Can you imagine yourself on a crowded bridge in Venice, looking around not to find anyone from your group and wondering where to find the flag? Just a few weeks ago, a recognizable tourist was walking ahead of me on the Ponte Dei Scalzi in Venice. He looked bewildered and a bit panicked. When he turned around I noticed the lanyard of the big tour company around his neck. He did not see anyone from his group nearby. You may ask, “How did this happen?” Travelers on big groups easily become amalgamated into the crowds. Group size alone is the biggest barrier of keeping the travelers together. When you travel with Gina’s Italy, you are in a group size of 6-8-10. Many times we have an assistant to help even with 10! Hopefully we don’t hear anyone asking, “Where is the flag”?
Liz Lev is a name many of you know because of the fabulous experience you had visiting the Vatican Museums with her while in Rome. You come away from the tour floating in the facts that she shares and the quick remarks she makes. You want more but alas you are leaving Rome. Here is your chance. On October 18, 2011, her book about Caterina Riorio Sforza dei Medici became available. Liz calls Caterina Renaissance Italy’s most courageous and notorious countess. With the wit that Liz inserts into her material you will probably learn much more about Renaissance life than only the life of one person. For more information click here: The Tigress of Forli'
Casanuova di Ama produces very fine olive oil without pesticides or the use of chemicals to induce the olive to produce more. No heat is used to extract the product. Only olives from the Casanuova land are used for the production. Olives are collected by hand instead of using a machine to shake the trees for collection. Olives are pressed within four hours of picking so rancidity or bruising of the fruit cannot influence the pure flavor of the oil.
Many vendors of extra virgin olive oil cannot make these statements. Look at the fine print and read what the label tells you or doesn’t. Many sellers will use the title of ‘extra virgin olive oil’ and disguise the fact that nets are used to collect the fruit, or that olives from other producers inside or outside of the region or even country will be incorporated into the production or worse yet that chemicals are used to increase the amount of oil that is extracted from each olive. The introduction of other olives and chemicals dilute the quality of the product.
Casanuova di Ama guarantees the high quality of their olives, the handling before, during and after picking, the absence of chemicals of any sort for the production of the oil.
Gina’s Italy imports this oil in order to support the quality of age old products that have made Italian food so famous. Buying the Casanuova oil helps this small operation to maintain norms and the craft that are centuries old. Our support allows them to avoid becoming a statistic and compressed into the big companies. We continue to use Casanuova’s oil in our kitchens. Think about giving a small bottle of olive oil for Christmas presents. The bottle gives longer than a bottle of wine. Your friends will thank you.
This year we are keeping the same costs as they have been since 2008. This year we are packaging the bottles and offering savings. The more you order the more you save. Look below and see what best works for you.
| Package One: Value $191 Yours for $175 | Package Three: Value $195 Yours for $175 |
| 2 gift bottles 250 ml | 5 bottles 500ml |
| 2 bottles 500ml | |
| 1bottle 1000ml | |
| Package Two: Value $174 Yours for $150 | Package Four: Value $220 Yours for $195 |
| 6 gift bottles 250ml | 4 bottles 1000ml |
| Single bottles can also be purchased. |
| 250ml gift-size $29 |
| 500ml $39 |
| 1000ml $55 |
| 3000ml tin $123 (a savings of $42 when compared to 3 bottles of 1000ml) |
Bonus: For every bottle you order, your name will go into a drawing for a free 500ml bottle worth $39. The more you buy the more chances you will have.
In a few weeks, Daniela of Casanuova di Ama will contact me to say they are harvesting olives. At that point we will gather our orders for 2011. Remember we order once a year. Order more and use more. It is to your health. Why use a fat with inferior health benefits. I will be taking orders from this date through November 15th. The sooner we place our order the better chance we have for Christmas delivery.
Buon Appetito!
If Italy is on your radar for 2012, you might consider one of Gina’s Italy tours on our schedule:
Grand Tour - Wine and Dine all'italiana - Adventures in Tuscany.
Each of the tours is being repeated more than once in 2012. Gina’s Italy always accepts private groups and custom groups. Contact Gina at: info@ginasitaly.com.
Thank you again for your enthusiasm for the Bollettino of Gina’s Italy. Feel free to share and forward this issue to friends and family. Your referrals are important and are appreciated. Do you have a special trip in mind? Organize family and friends and organize an unforgettable trip. I look forward to hearing from you.
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