, in the picturesque southeastern part of  Sardinia in the Cannonau di Sardegna DOC denomination.  “Capo” translates as cape or promontory and “ferrato” probably refers to the iron rich soils of this region. “Capo Ferrato” also pays homage  to the beaches of Capo Ferrato on the Tyrrhenian Sea NE of inland Castiadas. 

Cantina Castiadas is considered one of Sardinia’s most esteemed wineries. Its unique location near to both the rugged mountainous landscapes and also the picturesque Costa Rei beaches, results in grapes of exceptional quality, due to their daily optimal solar exposure balanced by cooling breezes from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The vineyards are rooted in clay soils and granitic sands and produce wines of intense minerality from their vinification in stainless steel vats that preserves the cannonau grape’s natural character. Always present is the fragrance of the macchia, the ubiquitous low ground cover found all over the island. ( If you are a fan as I am, of Daniel Silva’s books, one of the protagonists makes regular visits to a retired Mafioso for advice and during his drive, he savors the macchia’s fragrance on his way the Mafioso’s compound). 

Cantina Castiadas now has 115 hectares containing 14 grape varieties. The Capo Ferrato Cannonau is full bodied, 100% Cannonau grape, with ripe raspberry and strawberry aromas, and delicate floral notes with well balanced tannins and a long velvety finish. The bonus is the wine contains three times the amounts of anti-oxidants, compared to other red wines, resulting in cardiovascular benefits almost ten times higher than varieties of grapes from other areas of Italy. The cannonau grape was featured in Netflix’s feature “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones”.

Pair the Capo Ferrato Cannonau with hearty dishes of roasted lamb, grilled veggies,  Piazza’s aged cheeses or pasta with rich tomato sauces and spicy sausages.  For those of you who have tasted our current Pala Cannonau, come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 to compare tastes.  If you haven’t tried wines from Cannonau grapes, come taste and start your “Live to 100” journey. 

Cin Cin, 

Jenn 

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center at 218 N. Washington St., suite 23, in Easton, MD

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Ciao Tutti!

This week at Piazza Italian Market, we will taste the Rosato Toscano IGT ( $19.95, 12% ABV)  from the Istine winery in Radda in Chianti, Toscana. Production of Rosato began in Italy many centuries ago, but the Rosato style wasn’t typical in Italy as France’s counterpart in Provence until a sea shift in the early 1900s. Winemakers discovered during their production of red wine that if they reduced the ratio of skin to juice, some of the just-crushed dark shinned grapes bled away. This runoff was then fermented separately to produce a simple Rosato.  Soon, growers made wine from grape varieties explicitly grown to become deeply flavored Rosati. 

Rosato Toscano IGT ( $19.95, 12% ABV) from the Istine winery in Radda in Chianti, Toscana.

Istine’s high-altitude, small vineyards are located in Radda in Chianti and Gaiole in Chianti in the Chianti Classico area. Winemaker Angela Fronti’s family was originally engaged in the construction and management of vineyards and grew grapes previously sold in bulk. 

When you have three vineyards in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, in high locations having soils in which the Sangiovese grape of Chianti Classico thrives, it is time to get into the game. Fonti took a leap of faith and in 2009 launched her first wines. She became a rising star in Chianti wine and seven years later, the winery was certified organic.  Her portfolio of wines now includes ten wines and spirits, including Rosato, Bianco, Merlot, five Chianti Classico, and Reserva; Gin, and Vermouth. 

Fronti is also a member of the FIVI (The Italian Federation of Independent Winemakers), founded in 2008. The distinctive decal on the neck of bottles signifies the winemaker cultivates his/her own vineyards and bottles and sells his/her own wine as an extra indication of quality.

Istine Rosato is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. It has a deep pink color, a lush nose of ripe red fruit aromas, bright acidity, and a mineral-driven finish. It is very easy to drink as an aperitif or to pair with grilled fish or veggies. 

Many of you are fans of this winery’s Chianti that is currently in Piazza’s collection so come join me on Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 to taste Chianti’s cousin Rosato!

Cin Cin! 

Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center at 218 N. Washington St., suite 23, in Easton, MD.

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Ciao Tutti!

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market, we will taste the Fiordiligi Grillo DOC ($15.99, ABV 12.5%) from the Assuli winery near Trapani, Sicily. The stylish label was inspired by the character Agramant, the king of Africa and Charlemagne’s opponent in “Orlando Furioso”, an epic poem by Ludivico Ariosto.  Antonio Vivaldi was inspired by the poem to create his opera “Orlando” and the Assuli labels illustrate the characters in the opera. 

Fiordiligi Grillo DOC ($15.99, ABV 12.5%) from the Assuli winery near Trapani, Sicily

Sicily is Italy’s largest region and its three primary winemaking areas vary from the slopes of Mt. Etna in the NE coast to Vittoria in the SE and the NW where Assuli is located near Trapani. In the Sicilian dialect, “Assuli” means “Al Sole (the Sun) which is an apt description of their unique terroir of blazing sunlight, soils with strong minerality and fragrant scents that are borne on the breezes from the Mediterranean Sea.  The results are wines with distinctive personality in the “Sicilia” DOC.

