Customer Reviews

Romancing the Vine: Life, Love, and Transformation in the Vineyards of Barolo

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a fellow Italio-American New Yorker, Mr. Tardi's quest for an NYC exit hits home. As much as we "New Yorkah's" love NY, we hope that a better lifestyle is out there and that we are able to break free to experience it. Also like Mr. Tardi, I found a similar venue for my ultimate "escape from NY"-Torino (only 45 minutes from Barolo). The combination of the author's thirst for a richer life and a delicate romance (I too am married to a beautiful Italian "testa dura") woven into age-old Piedmonte recipe's and nurtured along with tantalizing tales of the "King of Wines" results in wonderful read, that inspires the reader to eat, drink and live La Dolce Vita! Bravo Mr. Tardi! (maybe I'll run into you on July 5th when I take a day trip to your new home!)

I've read many books of this genre (American/Brit starts a new life in Europe, American goes to find his roots, American/Brit leaves his or her job to pursue food or wine career in Europe, etc.), generally involving either Italy or France, and I found this one of the most disappointing. Too wordy, too self-centered, the writing made what should have been interesting stories fairly boring.

Alan Tardi has a true gift for description as evidenced in the wonderful book, Romancing the Vine. I felt as if I had been transported to Italia and dropped into the Barolo region every time I picked up the book! The people became real through his picturesque representations, and you could feel the temperatures as he worked in the vineyards, and taste the food as he sat down with the various individuals with whom he came into contact! I thoroughly enjoyed Romancing the Vine, and hope that it is only the first of many books from Signor Tardi!

This was bought as a "suggested purchase " when purchasing "Passion on the Vine" by Sergio Esposito.That is the book you should read.This one didn't flow very well.The writer tried tooooo hard trying to impress the reader with a failed attempt trying to be overly creative in his writing. It failed for me.I did find some parts informative and enjoyable but over all no so good.

Visited Barolo, Italy recently, and this book brough me right back to that wonderful part of Italy.

Had lunch at one of the restaurants mentioned. Thanks Chef Alan Tardi for writing this amazing book which also

includes some fantastic recipes.

As someone who always relaxes more when in Italy, this book hit home when it stated the Italians know how to live.

They truly enjoy life by making food, wine and conversations a big part of their life.

For a lot of people I recommend they find a small town in Northern Italy and just hang out there for a week or two, eating at the local places and interacting with the citizens.

Not long after the horrifying 9/11, restaurateur Alan Tardi closed his popular Follonico to leave the Big Apple for some soul searching. He went Italy's renowned wine region the Piedmont where he settled in the village of Castiglione Falletto. Mr. Tardi explains that 9/11 was a wake up call to what matters in life, love of others and to be loved. Thus he followed his heart to be with his Ivana at her family vineyards working the field along with her brother to bring it back to life. Though he returns to Manhattan periodically he has adjusted to his new outdoors lifestyle.

Part travelogue, part Italian cookbook, part romance, and part cleansing the soul, Mr. Tardi provides a deep look at the Piedmont wine region while at the same time enabling readers a chance to understand why he needed to reknew his life. The recipes are mouthwatering and the description of the are are top rate, but the biography is at its best when the author opens his soul to his audience; the cooking and vineyards are healers at least for him while his love of people is what the terrorists cannot destroy.

Harriet Klausner

Just a great read. I fell in love with Piemonte while reading this book. I envy the author! Oh and some great recipes to try also.