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Number of pounds of pasta per person Americans eat each year according to a recent status report by the International Pasta Organization. Sound like a lot? Not to Italians. In Italy, pasta consumption is just shy of 55 pounds per person per year. The U.S.-based National Pasta Association reports that trending pasta recipes include pasta with chicken and salmon. (Ciao meatballs).

What entity is rumored to be planting a vineyard on site?

A. The Louvre Museum in Paris

B. The Vatican in Rome

C. The Governor’s Mansion in California

D. The Sydney Opera House in Australia

According to a recent post published by the Italian wine industry news portal WineNews.it, the Vatican is rumored to be planting 5 acres (2 hectares) of grapevines this spring on its Castel Gandolfo estate, the Pope’s official summer residence outside Rome. Although there is no word on the specific grape varieties, the project has been linked to Riccardo Catella, president of the Association of Italian Enologists and of the Union International des Oenologues. This will be the first time that the Vatican will grow grapes on one of its estates for the production of its own wine. Not intended as a commercial endeavor, the wine isn’t expected to be for sale, rather it will be used for sacramental purposes and given as gifts from the Pontiff.

“The golden liqueur of Tokay
While caressing the fibers of the brain,
Carries a fire that breathes witticism
As brilliant as the liqueur is light.”

—Voltaire (1694-1778), referring to Tokaji Aszú, the rare, extraordinary dessert wine from Hungary made with botrytised furmint grapes.

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