Assuli Winery is owned by the Caruso family.

Being an architect, I could not resist including the picture of the Assuli winery, owned by the Caruso family. The Assuli story began in 1948 with Giacomo Caruso, an entrepreneur who discovered a new marble variety, “Perlato di Sicilia.” The demand for the marble soared and Caruso purchased new quarries to keep up with orders. In 1972, Carrara, a global stone center, moved to new headquarters that were designed by Italian architects Bertelotti and Bertelli. This efficient and modern building is a reinterpretation of an ancient baglio on the site, dating from the 18th century. 

Their grillo grape is grown in the Carcitella vineyard near the coastal towns of Frapani and Marsala in NW Sicily.

By 1993, Assuli’s estate covered more than 130 hectares containing five distinct vineyards where seven indigenous grapes are grown. Their grillo grape is grown in the Carcitella vineyard near the coastal towns of Frapani and Marsala in NW Sicily. Since 2016, the third generation of the Caruso family, Nicoletta, Roberto and Michele have been leading the winery to new heights. Their current collaboration is with the Instituto Vite Vino di Marsala for management of an experimental field of 600 vine grafts of six grapes. The goal is to bring these ancient vines back to life that reflect the Caruso family’s strong link to its terroir.  

It has been a while since the Grillo grape has been in Piazza’s collection. I enjoyed its fruity nose of citrus and strong pineapple and fresh minerality-perfect pairing for spring, with tomato and watermelon or smoked trout salads; pasta dishes with seafood, grilled veggies, especially asparagus; seafood or white meat entrees and fresh goat cheese.  

Come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 for a taste of this delectable wine!

Cin Cin!

Jenn

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectura

Ciao Tutti!

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market,  we will taste the Lugana Mandolara DOC ($20.99, 12.5% ABV) from the Le Morette winery near Verona in the Veneto. “Le Morette” translates as “blackberries”  for the blackberry bushes that are native to the region in general and to the shores of Lake Garda in particular. It is also the name of the famous diving duck found in the area.

Lugana is a small wine region along the southern banks of Lake Garda and is famous for this  white grape, Turbiana, which is grown for both sparkling and still wines. Several years ago, the region was threatened when tracks for a high speed bullet train were proposed from Kiev to Lisbon. For other regions, this would have been progress, but for Lugana, it would have been a disaster. Lugana is wedged between the southern shore of Lake Garda and another region, Lombardy, so there was no room for relocating vines and the vines would be lost forever.

The proposed new tracks would have covered an area only a quarter mile away from the existing tracks. Wine producers fought back by creating the Consorzio of Lugana. Their petition pointed out if the bullet train used part of the existing rail line, only four minutes of travel time would be lost. David slew Goliath and modifications were made to the train route. Then the project was abandoned and  this unique wine heritage area was preserved for future generations.

In the early 1960’, Gino Zenato,  founded a vine nursery company to produce vines for viticulture but he soon began to produce his own wine. Twenty-one years later, Gino’s son Valerio joined his father’s company and raised the bar for the wines that became known for their high quality, strong identity with their terroir, minerality, and structure. The third generation of Fabio and Paolo now work alongside their father.

Emily and I tasted this wine recently with our rep and we liked its fresh bouquet, fruity taste with hints of pear, citrus and white flowers that ends with a trace of bitter almond that is characteristic of this indigenous grape. Pair with seafood, pasta, salads or as an aperitivo.

Come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 for a taste of this delicious white wine!

Cin Cin,

Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center, 218 N. Washington St., in Easton, MD

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Bayshore Iris Society (BIS), an affiliate of the American Iris Society (AIS), will be holding the

Iris Show, “IRIS FIESTA” at the Talbot County Free Library at 100 West Dover Street, Easton, MD 21601 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Iris Show, which will be open to the public for viewing from 1pm to 3 pm, is an American Iris Society (AIS) Accredited Show. Visit our Iris Fiesta to view Iris exhibits and to enjoy the gorgeous Iris that grows well on the Eastern Shore.

The public and Bayshore Iris Society members will be allowed to enter their Iris flowering stalks, single blossoms, container grown flowering Iris, floral designs, educational exhibits, and new seedling blooms in this accredited show. There are thousands of different irises that are named and registered with the American Iris Society, with about 1,000 new introductions each year. Arrive promptly at 9am if you wish to enter your Iris into competition. Members of the Bayshore Iris Society will be on hand to help with public entries. 

Selecting a good specimen includes choosing a stalk that has well-balanced branching of flower buds with at least one open, fresh flower. Cut the stalk off at just above ground level with a sharp, clean knife; place the iris cutting in water and transport to the Talbot County Free Library. A container will be provided. 

Attendees may sign up to join the Bayshore Iris Society for $10 annual Membership. The BIS meets monthly, on the third Wednesday in the Easton area. Members can learn how to successfully grow and show irises, maintain Iris Display Gardens, and plan fun events.

For more information about this Iris Show and to obtain a Show Schedule and entry cards, contact Pat McNeal by email at [email protected] / phone at 443-786-3668 OR Terry Holman, by email at [email protected] / phone at 908-963-9227. The Bayshore Iris Society is an affiliate of the American Iris Society, Region 4 and is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.