Tag: Sylvia Italy

Sylvia Italy

WSET level 2 Award in Wines

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WSET

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, WSET, provides education and qualifications in wines for professionals and enthusiasts. Level 2 Award in Wines is an intermediate level qualification.

During the course we studied about wines, grape varieties of the world, the regions in which they are grown and the styles of wine they produce.

Through a combination of (a lot) wine tasting and theory we explored the quality, the style and how to describe the wines.

Emily O’ Hare

Our teacher for WSET level 2 is Emily O’Hare. Emily is wine writer, sommelier and she teaches WSET courses in Tuscany. Originally she’s from London but is now based in Siena.

WSET Level 2 Award in Wines

Review

I personally enjoyed the wine study and the courses with Emily. We had a lovely group. Some participants were from my FISAR Sommelier course and some people were new. It was a nice experience and definitely a do thing. I look forward to start soon with WSET level 3.

Diploma

I got my classification! I passed my exam. Result 94% and Grade Pass with distinction. Now I have two wonderful certificates, FISAR Sommelier and WSET level 2 Award in Wines.

I still need to learn a lot more about wines. But I have a lot of interest and I am passionate about wine. I live in a wine growing area and I work in the tourism and wine business.

WSET Level 2 Award in Wines

The best is yet to come!

Sylvia Italy, Tuscany, Wine and Food experience Montepulciano

FISAR Christmas dinner

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At this time of the year food is an important part of the Italian Christmas tradition. It’s not easy to say what Italians eat with Christmas because it vary widely across Italy. Every region has its own flavors and cooking style.

FISAR dinner

As Christmas is coming, FISAR organized a Christmas dinner for members in restaurant Betulia in Bettole. Bettole is a small village in the Valdichiana area, 25 minutes drive from Montepulciano.

The restaurant is in the centre of the town. It has a really cozy and nice atmosphere. The food is outstanding, especially when it comes to meat and traditional pastas. Highly recommended!

Betulia is owned by chef and FISAR sommelier Nicola Masiello. I know Nicola Masiello since I started with the sommelier course. He was one of my teachers. Nicola is very knowledgeable about wine and local food. Moreover Nicola is an excellent cook!

Nicola Masiello

The Christmas dinner meal at restaurant Betulia was a full course dinner traditionally based on (Chianina and wild boar) meat. Yummy!

The menu was filled with delicious mouth-watering Tuscan food and wines. Here’s the special menu from our FISAR Christmas dinner at Betulia (in Italian..sorry)

Menu

  • Composta di salumi caldi in salsa balsamica e cialda di Parmigiano Reggiano; Rolle di coniglio “porchetto”; millefoglie di patate al Pecorino Toscano DOP
    wine : Toscana Rosso IGT 2017 winery Centine
Antipasti
  • Acquacotta Chianina
  • Maltagliati al ragù dell’Aia
    wine : Toscana Rosso IGT 2017 winery Centine
  • Acquacotta
  • Maltagliati
  • Cinghiale in dolce e forte su polentina mantecata
    wine : Brunello di Montalcino DOCG winery Banfi
Wild boar with polenta
  • Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2014 Banfi
  • Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2014 Banfi
  • Mosaico della tradizione natalizia
    wine : Moscadello di Montalcino DOC 2016 Florus
  • Mosaico della tradizione natalizia
  • Moscadello di Montalcino DOC 2016 Florus
  • Caffè

I had a wonderful evening and a great Christmas dinner. Above all I enjoyed meeting the other members of FISAR. Restaurant Betulia is a good restaurant and worth the detour. I hope to come back soon and repeat my foodie experience in this amazing location in Tuscany.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas in Montepulciano

Italian wines, Italy, Sylvia Italy, Tuscany

Event Food and Wine in progress

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Food and Wine in Progress

Last weekend I visited the event Food and Wine in Progress in Florence Tuscany. An event in the heart of Florence to explore the world of Tuscany wines and food. This event takes place in “Stazione Leopolda” and attracts many food and wine lovers each year!

Exhibitors show many food and wine delicacies. Chefs prepare local dishes and propose creative food combinations. In addition big names and small producers of the most famous wineries of Tuscany participate to the Food & Wine in Progress event. Wine tastings are offered to guests and many wines are accompanied by events, presentations and show cooking.

Tasting Piandaccoli wines with the best AIS sommelier 2019 in Italy

Wineries

Wineries I work with represented their wines. Sada produces different types of quality wines including: Vermentino, Toscana IGT and Bolgheri Superiore.

Sada wines
Bolgheri Superiore DOC

Piandaccoli instead showcased their Chianti Reserve and a variety Tuscany IGT wines made from autochthonous grapes: Mammalo and Foglia Tonda.

Serving “Baciami” spumante 100% made from Mammolo grapes

Florence

The Food and Wine in Progress event gives you also the opportunity to visit Florence. The weather in November is not very warm and it’s less crowded in the historical centre. One more reason to visit this event in Florence!

Restaurant in Florence

Before visiting the Food and Wine in Progress event I went out to Florence for a delightful lunch. Trattoria “Nella” is near Piazza della Signoria. It is a great traditionally restaurant for delicious food and nice service. The owner is charismatic and he looked after me very well!

Ri-bollita soup | typical Tuscan food

They have a good ri-bollita (Tuscan bread – vegetable soup) and the best homemade chocolate cake I’ve every had. Yummy!

Adres:
Trattoria Nella
Via delle Terme 19R
50123 Firenze