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.

Ciao Tutti!

This weekend we will kick-off the holiday celebration with tastings of my fave mini Prosecco, the Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG from the Carpene-Malvolti winery, located in the city of Conegliano in the Veneto region.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG from the Carpene-Malvolti winery, available for purchase at Piazza Italian Market, located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center.

Grapes for wine have been grown in the region since ancient times. Fast forward to 1868 when Carpene-Malvolti, Italy’s oldest family-owned sparkling wine company, was founded by Antonio Carpene. He was also a distinguished Chemist, Researcher and Scientist who founded the first Oenological School in Italy in 1876. Carpene dreamed of creating sparkling wine from grapes harvested in the hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene area. He fulfilled his dream and more by  his winery being the first in Italy to perfect the sparkling winemaking method and to produce the first label with the name “Prosecco” from the Glera grape.  Today, the fifth generation of his family keeps his dream alive.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene District

The Conegliano Valdobbiadene District achieved DOCG status in 2009 in recognition of its having the highest expression of Italian sparkling wine production. Conegliano Valdobbiadene’s hills are often challenging to cultivate, due to their steep slopes and soil varieties. The unique rural landscape has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

If you missed last week’s trio of suggestions for your holiday feast, we are well stocked in the Calle delle Calle Rose’, the Trebbiano and the Il Sasso. We also have great gifts and goodies for Easter -I am halfway through my Peach and Chocolate Colomba and I heartily recommend it!

After my Easter celebration, I will sit back and savor a flute of Carpene-Malvoti’s mini-Prosecco as a coda to the holiday. The mini’s are also great for mixing single flutes of Bellini. Come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 for a taste of the oldest, and to me, the best Prosecco!

Cin Cin  and Buona Pasqua! – Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center, 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.

CAIC is thrilled to announce our third annual “Producers Unveiled” event with Producers Unveiled 2025, Alpacas, Agriculture, and Outstanding Dreams. Celebrating the achievements of local farmers and producers in the Delmarva region. The event will take place on June 4th, 2025, at Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm, located at 24480 Pinetown Rd, Preston, MD 21655.

“Producers Unveiled” will feature presentations from participants in CAIC’s Value-added Producers Program and Producer’s Growth Program alumni, highlighting their remarkable journeys and innovative approaches to value-added agriculture. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with industry leaders, gain valuable insights into the future of agriculture, and discover a variety of local products in a vibrant farmers market-style showcase.

This event promises to be a dynamic day of inspiration and community connection, offering valuable networking opportunities for farmers, industry professionals, and local business owners. Sponsorship opportunities are available, allowing businesses to showcase their commitment to supporting local agriculture while reaching a targeted audience of key stakeholders.

Event Details:

• Date: June 4th, 2025

• Location: Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm, 24480 Pinetown Rd, Preston, MD 21655

• Time: 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM

• Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/producers-unveiled-2025-tickets-1302273748839?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Oxford Garden Club proudly invites you to enjoy The Secret Gardens of Oxford Tour. Spring has sprung in these secret gardens, and you will be charmed with the different garden features and the flora in them. Rarely has anyone been able to sneak a peak of these gardens from the quaint bricked sidewalks. This special garden tour will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the charming town of Oxford in Talbot County, MD from 10am till 3pm. This year, we are featuring 6 new gardens that have never been on our tours before, each unique and beautiful. Some homes offer waterfront views, and we have 2 gardens featuring Artist Studios that will be open to ticket holders. We are grateful to the homeowners who have opened their “secret” gardens to share with the public. 

We suggest that you purchase tickets online https://oxfordgardenclub.org/2025-special-activities/  and cursor to Secret Gardens of Oxford Tour area to purchase tickets for $20 per person.  Be sure to make your ticket purchases by May 16th as the price of the tickets goes up to $25 on the day of the tour. We recommend that you bring your online receipt on the day of the tour.

To pick up your ticket/map of these secret gardens on Saturday, May 17th, go to the Oxford Town Park at 104 South Morris Street in Oxford, MD 21654. Oxford Garden Club members will be happy to check you in and provide you with the secret ticket map.

This tour is open from 10am till 3pm. We suggest that you dress for the weather as this event will be rain or shine.  Do not forget to bring your notebook and we are certain you will discover many lovely possibilities for your own gardens. While in Oxford, be sure to visit the Oxford Fine Arts 2025 in the Oxford Community Center at 200 Oxford Road, Oxford, MD to view more art and to grab a bite to finish off a lovely day.

