I met Alyson around 12 years ago when we were both having lunch at Dario Cecchini, the famous butcher in Panzano in Chianti. Those of you who've watched Dario's episode on Chef's Table (Netflix) know that he's a hardworking genius who's transformed a butcher shop in a celebration of life itself. Dario isn't just an animalist-butcher (yeah, I know that sounds controversial, so if you want to dig deeper see this post), he's also a people-person. In his restaurants, you sit (at

Le Pergole Torte is possibly Tuscany’s most famed Sangiovese wine, but ironically, even though made within a well-known appellation like Chianti Classico, it doesn’t wear the DOCG “fascetta” seal or the historical black rooster emblem. The original recipe for Chianti Classico required the wine to be a blend. The primary grape was and still is Sangiovese, but the blending partners were Canaiolo (local red) with Malvasia Bianca Lunga (white) and Trebbiano Toscano (white). These