Ciao baby!
Yes! You read that right. Ciao means hi and goodbye.
Add an eye roll to say, “Get outta here.” Say it nice and slow with a come-hither smirk, and you leave nothing to the imagination.
It took me years of life abroad to pick up on these nuances. When I left Mid-Missouri for Rome, back in 2001, I vowed to master the Italian language. Grammar and vocabulary were only the beginning. There are words behind the words and rich local culture behind every expression.
For example, ciao comes from a Venetian word that can be summed up in this Brittney Spears megahit.
I have a lot to say, so it’s no surprise I became a writer. The dictionary definition of loquacious, I’ve been “talkative” since I learned to talk.
I speak fluent Italian, passable French, and New York City Spanish. I’m currently wrestling with Greek, sadly, not in the nude, like the ancient Olympians.
If you’re wondering about other sports, the answer is: φθσθκά, fysiká. “Νaturally.”
To read more about all things natural (brut nature, natural wine, and a racy Italian saying that might get me canceled…) subscribe today!
Join the Conversation
On that note… wine and words are a perfect pairing. Wine inspires conversation. Every bottle is a story in itself. In Rome, I studied to become a sommelier (a fancy word for wine expert). Sommeliers work primarily in restaurants, but we also sell wine, consult restaurants, and teach.
In my YouTube series, 21 Days to Wine (it’s free), I invite wine lovers to go deeper and understand what all those wine words like tannins, minerality, and finish mean.
Why? So you can join the conversation with confidence and learn more about what you love. Let’s call it life in full immersion. Taste. Fully.
My Day Job
I write articles and essays about wine, spirits, food, travel, and lifestyle. Word counts and catchy titles are a reality in my profession. In this newsletter we’ll go deeper and learn more. I’ll show you the stories behind the stories and introduce you to the people who help me tell them.
What’s Coming
You’ll meet winemakers, restaurateurs and bartenders, and get more than a glimpse of their process. I’ll share recipes straight from the source, expert tips, and local hit lists from in and around Rome, Athens, and beyond (I have a thing for ancient empires).
Planning a dinner party or a trip abroad? Curious connoisseurs and language nerds, I made this for you.
Little luxuries like €25 blow-outs (how to ask for one and where to go).
Where to go for emergency shoe or jewelry repair. Let’s be real. Cobblestones are cute until you lose a heeltap.
I’m also here to support and celebrate other writers, so expect occasional literary musings and reading recommendations.
Tastefully, Explained
Wine tasting is a multisensory practice. Taste, in general, is experiential. Taste can be learned, cultivated, curated and shared. Most of all, taste is yours.
This newsletter is a taste of my life in full immersion that I hope will inspire your own, and give you plenty to talk about over a glass of wine, whiskey, watermelon juice, or whatever you’re craving.
Why subscribe?
Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.
Expect an update in your inbox twice a month + special occasions that call for extra love and inspiration. Think: a combination of my mulled wine primer and this piece on Canadian caribou wine + all the ways to turn old wine into something delicious, or an unedited list of Athens’ best cocktail bars and more on Georgia, the star bartender who helped me put it together for BBC Travel.
Learn new words and phrases for things you love. Rosé Piscine. The French have a name for wine on the rocks, which means it’s sophisticated.
Get an insider look at real(ish) life in Rome + old favorites and new discoveries from the food and beverage scene in Italy and wherever I go. Lately that includes Italy, Athens + Greece at large, Berlin, and NYC.
Receive instant access to detailed class notes for all 21 episodes of my intro to wine tasting series on YouTube and printable tasting notes. These are yours to keep forever.
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My Project 2025
Most of what I publish will be free, but more complex pieces take time, money, and energy.
In 2025, I’ll introduce a paid upgrade option which will include comprehensive trip itineraries, expanded hot lists + recommendations and contacts on the inside.
I appreciate your support for my work and words! Paid subscribers will also have full access to Wine Wednesdays, a weekly ask-me-anything series, and more!
Join the crew
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