Oxford Garden Club is a member of the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc. and National Garden Clubs, Inc. and we are a 501(c)(3) organization. Our mission is to promote the knowledge of gardening and floral design, to participate in civic projects to conserve and beautify the community and to actively support all forms of conservation. For additional information, go to our website:  www.oxfordgardenclub.org

Ciao Tutti!

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market, our tasting is the last one before the holiday weekend when the stars align to celebrate Easter, Orthodox Easter or the last day of Passover on the same day. As we do every year, we will be offering three wines for your consideration, the Le Calle Rosa delle Calle IGT Rosato ($19.75, 13.5% ABV), from the Azienda Agricola Le Calle Di Riccardo Catocci winery in the Maremma region of Toscana; the Tiberio Trebbiano D’Abruzzo DOP ( $23.75, 13% ABV) from the Agricola Tiberio winery in Cugnoli, Abruzzo; and the Piaggia Il Sasso Carmignano DOCG ($37.75, 14.5% ABV) from the Mauro Vannucci vineyard in Piaggia, near Florence.

I thought this wine was the perfect for our Rose’ tasting since its beautiful label features a watercolor of a calla lily and the lily is a symbol of Easter. The Le Calle farmhouse is located in Maremma’s heart; between the Tyrrhenian Sea and Monte Amiata. Looking west from the terrace of their cellar you can see the Tyrrhenian Sea and looking east you can see Monte Amiata. Winemaker Riccardo Catocci and his wife Camilla are training their daughter Savina to continue the family tradition on their organic farm’s 17.5 hectares’ where  five indigenous grapes are grown. Their Rosato is 100% Ciliegiolo (cherry), with a fresh aromas of cherry and rose petals, hints of strawberry, with crisp acidity for your Easter meal. We first tasted this Rose’ in early March and it was quite popular with our customers. The beautiful label would also make it a strong contender for a Mother’s day gift!

The story of Tiberio begins with Riccardo Tiberio, a winery export manager who discovered a very old plot of Trebbiano Abruzzese vines. He understood  how valuable high quality grapes could be and he resigned his position in 2000 to purchase the eight hectares he had found. He soon added  another thirty-one hectares with the capability of producing single estate wines he soon launched in 2004 to great acclaim.  The vineyards lay on ancient lands beneath the Maiella and Gran Sasso mountains, with a climate mix from the Adriatic Sea’s breezes and the cold mountain currents from the nearby Maiella massif. The vineyards ages vary from 25-90 years old with the Trebbiano Abruzzese vines being among the oldest in Abruzzo. 

Since 2008, son Antonio (viticulturist) and daughter Cristiana (winemaker)share duties to manage their father’s estate. Their Trebbiano D’Abruzzo is 100% Trebbiano grape, with fresh aromas of apricot, grapefruit, and orange blossom with flavors of green apple and almond. If you are seeking a white wine for Easter, this one’s for you!

 Il Sasso Carmignano DOCG

In 1990, Mauro Vannucci founded his fifteen hectare estate in Piaggia, with views of Florence, located in the heart of the Carmignano appellation, between two areas that had great potential to produce top quality wines. He launched his first Piaggia Carmignano Riserva DOCG in 1991 at the time he expanded his estate in one of the best areas of the DOC for a total 25 hectares, 15 of which are cultivated with vines.

The Il Sasso has a deep ruby red color, aromas of cherries and Marasca cherries, with notes of balsamic and spices. The original “Super Tuscan” from old-growth Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. Emily and her family visited winemaker Silvia a few years ago and enjoyed every drop of the Il Sasso! Fast forward to today when Piaggia has established a rock solid reputation among the great wineries of the Tuscan Carmignano DOCG, as evidenced by two of many industry accolades:

Gambero Rosso:  “one of the best wineries in the region of Carmignano, rather, in Tuscany.”

The Wine Advocate: “The Carmignano Riserva is simply the best of the appellation.” 

Come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 for a taste of these three exceptional wines!

Cin Cin! Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center, 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.

Happy Mystery Monday! Can you guess what is pictured below:

The answer to last week’s mystery is American sycamore seeds, Platanus occidentalis, pictured below:

American sycamore is native to the eastern United States and is the largest deciduous tree in North America. Found most commonly in bottomland or floodplain areas, sycamores thrive in wet environments near rivers, streams, or abundant groundwater.

Sycamore trees are monoecious. They have both male and female flowers on the same tree. This tree reaches reproductive maturity rather young, and flowers profusely, producing numerous light, aerodynamic fruit. The fruit are round balls, around 1″ in diameter, and hang on slender stems.

The seed head persists through Winter, and doesn’t drop the hairy-tufted seeds until January–April. The brush-like structure of the seeds helps them catch the wind and potentially travel long distances.

Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.