Drawn by a desire to delve deep into the secrets of wines and foods of not just any area but Barolo, nothing put a halt to Matthew Gavin Frank's plans.
Not even the idea he would have to rough it out by sleeping in a tent in the backyard of a friend, Raffaella stops him from traveling to Alba.
Raffaella must have been part of the attraction of this trip, even though nothing happens between them.
As harvest is in full swing, Matthew Gavin Frank does not waste time and starts backbreaking job of picking grapes, the morning after his arrival.
From his tale of cuts and all, it must be his first time at it. The communal spirit of the work and the pleasure of working for Luciano Sandrone, a master winemaker makes it all worth.
When not working in the field or following Luciano in the cellar to observe the patient steps to creating great nectar, he explores the surrounding towns by foot and by bus.
He is also the 'victim' of a number of ambushes where generous souls 'force' him to taste their wine treasures, be it Nebbiolo or Dolcetto or Barolo, even Passito. Same thing happens food wise with treats going from 'ass ham' to fresh 'grissini', local cheeses and handpicked truffles.
One of his fortune encounters leads him to an offer he cannot refuse of tagging along Ercole, the chef at I Cannubi, in that restaurant's kitchen.
Towards the end of his trip, he makes time for the Salone del Gusto in Torino, a Slow Food moment whose 2010 Edition runs from October 21 to 25.
If nothing else, Matthew Gavin Frank came back with vivid memories which he couched in Barolo (University of Nebraska Press)…Enjoy the ride along the rolling hills of Italy.