This weekend at Piazza Italian Market, we will taste one of my fave white wines, the Latour a Civitella IGT 2020 ($29.95, $14.95 ABV) from the Tenuta di Sergio Mottura in Civitella d’Agliano, Lazio. The estate was purchased in 1933 by a relative of Mottura’s and thirty years later twenty-one year old Sergio took over management of the estate. 

The design of a porcupine in various joyous poses was chosen for Mottura’s label because it “symbolizes the family’s commitment to quality with respect and care for the environment”. When the estate ceased spraying pesticides and herbicides, the porcupine reappeared in the vineyards. Noted wine authority and writer Joseph Bastianich (son of Lidia) gave the highest compliment to Mottura by declaring “There is a white heart in the center of Italy: Sergio Mottura, undisputed Master of Grechetto”. The estate has 120 hectares of vineyards of centuries old vines and a heritage of biodiversity.  

In 1993, Mottura joined a group in Germany of thirty producers from countries all over the world who were represented by the same German importer. The importer hosted an event on a restaurant boat floating along the Berlin canal to celebrate Robert Mondavi’s 80th birthday.  The group decided to use the opened bottles from the afternoon tasting for the dinner. Mottura’s Grechetto “Poggio della Costa” 1992 was placed at Louis Fabrice Latour’s table. 

Latour later sought out Mottura to express his admiration of the wine and offered some of his wood barriques to the young Mottura. In 1993, this wine was the first white wine from Lazio to be awarded the highest designation of Tre Bicchieri from Gambero Rosso. In 2012, Sergio Mottura was named “Winemaker of the Year” by Gambero Rosso. “The estate has 120 hectares of vineyards of centuries old vines and a heritage of biodiversity.  

Mottura’s Latour A Civitella is 100% Grechetto grape. I love this exquisite white wine for its freshness and delicate lightness, aromas of orchard fruits and white blossoms and a lingering finish.  Pair with salmon or tuna, seafood risotto, spaghetti alla carbonara,  asparagus with lemon, tomato and olive penne feta or chevre cheese. 

Come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 to taste this wine from the “Master of Grechetto” and see if you agree- 

Cin Cin!

Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center, at 218 N. Washington St., suite 23, in Easton, MD

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Ciao Tutti!

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market, we will taste the Anthilia Sicilia DOC ($18.50, ABV 12.5%) from Donnafugata’s Contessa Entellina vineyard, the first of Donnafugata’s four vineyards throughout Sicilia.

Anthilia Sicilia DOC ($18.50, ABV 12.5%) from Donnafugata’s Contessa Entellina vineyard,

The story of Donnafugata begins with two women, one of whom was Gabriella Anca Rallo, who studied the classics at University and became an English teacher. Fate intervened when her father died suddenly and she inherited his Contessa Entellina vineyard. Within a few years, in 1983, she retired from teaching for her and her husband Giacomo to assume management of the estate.

Gabriella learned that the vineyard was near the place where the story’s second woman, Queen Maria Carolina, and King Ferdinand IV of the Two Sicilies (Lazio and Sicily) sought refuge near a British garrison in Sicily when Napoleon began his invasion of Sicily. Gabriella chose the name “Donnafugata” (fleeing woman) for their winery in honor of the Queen and the label portrays a woman’s hair with the wind blowing across her face.

Donnafugata is led by the fifth generation of the Rallo family, Antonio and Jose

Gabriella was one of the founding members of the National Association of Women in Wine. This organization celebrates the commitment of women in all of the wine industry’s categories. For her dedication, she was awarded the honor of Commendatore of the Italian Republic in 2018. Today, Donnafugata is led by the fifth generation of the Rallo family, Antonio and Jose and they grow seven indigenous grape varieties in the vineyards that differ from each other in altitude, exposure, microclimate and soil.

As an art lover, I have long admired the distinctive artisan labels of Donnafugata. In 1992, Gabriella Rallo selected the artist Stefano Vitale to create distinctive labels for each wine to celebrate the varied colors of Sicilia’s architecture and landscape, under the blazing sun. Two of my fave labels were inspired by Mille e Una Notte (One Thousand and One Nights), the story of Sherazade.

