Ceramics, Olive Oil and Wine

Today we had a fabulous field trip day with our workshop group. It started with a trip to a ceramics store where we were able to look at all the wonderful pieces of art. This building was massive and the casting and painting rooms were in the back of the store. There was a man there who has been painting at this store for 50 years. His pieces of art are the more detailed paintings on the ceramics. He has made beautiful scenes on many murals and pieces of clay that are just unbelievable. This business started 3 generations ago and the grandson is the one who runs the business now. All the pieces of bisque that we saw in the back room are created from just two men who throw the clay on the wheel. It took the man there only 2 minutes to create a bowl.

A sampling of this beautiful craft.....

A mural made out of ceramic tiles pieced together to make this scene......
Giovanni the grandson dipping the bisque into the glaze......
In the painting room a man puts detail onto the vase.....
The master painters work area of color.....
Another painter.......
Some pieces finished in the store.......
One of two clay throwers........
This man is the "master painter" of 50 years......Some bisque bowls.......After the ceramics tour we were onto the olive grove where this grove has also been around for 3 generations. I would have to say hands down that the meal we shared with this family was the best of all the trip. You felt honoured to break bread with this family - such a gracious family. The best part of the meal that was in an endless supply was the fire roasted bread with fresh olive oil poured all over it with salt. It was magnifico! Our next course was home made lentils that tasted so good - next, arugula with beef strips - then, bruschetta with fresh tomatoes - more fire roasted bread - fresh fruit and biscotti - and of course an endless supply of wine. But the crowning touch was the cherries and grapes soaked in the homemade grappa that the grandpa made. Boy does it hit you like a ton of bricks right away! It was a special day spent on a special farm with this family.

The grandson explains to us how the olives are crushed to make the olive oil...

Arugula and beef.......Homemade biscotti.....Fresh fruit.....Milliande loves her plums......The group enjoying the feast......Nobody wanted to take credit for the cooking of the meal - here is the grandma, daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law.....

Next on our trip was a visit to a grape vineyard and winery. As if we already did not have enough wine to drink at the olive grove, we were about to taste some more fantastic merlots. This vineyard was very typical of the others in this area - owned and operated by another family by numerous generations. Listening to the process of the wine making was very interesting and such a step by step system which one does not get to see and taste the final product for many years after.

A vineyard vignette......

A view of the rows of grapes.....
One of the rows.......
Clusters of grapes that will eventually produce the merlot.....
Here he explains how this piece of cork bark will eventually be cut up into the corks for the wine bottles.....

This day was very full and by the end of it (8pm) I was ready for a snooze! So, once in the van it was slumber time for the hour ride back to our hotel. Ciao for now!!