https://www.italyabroad.com/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:34:30 GMT Andrea's latest Blog Entry at italyabroad.com https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.259 Sicily is not simply a region, a place; it is an experience, especially for anyone who loves food and wine. It is one of those places where you can spend days moving from one establishment to another on what can only be described as a tasting discovery journey. Everywhere you turn there is something new to taste, something with history, tradition, and soul behind it. From arancini to proper gelato, to cannoli filled with real ricotta and candied fruit, cassata cakes, almond pastries, pistachio creams and sweets, Sicily constantly reminds you why Italian food is so loved around the world. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:34:30 GMT https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.259 Andrea D'Ercole https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.258 At Italyabroad.com, we proudly champion chocolate in its purest form. We source artisan chocolatiers who avoid palm oil, use only premium cocoa, and craft a diverse range of artisanal chocolates. Every piece we offer delivers the authentic taste and texture that real chocolate should have - genuine, indulgent, and utterly unforgettable. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:42:35 GMT https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.258 Andrea D'Ercole https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.257 Walk into any electronics shop and watch how people buy a laptop or a phone. They compare specifications, materials, durability, energy efficiency and long-term value. They read reviews, ask questions and carefully weigh their options. The same happens when people buy a car, a mattress, a pair of running shoes or even gym clothing. We want the best materials, the best design, the best performance. Yet when it comes to the one thing we consume every single day, that fuels us, food, the conversation suddenly changes. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:45:16 GMT https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.257 Andrea D'Ercole https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.256 Sustainability has become one of the most important conversations in food today — but it has also become one of the most overused words in marketing. Brands slap it on packaging, weave it into slogans, and move on. At Italyabroad.com, we did things differently. From the very first day, sustainability was not a campaign or a label — it was a pillar. A founding principle built into every sourcing decision, every producer relationship, and every product we chose to import. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:33:17 GMT https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.256 Andrea D'Ercole https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.255 I recently attended two Italian fairs, and the contrast could not have been clearer. At Taste in Florence, food returned to tradition, with exceptional meats and cheeses from small, quality-focused producers. At Beer Attraction, the Italian craft beer movement appears to be fading, leaving space dominated by big brands and spectacle. These experiences highlight the challenges of sourcing authentic products post-Brexit and the changing landscape of Italy’s food and drink culture. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:36:09 GMT https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.255 Andrea D'Ercole https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.254 2025 has flown by, and it has been another year filled with positives, progress, and discoveries, but also with challenges that affect not just us, but the wine industry as a whole. Wine consumption continues to decline, and climate change remains one of the most pressing and complex challenges facing producers today. While 2025 has not been as difficult as 2024, it has certainly not been an easy year. Rainfall patterns are increasingly unpredictable, water availability is becoming a growing concern, and temperatures continue to reach new and worrying highs. These conditions make viticulture more difficult and more uncertain, particularly for small, family-run wineries that work closely with the land and depend on balance rather than volume. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:42:42 GMT https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.254 Andrea D'Ercole https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.253 Extra virgin olive oil is at its best when fresh, properly sealed, and protected from air, light, and heat. Rebottled oils, no matter how “artisan” they may appear, have already begun the irreversible process of oxidation, losing both flavor and healthful compounds. Consumers should look for oils in their original bottles from trusted producers, enjoying them while they are vibrant, aromatic, and truly representative of the care that went into their production. Anything else is a compromise, and no clever labeling can restore what has already been lost. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:32:37 GMT https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.253 Andrea D'Ercole https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.252 Calabria is a land of contrasts — harsh yet generous, ancient yet full of potential. What it needs now is not more bureaucracy or classifications, but a renewed sense of direction. The best producers already understand that quality and integrity are the real tools for growth. The region doesn’t need to reinvent itself; it simply needs to believe in the excellence it already has. And if this trip taught me one thing, it’s that Calabria’s future lies not in chasing recognition, but in proudly being itself — raw, authentic, and quietly extraordinary. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:36:50 GMT https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.252 Andrea D'Ercole https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.251 I just came back from a three-day tasting trip around Lake Garda, exploring Bardolino and Custoza, the lesser-known “other” wines of the region. While we were already familiar with these appellations and have been stocking a producer from the area that makes some of the best wines, it was fascinating to be reminded of the hundreds of styles being produced. It was a fantastic trip with remarkable wines that truly deserve more attention. Every time we include one of these wines in a tasting, people are genuinely delighted and surprised they never had them before, they are a hidden gem for wine lovers willing to give them a chance. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:50:18 GMT https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.251 Andrea D'Ercole https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.250 I recently came across an advert on my Facebook feed from a wine business claiming: “Why pay more for a wine when you can have the same wine, declassified, at half the price?” Unfortunately, this statement is misleading at best. Declassified wines are rarely the same as what they were originally intended to be, and the reasons behind declassification are far more complex than most marketing campaigns suggest. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:51:46 GMT https://www.italyabroad.com/wine_blog.250 Andrea D'Ercole