Visit www.donnafugata.it and prepare to be amazed by the artful labels!

“Anthilia” Sicilia DOC is named for the city of Entella in Roman times and is the first wine that was produced at Donnafugata.  It remains a customer favorite for its blend of Cataratto and other indigenous varieties. It is a fave of mine for its freshness, notes of white flowers and scents of aromatic herbs and white flowers. Pair with fish, veggie dishes or Piazza’s fresh cheeses.

Come celebrate the Spring Equinox and join me on Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45.

Cin Cin!

Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center at 218 N. Washington St., suite 23, in Easton, MD.

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The delightful hum of lawnmowers is right around the corner. Soon we’ll be tackling outdoor tasks that have been calling our names during the cold winter months. As we transition into warmer days, our 2025 summer “Ask A Master Gardener Plant Clinics” will be traveling around Queen Anne’s County to various events and open houses. This is a great opportunity to have Master Gardeners help with all your questions about gardening, from garden pests, to plant problems, to selecting the perfect native plants, and beneficial insects. Master Gardeners will be on hand to give tips and tricks to make your home garden flourish, help troubleshoot tricky growing situations, and offer encouragement on creating the perfect garden for your space. These events are free and open to the public.

Dates/Topics: 

April 19, 2025- It’s Grow Time at An Eastridge Garden (533 Dulin Clark Road Centreville, MD 21617) – Master Gardeners will be on hand to discuss tips and tricks to getting things ready in your garden.  
From 10 am to 2 pm

 May 3, 2025 – Creating a Bay-Wise Garden at Greenwood Creek Nursery (201 Bennett Point Road Queenstown, MD 21658) Master Gardeners will be on hand to guide you throw gardening to help the Chesapeake Bay. 
From 10 am to 2 pm  

May 24, 2025-Enhancing your garden with native plants at A Little Farm and Nursery (100 Davidson Drive Stevensville, MD 21666). Master Gardeners will be on hand to discuss picking the right native plant for the right place. 
From 10 am to 2 pm 

June 7, 2025- If you plant it they will come, Pollinators at Unity Church Hill Nursery (3621 Church Hill Road, Church Hill, MD 21623). Master Gardeners will be on hand to discuss how to add pollinator-friendly plants to your garden!
From 10 am to 2 pm 

For further information please call or reasonable accommodations to participate in this event contact the University of Maryland Extension Rachel Rhodes, at (410) 758-0166 or [email protected]   

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.

This weekend we will offer two wines, the Dolcetto D’Alba DOC, 2022, ($20.50, ABV 13.5%) from the Azienda Agricola Alessandro Rivetto winery in La Morra, Piemonte and the Ghemme  Chioso Dei Pomi DOCG 2017, ($49.95, ABV 14%) from the Rovellotti Vineyard in Ghemme, Alto Piemonte.

We are fortunate that our wine reps from time to time offer us deals on special wines that can’t be reordered. Emily and I tasted the Ghemme with one of our reps recently and we thought it was outstanding. That was no surprise since the importer is Rosenthal and he is one of two importers (Kermit Lynch is the other) whose portfolios of unique wines of the highest quality I follow on their websites. I would buy any wines from them without tasting.

Ghemme Chioso Dei Pomi DOCG: (85% Nebbiolo, Vespolina 15%). Antenello Rovellotti is as proud of his heritage as he is of his wine. He believes less than 200 people share his surname, and around 66 people have never left Ghemme!  His family roots date from the late 15^th century and their wine is produced in a maze of underground cellars with wine stacked from the ground to the ceiling, spread around in Ghemme’s “Ricetto”, a central walled compound that in prior years protected the townspeople during times of war.

Since the early 1980’s, Antenello has consulted with the University of Milan to keep his 15 hectare vineyard in balance ecologically and environmentally; no chemicals, protection of local insects, etc.

