Thank you, Lettie. If you don't mind, I'd like to share the importance of capturing these stories.
I loved "Wine & War." I remember reading it on one of my early adventures in Piemonte in 2003 when I met Giovanna Rizzolio of Cascina delle Rose. She fascinated me with stories of her courageous, indomitable nonna Beatrice Roggero Rizzolio who had stared down a Nazi firing square in Piazza Umberto I (not Piazza Michele Ferrero) during the Occupation. I was shocked that no one had ever written about that incident that saved the lives of several young Piemontese teenage boys. Giovanna and "Wine & War" inspired me in my early years in Piemonte to ask questions the journalists were not asking about the women of the wine families upon whose shoulders today's vintners stand.
Ten years ago I published "Labor of Love: Wine Family Women of Piemonte," a compilation of the stories of 22 Piemontese wine families. Today I still hear Isabella Oddero asking me to write about her three grandmothers about whom journalists had never written, but who had made great contributions to the winery's success. Alberto di Grésy called Labor of Love "One of the most important existing documents related to our area of the Langa." Days after the book's release, Angelo Gaja asked me, rather incredulously, "How is it an American woman wrote a book we should have written?" Such was the value of the stories and images I captured.
That book laid the foundation for "Angel of Alta Langa: A Novel of Love & War" (known as "Amore e guerra in Alta Langa"). Recently, while buying cheese in a mercato in Neive, a langhetto asked me, "How could an American woman write such an accurate novel about us?" He loved the novel and was shocked that it was not written by a langhetta. I asked questions, lots of them, over many years of my Piemontese experiences. As I wrote that novel when the world shutdown in 2020, I couldn't help but feel the ominous sense that we were living in the 1930s.
Needless to say, I am still asking questions and they are still telling me the stories they do not want to take to their graves. They sense an urgency to tell them and agree with me that the 1930s have returned.
Thanks for the prompt. It is one of the hundred or so books I took from Frank Prial’s collection when his family gave me access to them last year. I will move it to the “to read” pile!
I also was given what wine was left in his collection. Going to use it for a fundraiser for his local library. I am also trying to do a documentary with people who knew him where we talk about Frank and wine journalism over a bottle of one his wines.
Lettie, I cannot but agree with you on Huet’s preeminent place, not only in the Loire, or even all of France, but to the entire vinous world. But on your mentioning Wine and War, and as you are a journalist, perhaps a note of what the wineries in the Bekka Valley in Lebanon have in the past and are dealing with today, most notably being Chateau Musar. History has a habit of repeating itself.
Thanks for the comment Stephen. History does indeed repeat itself and often in the most terrible way- as with what is happening in the Mideast right now.
Thank you, Lettie. If you don't mind, I'd like to share the importance of capturing these stories.
I loved "Wine & War." I remember reading it on one of my early adventures in Piemonte in 2003 when I met Giovanna Rizzolio of Cascina delle Rose. She fascinated me with stories of her courageous, indomitable nonna Beatrice Roggero Rizzolio who had stared down a Nazi firing square in Piazza Umberto I (not Piazza Michele Ferrero) during the Occupation. I was shocked that no one had ever written about that incident that saved the lives of several young Piemontese teenage boys. Giovanna and "Wine & War" inspired me in my early years in Piemonte to ask questions the journalists were not asking about the women of the wine families upon whose shoulders today's vintners stand.
Ten years ago I published "Labor of Love: Wine Family Women of Piemonte," a compilation of the stories of 22 Piemontese wine families. Today I still hear Isabella Oddero asking me to write about her three grandmothers about whom journalists had never written, but who had made great contributions to the winery's success. Alberto di Grésy called Labor of Love "One of the most important existing documents related to our area of the Langa." Days after the book's release, Angelo Gaja asked me, rather incredulously, "How is it an American woman wrote a book we should have written?" Such was the value of the stories and images I captured.
That book laid the foundation for "Angel of Alta Langa: A Novel of Love & War" (known as "Amore e guerra in Alta Langa"). Recently, while buying cheese in a mercato in Neive, a langhetto asked me, "How could an American woman write such an accurate novel about us?" He loved the novel and was shocked that it was not written by a langhetta. I asked questions, lots of them, over many years of my Piemontese experiences. As I wrote that novel when the world shutdown in 2020, I couldn't help but feel the ominous sense that we were living in the 1930s.
Needless to say, I am still asking questions and they are still telling me the stories they do not want to take to their graves. They sense an urgency to tell them and agree with me that the 1930s have returned.
Thanks so much Suzanne has it really been ten years since you published your book? So mamy great stories. Thanks so much for sharing the memories.
Thanks for the prompt. It is one of the hundred or so books I took from Frank Prial’s collection when his family gave me access to them last year. I will move it to the “to read” pile!
That’s so cool you have Frank’s books! Definitely give this one a read, Hank!
I also was given what wine was left in his collection. Going to use it for a fundraiser for his local library. I am also trying to do a documentary with people who knew him where we talk about Frank and wine journalism over a bottle of one his wines.
That’s a great idea!
Lettie, I cannot but agree with you on Huet’s preeminent place, not only in the Loire, or even all of France, but to the entire vinous world. But on your mentioning Wine and War, and as you are a journalist, perhaps a note of what the wineries in the Bekka Valley in Lebanon have in the past and are dealing with today, most notably being Chateau Musar. History has a habit of repeating itself.
Thanks for the comment Stephen. History does indeed repeat itself and often in the most terrible way- as with what is happening in the Mideast right now.
Move their book “Champagne” to the read pile, too.
Great book
Nice read. One of my favorite books. I have given dozens of copies to friends. Their books on Champagne and Champagne Charlie are equally fantastic.
Thanks Simone- and I agree- I really enjoyed their book on Champagne as well. Cheers!
I read the book years ago. The stories are fascinating and actually awe inspiring. Thank you for sharing your experiences and refreshing my memory!