Puglia 2013… the experience continues…

Greetings from Italia!
The past couple of days the group has experienced some of the amazing foods, wine and culture of Puglia. Trips included a visit to the stunning beauty of Lecce, often referred to as the "Florence of the South". A Baroque-era inspired city, it is also the location of the only Roman amphitheater in Puglia. Since it was Mother's Day, the city was very quiet which helped make the experience very memorable, with the peace and tranquility that typically one doesn't find in larger Italian cities. Prior to Lecce we were treated to a vineyard tour, winery tour, wine tasting lunch and presentation at Valle dell'Asso, a family run operation that produces around 50,000 cases per year. Notable wines included the Piromafo, 100% Negromaro and dark, rich and robust - the 2008 vintage we tasted is very young at the moment (keep an eye out for this one on the shelves at the shop!). Overall a warm, enjoyable experience with incredible foods in the winery barrel room.
For the evening, our stop was in Gallipoli, a festive place with a man-made road that leads out to the island. After short walk along the waterside boardwalk and a refreshing glass of Prosecco, we had a nice dinner at Trattoria Scoglio delle Sirene, a special restaurant overlooking the Ionian Sea. The specialty of course was all things seafood, and we had some wonderful pasta served in a giant lobster shell! It was our latest evening, returning to the property at 11:30 p.m. and everyone slept very well!
Today we were able to experience a tour of olive groves and orchards owned by Azienda Agricola Rollo. This warm, family run business specializes in olive oil and they make some of the finest we've tasted so far. After the orchard tour and learning about olive oil harvest and production, they invited us into their home for olive oil tasting, fruits from their garden and capers (that were some of the best I've ever had) with tomato on home made bread, doused with olive oil (of course!). (The liberal use of olive oil is refreshing, since I thought I've been using too much back home) Next we headed to Porto Cesario for a first-class lunch right on the marina. The service was extremely professional, the restaurant fancy but subtle, and the food... off the charts! A 5 minute drive took us to a local beach, where the surf was awash in green and blue, and the water just warm enough for a good swim! The Ionian Sea, the beach lifestyle and relaxation was truly an experience we'll never forget. Enjoy the new pics as we toast a glass to your health - salute and arrivederci for now!!!