Abbadia

The term for abbey, sometimes shortened to just badia. Buildings that were once abbeys have often been converted into renowned Italian wine estates, such as Tuscany’s Badia a Coltibuono.

The Sherry-producing region of Spain was once under Arabic rule.

Answer: True.

For almost 800 years during the Middle Ages, the region of Jerez (pronounced hare-ETH in Spanish) along the southwestern Andalusian coast was under Arabic rule. The Arabs called sherry Sekeris, although we should note that the region has had many names in its time. The Greeks called it Xera, the Romans, Ceret. Northern Spanish Castilians called it Xérès, and later Xérèz. By the late 1800s, Xérèz had become Jerez. Later, British wine importers corrupted the Spanish pronunciation of the region. After undergoing a series of evolutions, the English name became Sherry.

Not by Bread Alone

The Tuscans may have been among the first people to regularly use forks, but bread is a Tuscan’s oldest and most treasured utensil. At every meal, it is enlisted to help transport one thing or… Continue reading

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