Emily and I were both captivated by this wine’s complex nose, its aromatic depth from ripe cherry and wild strawberry to notes of rose petals and leather; medium to full body palate, smooth tannins.  Don’t pass up a taste of this outstanding wine!

Dolcetto D’Alba DOC: Alessandro is the fourth generation of the Rivetto family to manage the vineyard. His  grandfather Ercole imparted in him a deep appreciation for the family’s vineyards  and cellar as his father Giovanni did for him. Alessandro continues the family tradition with another Alessandro, his enologist, Alessandro Bonelli.

The Alessandros have two different labels for their bottles: the modern label “Albeisa” with Rivetto’s initials back to back and the “Bordolese”, which continues the tradition of the Rivetto family.

Their “Wine Loft”, a welcoming and intimate space for tasting their wines, overlooks the beautiful Piedmontese landscape and their municipality of  La Morra.

Their Dolcetto D ’Alba is 100% Dolcetto grape and is fruit forward with aromas of amarena and red cherries, has a persistent flavor, and is soft and balanced as its name suggests (delicate, not sweet). Pair with lightly sauced pastas, white meat entrees, or grilled veggies.

Come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 for a taste of these red wines from Piemonte.

Cin Cin!

Jenn

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Happy Mystery Monday! Can you guess what is pictured below?

The answer to last week’s mystery is the tulip poplar, Liriodendron tulipfera, pictured below:

The tulip poplar is a large, native, deciduous tree that can grow 90–120′ tall. Its attractive tulip-like flowers give the tulip poplar its common name. Although not a member of the poplar genus, its characteristics are similar to poplar. It is actually a member of the magnolia family.

In the winter cone-like seed clusters sit upright on the branches. The seeds are called samaras, or helicopters. The individual, winged samaras can be scattered by the wind to distances equal to four or five times the height of a tree. Tulip poplar is a prolific seeder. A seed fall of 300,000 to 600,000/acre is not uncommon. Tulip poplar seeds retain their viability on the forest floor from 4–7 years.

Tulip poplars are a favorite nesting tree for birds, and they are an attractive species to butterflies and hummingbirds.

The tulip poplar leaf is the logo for Adkins Arboretum.

Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.

Ciao Tutti!

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market, we will taste a new wine to our collection, the Rosa delle Calle Toscana IGT Rosato ($19.75, ABV 13.5%) from the Azienda Agricola Le Calle Di Riccardo Catocci winery in the Maremma region of Toscana. The beautiful label’s name of the wine translates as “the pink calla lilies”.

Rosa delle Calle Toscana IGT Rosato ($19.75, ABV 13.5%) from the Azienda Agricola Le Calle Di Riccardo Catocci winery in the Maremma region of Toscana

Maremma is Toscana’s least populated part with  the variety of its geography including the blue Tyrrhenian Sea, marshes, long narrow beaches dotted with black rock,  round hills, mountains thick woods and medieval towns like San Gimignano. 

The Le Calle farmhouse is located in Maremma’s heart; between the Tyrrhenian Sea and Monte Amiata. Looking west from the terrace of their cellar you can see the Tyrrhenian Sea and looking east you can see Monte Amiata.  

Riccardo, Camilla and Savina Catocci

Le Calle’s Rosa delle Calle is 100% Ciliegiolio and Emily and I tasted it recently with our rep. We both liked its prominent fresh red fruit aromas of cherry with strawberry hints, floral aroma of rose petals, crisp acidity for food and a clean finish. As an architect, I always critique the label design and this beautiful label would also make a perfect gift. 

Come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 to taste this new and refreshing wine. Ian D’Agata, who wrote the tome “Native Grapes of Italy” considers the Ciliegiolo grape to be one of Italy’s “greatest but most underappreciated grape variety”. Come taste and see if you agree!

Cin Cin

Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center at 218 N. Washington St., suite 23, in Easton, MD.

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Prepare for spring in the garden! Adkins Arboretum, offering the Chesapeake gardener the best selection of landscape-ready native plants, announces its 30th Annual Spring Native Plant Sale. All proceeds benefit the Arboretum’s rich variety of education programs that teach about the Delmarva’s native plants and their connection to a healthy Chesapeake Bay.

