Romancing the Vine: Life, Love, and Transformation in the Vineyards of Barolo

by Alan Tardi

Alan Tardi, former owner of Follonico in New York, describes his life in the Piedmonte district of Italy focusing on the cultivation and harvest of the region's celebrated Barolo wine, and including rare local recipes

Genres: Italy, Wine, Travel, Nonfiction

368 pages, Hardcover

First published November 14, 2006

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tardi's a former (successful) NYC chef/restaurant owner, who cashes out to move to the Piedmont region of Italy and clear his head after Sept 11 and other "issues." He winds up falling in love with a woman, but more so, with the simple life of working in his girlfriend's family vineyard. Great info on the growing and harvesting of grapes, good stories about the local characters. A James Beard Award winner in 2006.

Almost hard to believe the change from chef/owner to farm hand, but according to his Linkedin site, he's still there, although intrigued by the possibility of returning to the US for the "right opportunity."

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went to the author's book dinner and he really knows about Piemontese food and wine.

The book discusses how he met a woman and started working in the Barolo vineyards with her brother. He is a chef from New York and includes bunches of local recipes that are often unappetizing (calf brain, veal testicle stew, tongue) but beautifully detailed.

[Corrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely! With RECIPES! and not just wine, but Barolo!

[Wendy Hollister · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and it took me to Italy as Alan wrote about the vineyard, the cooking and the eating!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part memoir, part story of wine cultivation with some recipes thrown in. Fun to read to get the atmosphere of the Barolo area of Italy.

[Lisa Kortebein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful recipes and a lovely story about a chef's journey in refinding himself in Le Munie in northern Italy. It is also captures the re-emergence of the nebbiola grape. You definitely want to go out and buy every incarnation of the grape - Barolo, Dolcetto, Barbaresco. If you want to whet your appetite for fine wine, this the book for you.

[Virginia]

It was interesting in the parts about working in the vineyard. The author has an Italian romance and trys to become a citizen of Italy, but both are up in the air at the end of the book. There is a great feel for Italy and the people of Italy but it reads like an outsider looking on. Lacks passion.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh...not so great. He still seems like a visitor to me...not a local. I didn't sense any joy from him and he seemes so serious.

[N.J. Mastro · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was alright - it moved a little slowly for me, but it was a look into life in Italy, which was delightful on its own.

[Marsha]

Michael liked --

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

makes me want to drink vino and visit italy

[Rach · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh... I found the book to be too self-absorbed for my taste.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second time reading this book and it still makes me want to visit the Piedmont.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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