Talbot County Garden Club invites you to a practical lecture by Native Bee, Bumblebee and Wildlife Advocate SAM DROEGE of the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Droege’s talk is titled “Helping Native Bees in Talbot County: It’s Easier Than You Think!” His presentation takes place at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton on Tuesday, January 28 beginning at 11 am as part of the garden club’s complimentary 2025 Winter Lecture Series.

According to Droege, the bee list for Talbot County includes 187 different species of bees. New ones are discovered each year. Some are found in Easton, others in areas like the Conservation Park in Oxford, on Poplar Island, along roadsides, and on private properties. What ties these sites together are healthy populations of native flowers. Some are planted; others are simply allowed to grow. Droege will discuss how property owners, groups and municipalities can support these bees and tell some fascinating stories about collecting bees in Talbot County.

Having spent his career at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, part of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Eastern Ecological Science Center, Droege has become expert in developing, designing and evaluating wildlife inventory programs. His team is currently inventorying and monitoring native bees, and developing tools, techniques and manuals, plus a bumblebee floral survey for citizens with online identification guides at www.discoverlife.org

The garden club’s 2025 Winter Lecture Series continues on Tuesday, February 25 with a presentation by SAMANTHA NESTORY, engagement manager at Stoneleigh, a natural garden in Villanova, Pa. Nestory will offer insights and tips for creating a modern garden that supports wildlife through native plants and sustainable landscape practices.

Questions about these programs should be directed to: [email protected]

About the Talbot County Garden Club

The Talbot County Garden Club is known for its “good and green works” that benefit the Talbot County community. The club was established in 1917 to enhance the natural beauty of the local environment by sharing knowledge of gardening, maintaining civic gardens, supporting civic greening projects, encouraging the conservation of natural resources, and fostering the art of flower arranging. Noteworthy projects include grounds maintenance at the Talbot Historical Society, Talbot County Free Library (Easton), and the Fountain and Children’s Gardens in Idlewild Park; greenery installations for Easton’s Rail Trail and U.S. Post Office; plus an ever-growing number of outreach activities. There are currently 120 active, associate and honorary members.   

Ciao Tutti!

As the holiday song says, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year” for it is the weekend at Piazza Italian Market that we offer our suggestions for wines to accompany your holiday feasts, especially our Christmas entrees of Bone-in Beef Rib Eye Roast or Grilled Shrimp with Marinated Fennel & Peppers over Polenta. You may not have as many guests at your table as this picture, but I couldn’t resist this fab graphic!

Our holiday trio includes the Il Rose’ di Casanova IGT from the La Spinetta winery in Terricciola, Toscana; the Ciacci di Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino DOCG from the Ciacci di Piccolomini d’Aragona winery in Montalcino, Toscana  and the “La Contessa”  from the Manincor winery in Terlano, Alto Adige. Both the Il Rose’ Di Casanova and the “La Contessa” have been featured in past weekly tastings and have become customer favorites. Recently, the Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Rosso di Montalcino sold out so I have no doubt their Brunello di Montalcino will be even more popular! 

Il Rose’ di Casanova IGT

Il Rose’ di Casanova IGT: The eye-catching label of the Il Rose’ di Casanova features a Durer print since the founder of the winery was an admirer of Durer’s work who created the print in 1515. This has become my “still” rose’ as Scarpetta’s Timido (whose label is a pig’s head in profile) has become my rose’ vino spumante. This is the only Rose’ in the winery’s portfolio and it is 50% Sangiovese and 50% Prugnolo Gentile. I like its intense aroma, floral and fruity bouquet with hints of citrus-wonderful as a gathering wine for your holiday celebration or to make any gathering an occasion. This would also be a great gift for the art lovers on your Christmas list!

Ciacci Brunello

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG: My choice for Christmas is this Brunello DOCG, where a special grape clone called Sangiovese Grosso or Brunello is exclusively grown. The DOCG designation means the wine has been aged two years in oak and three additional years. In 2011, my sister Carol and I wound our way around Montalcino’s hill to reach the Castello at the top that offered breathtaking vistas of the Tuscan hills. The wine was exceptional too-how could one resist its being fruit forward, hints of berry fruits, notes of delicate spices, soft tannins and long aftertaste? The perfect pairing for Piazza’s Christmas menus entrée of Bone-in Beef Rib Eye or your fave red meat entrée.(Let the bottle rest in a horizontal position and open one hour prior to serving)

“la Contessa” IGT

“la Contessa” IGT: From the northernmost region of Italy, the winery’s motto is “hand in heart”; the hand works the soil, the grapes grow in heart of their vineyard and the crown signifies that their wine is made from grapes from their old vineyards. “la Contessa”  is a blend of 57% Pinot Blanc, 26% Chardonnay and 17% Sauvignon Blanc that is another perfect trio. Aromatics of apple and sage with a pink grapefruit finish make this a great pairing for Piazza’ s Christmas menu’s Grilled Shrimp with Marinated Fennel & Peppers over Polenta, or for a first course of crab cakes for your Christmas dinner. 

I hope you can join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 to taste these  outstanding wines. Grazie Mille for your support of Piazza’s weekly wine tasting and I have so  enjoyed getting to know all of you and chatting about 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 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.

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center, 218 N Washington St, Easton, MD 21601. 

Ciao Tutti!

This weekend we will taste a new wine to our collection, the Pietraluna IGP $14.75) from the Agricola Felline in Manduria, Puglia. 

Agricola Felline’s story began with Gregorio Perrucci, who was born into a family of farm laborers. He became an expert grafter (of fruit trees, not dishonest activities) for the noble families in Manduria. He returned unharmed from WWII and after the Agrarian Reform Act mandated that noble families must convey much of their land to the peasants who had worked the land for generations, Perrucci realized his dream of having his own vineyard.

