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Bel Vino: A Year of Sundrenched Pleasure Among the Vines of Tuscany by: Isabella Dusi List Price: £7.99 City Travel Guides Price: £5.99 You Save: £2.00 (25%)Prices subject to change. |
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Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 910 EAN: 9780743478441 ISBN: 0743478444 Label: Pocket Books Manufacturer: Pocket Books Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 510 Publication Date: May 04, 2004 Publisher: Pocket Books Studio: Pocket Books Sales Rank: 268651 Related Items:
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 Rating: - Bel VinoA continuation of the story started in Vanilla Beans and Brodo, which to obtain background knowledge of Montalcino and its residents; it is advisable to read first. It does not matter if you have not done so because I noticed that some of the information is repeated in Bel Vino. This time the author's main theme is her interest in trying to untangle the story of Brunello di Montalcino from the facts fiction and fables. It is a fascinating story of change and where once the contadini(farmers)once worked the land for rich families, they now produce wine on land that they own themselves. I enjoyed this and it was certainly worth reading, but personally I did not think it was as good as the first book about Isabella and ... Read More: Rating:  - Yet another.....This seems to be one more of the 'we moved abroad and integrated with the natives' books. I was so disappointed with this. Ms Dusi (Isabella formerly known as Isabel!) states that she has no wish to patronise the local residents, then does just that. She states that, in order to integrate fully, she and her husband choose not to mix with resident English, American and Australian neighbours, yet when a wealthy American invites her to dinner she can't get there quickly enough! The book is full of inconsistencies and I found the sycophantic style too syrupy for my taste, which is a shame, as I really wanted to enjoy it. On a practical level, the editor and proof reader should be shot. Some of the grammar is dreadful, third person plural ... Read More: Rating:  - A marvellously enticing trip in the land of legendsFor better or worse, I do very little reading for pleasure. So all the greater enjoyment (for me, anyway) when I picked up this book and just couldn't put it down. Signora Dusi paints a picture of life in Montalcino (home of the infamous Brunello wine) full of delicate interactions and curious complexities that could only exist in a small, walled, hilltop Tuscan village. The notoriety of the history of Brunello, the legend and counter-legend of who invented this glorious wine, and the development of dear friendships with the cittadini and contadini (read the book!) alike envelop you into a wonderful landscape. Her writing flows easily, making for a thoroughly enjoyable and effortless read, drawing you into the description of each ... Read More: Rating:  - A fine vintageDusi's portrayal of Tuscan life is a work of staggering beauty and touching warmth. This is not just a book about wine, though it does feature quite a lot as you can imagine, nor is it a travel book. It is about the history and traditions of an ancient community in Montalcino. The more you read this book the more you get immersed. You will want to taste some Brunello and, dare I say it, visit the sweet sounding hill top village where it gets created. At times though this book is not always and easy read, there are moments where it did seem to drag a little and I did fell a little frustrated and wished the story would move a little quicker. But perseverance with this book will be well rewarded; you will not want to miss the excitement of archery tournament ... Read More: |
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