“People are ridiculous only when they try or seem to be that which they are not.”
— Giacomo Leopardi (1798 – 1837)
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Arte
“The New York Times Building”
David Fisher (born 1950), architect
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Citazione del Giorno
“The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.”
— Niccolò Macchiavelli (1469 – 1527)
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International Wine Challenge Announces 2010 Winners
One of the world’s most prestigious and influential independent wine competitions, the International Wine Challenge (IWC), unveiled the results of the 2010 Trophy and Great Value Wine Awards at the Lords Nursery Pavilion this summer. Over 100 wines were awarded this year, along with 14 Great Value Wines judged for their style, availability and price.
World-class Italian wines included:
Champion Red Wine: Castello Romitoro, Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG, Riserva, 2004
Great Value Champion, Sparkling: Medici Ermete, Lambrusco Reggiano DOC, Concerto, 2009
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Local trophies included:
Amarone Trophy: Cantine Riondo, Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico DOC, Trionfo, 2006
Edmund Penning Rowsell Trophy, Bolgheri Trophy: Grattamacco, Bolgheri Superiore DOC, L’Alberello, 2007
Italian Botrytis Trophy: Moncaro Terre Cortesi, Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi DOC, Tordiruta, 2006
Italian Red Trophy: Castello Romitoro, Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG, Riserva, 2004
Italian Sweet Trophy: Cavit, Vino Santo Trentino DOC, Aréle, 1998
Lambrusco Trophy: Albinea Canali (Cantine Riunite & Civ), Lambrusco Emilia IGT, Ottocentonero, NV
Marche Red Trophy: Vico Vicari, Lacrima di Morro D’Alba DOC, Lacrima Del Pozzo Buono, 2008
Soave Trophy: Pieropan, Soave Classico DOC, La Rocca, 2007
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Keeping Uncle Sam out of your Amazon Account
TIME magazine’s Adam Cohen:
“The First Amendment protects Americans’ rights to read what they wish — without the prying eyes of the government looking over their shoulder. The founders understood how important anonymity is to free speech: they wrote some of their most important essays arguing for ratification of the Constitution under the pseudonym Publius.”
h/t Instapundit
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Arte
Citazione del Giorno
Arte
“Four Rivers”
Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598 – 1680)
Citazione del Giorno
“A woman at 20 is like ice, at 30 she is warm, and at 40 she is hot.”
— Gina Lollobrigida (born 1927)
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Italian Luca Gardini Named World’s Best Sommelier
Luca Gardini of Milan’s Ristorante Cracco has been voted the Best Sommelier in the World in the latest competition sponsored by the Worldwide Sommelier Association in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Originally from Cervia (Emilia-Romagna) but Milanese “by adoption”, Luca says he has “wine in his veins” and always wanted to work in the wine trade.
Prior to his current role, he trained under Giorgio Pinchiorri of the Enoteca Pinchiorri, the three-Michelin star restaurant in Florence. Currently, Gardini covers the same role at the two-Michelin star Ristorantre Cracco in Milan which is one of the S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
His ambition is to promote the “Made in Italy” brand worldwide, as he believes this is something that he can do for his country, which, he says, has given him so much. He wants to disprove the myth that red wine cannot be drunk with fish and advises wine lovers to keep all white wine in the refrigerator at home.
Gardini won out over 14 other wine experts from as many countries in a competition that included a rigorous written exam, wine tasting, and wine serving.
“This was a great success for me but I would like to commend the magnificent spirit with which all the contestants competed in an atmosphere of true friendship and mutual esteem,” Gardini said in a statement issued by the Italian Sommelier Association (AIS).
Milan Krejci of the Czech Republic finished runner-up while local hero Hector Garcia placed third.
The next world championship will take place in London in 2012.