Natale a Lecce
Spend Christmas in Italy this year!
October 2009

It's a bit of a shame that most visitors to our region come in the warmer months.
I say 'a shame' because if you want to know the truth of it, the food and wine are much better in the colder months.
And you don't see lights like this in July, no matter how hard you squint.

When the weather drops we reach for our favourite coats and cashmere scarves and take long strolls, just taking it all in. The level of detail here is amazing and even our Roman-era amphitheater receives serious consideration.

But it's also when citrus comes into its own. And it's when the region's world-famous red wines make more sense (as compared to August, when they seem to almost smoulder right in the glass). Winter is when the removal of a casserole lid reveals the steaming and brilliant alchemy of braising tender pieces of rabbit or lamb with wine and olives. Your lips smack just thinking of it the rest of the year.

It's when the new extra virgin olive oil comes out, easily the best liquid on earth. If you don't know whether you've ever had really good extra virgin olive oil, chances are you haven't. (And if you're one to buy your olive oil from a super market, then you CERTAINLY haven't). Here is your chance. The fruity flavours run from vibrant to the almost obcsene.

If you'd like to come this year, we'd love to have you. December 13th, 2009..