To ensure the best quality plants, sales will be conducted entirely online. Orders will be accepted through Thurs., March 27 at adkinsarboretum.org and will be fulfilled via timed, scheduled pickup in late April and early May.

New this year, there are two pickup locations to choose from: Adkins Arboretum and Delmarva Native Plants in Georgetown, Delaware. This partnership allows those in Delaware or east of the Arboretum to pick up their plants at Delmarva Native Plants’ future retail location. Upon completing your online order, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to schedule your pickup date, time and location.

Plants for sale include a large variety of native perennials, ferns, vines, grasses and flowering trees and shrubs for spring planting. Native flowers and trees provide food and habitat for wildlife and make colorful additions to home landscapes, whether in a perennial border, a woodland garden or a restoration project. Native honeysuckle entices hummingbirds, while tall spikes of purplish flowers grace blue wild indigo. Milkweed provides critical energy for monarch butterflies on their winter migration to Mexico, and native azaleas present a veritable rainbow of colorful blooms.

For information about special orders, special pickups, help with plant choices for restoration projects or pricing for nonprofits or commercial contracts, contact Leslie Cario at nativeplants@adkinsarboretum.org.

As always, Arboretum members receive a generous discount on plants that varies according to membership level. To join, renew your membership or give an Arboretum membership as a gift, visit adkinsarboretum.org or contact Kellen McCluskey at [email protected].

For more information on plants, purchasing or pickup procedures, visit adkinsarboretum.org, send email to nativeplants@adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.

Ciao Tutti!

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market we will taste the Rosso Della Motta Vino Rosso, 100% Nebbiolo, ($19.50, ABV 13%) from the Centovigne /Castello di Castellengo winery in Costa della Sesia, a lesser known region of Alta Piemonte.  Due to the dual death blows of  phylloxera and industrialization, there ae few vineyards in this area and the tiny vineyards that remain are part of a viticultural tradition that was nearly lost. The Centovigne /Castello di Castellengo winery produces the indigenous grapes Nebbiolo, Erbaluce, and Vespolina.

This weekend at Piazza Italian Market we will taste the Rosso Della Motta Vino Rosso, 100% Nebbiolo, ($19.50, ABV 13%) from the Centovigne /Castello di Castellengo winery in Costa della Sesia

Nature has blessed Piemonte with ideal conditions for viticulture; when the nebbia (fog) gently makes her descent into the valley, she covers the thin skins of the Nebbiolo grapes so they can slumber until they fully mature into the complex, earthy flavor, red fruit and tannins that are characteristic of this grape that has flourished in Piemonte since the 13th century. Castello di Castellengo traces its roots to 1682 when a document was found listing the number of barrels and vats located inside the Castello di Castellengo. 

In 1998, Winemaker Magda Zago and her husband Alessandro Ciccioni began making wine from tiny plots and their vineyard has grown to 7.5 hectares. Numerous 80+ year old vineyards surround the historic Castello di Castellengo, inspiring them to add “Centovigne” (one hundred vineyards) to their wine labels. 

Magda Zago and Alessandro Ciccioni

Magda credits a lesson in elementary school about the magic of fermentation that led to her studies at the University of Enology in Milan. She is committed to biodiversity and sustainable viticulture by using native yeasts, cement tanks, large recycled oak barrels and natural temperature control. 

Emily and I tasted this wine recently with our rep. and we both felt it would be a great addition to our collection. We liked its medium body, elegant bouquet, aromas of cassis, plum, sweet spices and smooth tannins. This wine would pair well with Piazza’s medium aged cheeses and/or cured meats, or pasta with red sauce.  If you like your Nebbiolo refined and aged in old wood, this one’s for you!

The winery also offers four ensuites in an 18th century building in the historic village of Castello di Castellengo. Come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45 for a taste of this very special Nebbiolo!

Cin Cin!

Jenn

Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center at 218 N. Washington St., suite 23, in Easton, MD

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.