joel mack

Standing on a train platform in Munich, S-Bahn trains clatter by me toward their destinations, one after the other, in a blur of alternating color: Red-white-red-white-red-white. Red-white-red-white-red-white. A rather timely visual as I ponder whether it’ll be red or white wine …

Prelude: Tonight, my wife caught me with my hands all over Fiona. That’s what we call our refrigerator. Fiona Frigidaire, actually. Caught in the act, there was no turning back: we made it a threesome. At first, it was all …

It is all manner of libation which has been delivered to my table after having asked for “Spritz, please,” still white wine mixed with sparkling soda water; red wine with still mineral water and fruit slices (something more akin, perhaps, …

Dinner guests are a-comin’. And you’re one of them. “What can I bring?” you ask. “Bring the wine!” says the host. “An interesting red would be great.” Scary thoughts may cross your mind. These might include: choose whatever wine is …

Chances are good you’re aware that Italy’s northernmost province of Alto Adige, the self-governing region tucked away in Italy’s northeast, shouldered-up against Austria and Switzerland, has a reputation for producing a number of superb white wines. But it may surprise …

You might think that with a bottle of fermented grape juice, drinkability comes as standard equipment. But, it just ain’t so. And what exactly is drinkability, anyway? Many of Italy’s wines are first and foremost food wines. That is to …

I traveled as a guest of Consorzio Carignano del Sulcis on an educational press trip  to experience the Carignano wines of Sardegna’s Sulcis region. Although I had many times tasted and enjoyed these wines, I would come to learn that …

In your neighborhood, it may be called a “sammich.” But, in the mash-up of English and southern Italian dialect we grew up with, it’s referred to as a “sangweech.” Call it what you may, there have been few items of …

I’ve always appreciated that the Italian-American experience, whether for survival or success, issues its own good advice. You may recall, for example, in the movie A Bronx Tale (1993, Chaz Palminteri) when Lorenzo, played by Robert De Niro, said, “The …

I first met Giovanna Neri, proprietor of Col di Lamo winery, on one of those raw and rainy New York days when the city takes on the monochromatic tone of a black and white photograph.  Along with daughter Diletta Pieraccini, …