The Belvadera!

The light was about an hour to late to take great pictures from this area, but believe me, this is one of the most beautiful views in the Barola Wine Valley. We were standing on top of a hilltown called La Mora. What a name. The small town is as beautiful as the name. The view is of the famous Barola vineyards that go on for miles. I can stand in this spot and from left to right, I can count at least ten castles! To many wineries to count. Some small, only selling around 200,000 bottles a year, and then the larger ones that sell over a million bottles each year. The area is just south of Turino in northern Italy. We come here for the wine and to eat at one of our favorite restaurants, the Belvadera!! The owner has come to know us and always remembers our name when we enter. We have been lucky enough to be given private tours into the private wine cellar after dinner. Our waiter takes us down, we are seated at a table and given samples of wine or grappa. Grappa is the stuff that settles at the bottom of the wine barrel when wine is setting in the barrels. Men usually love it. Woman usually think it is to strong. I personally think it is nasty!! It is like drinking pure alcohol!!





What a spot for a romantic view and dinner!

Where's my date??!!



Kevin standing in front of the Belvadera with Edwardo and the restaurant owner, who actual came outside to greet us. How often does that happen? The rest of the gang was still looking at the view of the valley.

At the beginning of dinner. Over the years, I have nick-named this restaurant, the "Forks" restaurant, because they bring you some many courses and change your forks so much, you lose count. The first time it was nine forks!! NINE!!!


Jeff and Alex strolling through the private wine celler. There is a picture of Alfred Hitchcock down here. This was a favorite "eatery" of his when he was in Italy.
Kevin trying to pick out a special bottle to bring home to some friends.
Kevin tasting some strong wine. Stacey seems to think the same thing.
Kevin and Jeff just downed some grappa!! It burned all the way!! Never again!! That stuff will put hair on your chest and then burn it off!!

Wine Bank!

This is the church that sat across from a castle that a king once lived in. He had the little bridge built so he could walk from his castle to the church without going outside. The castle and property wrap around and face the church. The church is in a small town of only 300 people. Our friend Edwardo has a summer home is this little town and this is where he attends church when he is here for the weekends. The castle had been abandanded for years. A few years ago someone turned the castle into a university and wine bank. The university only teaches about wine. It only accepts 60 students a semester and is $30,000!!! The teach EVERYTHING about wine. The students usually are writers, owners of vineyards, chefs, etc. They have pictures of all the rooms and corridors throughout the property showing how they looked before they cleaned it up. It was really a mess. The bank part of the university has wine from almost every winery in Italy!! That is to say from each winery they have a small stack of boxes of their wine. They could never store it all. You can invest in any of the wine. It's like buying stock. Anyone want to own shares of Barola Wine? It was very interesting.







One of the classrooms. Wine tasting!!! Wow, let's study!!