Gregorio became a pioneer in more ways than one. He was the first champion of Puglia’s indigenous grape, Primitivo, and he was the first to undertake studying Puglia’s many different soils of white, black, and red  earth and also sand to better understand how to his grapes could best thrive.

The Fellini Farm began operating in 1996  and a year later Gregory Perrucci founded the Accademia dei Racemi project, with the goal of identifying and bringing Puglia’s indigenous grapes to market. Now in the third generation of  the family Perrucci’s management, there is new winery and tasting room. 

Felline’s Pietraluna (Moonstone) IGP is 100% negroamaro grape.  Even though this translates as “little black bitter one”, I love its taste of blackberry and plum and its medium body. If you like Syrah, this one’s for you. Pair with Piazza’s pasta with red sauce, burgers or pizza with black olives. 

Come join me on Friday from noon to 5:45 and Saturday from noon to 4:45 in Piazza’s “mini tasting room”.

Cin Cin, 

Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in Talbot Town Shopping Center, at the intersection of Harrison Street and North Washington Street in historic downtown Easton.

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 we will welcome back a customer favorite,  the Chianti Superiore DOCG Le Due Arbie  ($14.75) from the Dievole winery in the medieval Tuscan town of Vagliagoli, about 12 km north of Siena. The word “dievole” derives from “God willing”. Two farmers bought land for a vineyard in 1090 from the Church for a price of six dinars, two chickens and three pieces of bread!

Le Due Arbie ($14.75) from the Dievole winery in Vagliagoli, about 12 km north of Siena

Ownership then passed to the Malevolti family, who owned it for centuries. Dievole’s 16 vineyards over 70,000 hectares is one of the oldest sanctioned production areas for Chianti Classico. The production boundaries were laid out in 1716 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo III, with guidelines for the protection, sale, and names of the wine. Its symbol is Il Gallo Nero (the Black Rooster) for the famed Black Rooster who played a pivotal role in the legendary challenge between Florence and Siena to determine the boundary of the Classico Region.

Stunning entry to the Dievole Resort, with a manor house built in the 18th century

Dievole is also a resort with the manor house built by the Malavolti family in the 18^th century, surrounded by gardens. Guests can choose from suites, rooms or apartments.

The Dievole Chianti Superiore DOCG is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot, with aromas of ripe red fruit and cassis with herbal notes, high acidity and smooth tannins. Pair with Piazza’s meat and tomato sauces, lasagna, grilled flank steak, cured meats like San Daniele and bold cheeses.

Stanley Tucci and the Door of Paradise in Florence

When I watched the Tuscany episode of Stanley Tucci’s “Searching for Italy”, I was enchanted by the “Door of Paradise” in Florence where he ordered a glass of wine and a hand reached out to give him a glass. Who knows? Perhaps Piazza’s expansion plans may include a  door of paradise, but until then, come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 for a taste of Chianti Superiore.

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 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.

Ferrari Brut Trento DOC, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC and the Valpolicella DOC for our Thanksgiving Wine Trio

This is the weekend before Thanksgiving so once again we will offer a trio of wines for your consideration to accompany your Thanksgiving feast. For a bubbly, we will offer the Ferrari Brut Trento DOC ($31.50) from the Veneto;  for a white wine we will offer the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC ($14.99) from the Sartarelli winery in Le Marche and for a red wine we will offer the Valpolicella DOC from the Azienda Agricola Brigaldara DOC ($17.50) from the Veneto.  Since Thanksgiving is all about food and family, I have inserted pictures of the families who produce  their wines:

Ferrari Brut Trento DOC:

Giulio Ferrari

The Ferrari story began with Giulio Ferrari’s dream  of crafting a wine that could compete with the best French champagnes. In 1902, he was the first winemaker to make substantial plantings of Chardonnay, Champagne’s primary grape. His vision lives on in the third generation of the company. Ferrari Trento was named the 2024 “Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year” at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships, for the fourth year in a row and seven times out of the past eleven years.  The international wine bible Wine Spectator dubs Ferrari as being “the finest, oldest and most celebrated producer of Metodo Classico sparklers”. 

Sartarelli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi: 

Sartarelli family

Some visionaries only need to create one great thing; Visionary winemaker Ferruccio Sartarelli was first a very successful baker, then an entrepreneur, benefactor and patron of institutions before he decided to invest in his greatest passion-producing top quality Verdicchio wine.  Now in its third generation of family ownership, Sartarelli is one of the few Italian wineries to exclusively produce mono-varietal wines, from aperitivi to passiti. Piazza hosted Caterina Sartarelli several years ago for a wine dinner that included Sartarelli’s Travilio, Classico, Balciana and Passito so many of you know how well the Classico pairs with white meat entrees. 

Azienda Agricola Brigaldara DOC:

The name “Brigaldara” first appears in 12th century in a deed of sale and for a thousand years, the land has been dedicated to quality viticulture, where the native grapes of Corvina, Corvione, Rondinella and the rediscovered indigenous grape Osleta have found a home in 47 hectares. The Brigaldara DOC is 55% Corvina, 25% Corvione and 20% Rondinella. I am glad to welcome this wine back to Piazza’s collection for its aromatics of red berries, notes of red currant and blackberry; good acidity and balance-great with your cranberry chutney!

Keep an eye out for our colorful turkey decals throughout our shelves!

Throughout the wine shelves, we have placed colorful turkey decals with other suggestions for a rosato, a rose’/light red, white and a red or feel free to ask me for help. 

Come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 and from noon to 4:45 for our special tasting. If you are traveling, safe travels to your destination. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 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.