As we drove into the Vallée de l’Agly, Eric narrated the passing landscape and its connection to Roussillon wine in his measured, deliberate rhythm.

Merci is a small European-inspired bistro owned by chef Michael Zentner and his wife and co-owner Courtney Zentner. It has quickly become one of Charleston’s most talked-about venues.

Giovanni Neri founded the estate in 1971. Today his son Giuseppe runs it alongside his wife Simona, daughter Marianna, and winemaker son GianLorenzo.

A visit to Cantina Tudernum represented a rare opportunity to observe one of the few remaining “old school” wineries in existence.

At the end of a long day of visiting producers, we stopped for a presentation and light dinner in the city of Terni.

As the organizer, Coldiretti positioned the Italian wine tasting and seminar as both a showcase and a working discussion.

Tenuta San Leo in Lazio is an organic winery where new owner Givanna Cunetta offers incredible wine - and is making exciting plans for the future.

The Diego Vitagliano Coppedè restaurant space is all glass and light, with a wide view onto the pizza line and the custom oven bearing Vitagliano’s name. It looked like a creation out of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, framed by bold industrial piping overhead.

There was a sense of glamour the moment you walked in and saw the illuminated UGCB sign, but also something more personal for me: the feeling of being among old friends.

Sicily today is a place where women stand visibly at the center of the story, from figures such as José Rallo at Donnafugata and Patrícia Tóth at Planeta to Arianna Occhipinti in Vittoria.