A Taste of Italy

Italy has always enchanted me. I was twenty when I first floated through the canals of Venice at dusk, and the magic of the twinkling Rialto bridge was enough to draw me back to the country to study the language and cooking when I was 22. I lived in an apartment in Florence and an old castle that had been converted into a hostel in Finale Ligure on the Italian Riviera. Suffice it to say, I long to go back.

Tonight’s Italian Wine and Movie Night Under the Stars at Balistreri Vineyards will allow guests to enjoy all of Italy’s finest elements — the language, the food and the wine — without ever stepping on a plane. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the film Il Postino (with English subtitles) will be shown on a big outdoor screen under the tent at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $35 in advance and include a bruschetta bar and gourmet popcorn from Flavor Catering, gelato from Nosh Gelato (featuring wines from Balistreri) and two glasses of wine from the vintner. Balistreri Winery is located at 1946 East 66th Avenue. For information and tickets, call 303-287-5156 or visit www.balistreriwine.com.
Sat., July 26, 2008