September 22, 2024–
Drive from Mogliano-Veneto to Montabone, Piemonte (Piedmont)—
Today was Sunday, and many establishments were closed today. We needed gas for a long drive today, however. We learned that some gas stations might say they accept credit cards, but they do not after all. They accept cash all the time, however. Our credit card was being continuous declined although we had used it successfully until now, but it was not only Sunday, it was also before noon. No attendant was on duty. Cash it was for now, therefore!
We drove through Provincial Treviso, Provincial Veneto, and the Citta Valdobbiadene before departing the Veneto region. This was at the recommendation of our B&B host this morning. Valdobbiadene, he emphasized, is where your best Prosecco comes from. It is near Mt. Feltre. We arrived there at approximately 12:45 P.M., and it was a balmy 70F, partially sunny day. The vineyards were absolutely beautiful with the way that they were neatly arranged in row upon row along a mountainside. This region is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of the grapes appeared to have been harvested already, although some grapes were dangling beneath a few vines that we saw. The grapes there are harvested by hand because tractors and other technological aids really can’t navigate between the rows and mountainsides. The vines are still a lush green, giving the area such a spectacular look!
From Valdobbiadene, we drove to Montabone, Piemonte (Piedmont). More and more vineyards along the slopes of what they call “hills.” I call them furry mountains. The grapes here have mostly all been harvested, too, and, as in Valdobbiadene, some grapes are still visible clinging to the vines. People harvest the grapes, plop them in waiting buckets along the way, and small tractors haul them away.
Besides grapes, this Montabone, Piemonte region also grows hazelnut (nocciole) trees/shrubs. I haven’t come close enough to them to see how they look or to identify them. These hazelnuts mostly go to Ferrero in nearby Alba where they are used, for example, to make Nutella! Our host in Mogliano-Veneto, said that Ferrero is the richest man in Europe. He has been buying out smaller specialty-wine vineyards and using the land to grow more hazelnuts. This host believes that in so doing, Ferrero renders those specialty wines obsolete/non-existent. Our host at this particular B&B in Montabone claims that Ferrero is a very nice man and that the company has “a good politic,” ie, social consciousness, and so on.
Dinner was at Al Castle, just 1/2 mile up this mountain. Beautiful “agriturismo” (B&B/Restaurant combo). We shared Gavi Spumante, tomato with tuna spread, I had Crespelle di Melanzana (eggplant stuffed in a light crispy crepe), and Dad had beef-stuffed homemade teensy ravioli in a sage/butter or oil dressing. For dessert, I had panna cotta drizzled in chocolate, and John had chocolate bonnet (like a pudding) drizzled in chocolate fondant and with amaretti soft cookies in the bonnet. These were Piemontese favorites, and all was delicious!
The roads to our Montabone B&B are winding, steep, and narrow…. The scenery is phenomenal: we are nestled betweeen the Apennines and Alps. Our hosts are so very nice! The people have ALL been just FANTASTIC since our arrival in Italy not long ago!
Our Travels 