AIWAV November Meeting 2023

November was the occasion for the club's annual excursion out of the city and onto Terra Firma. The destination this year was the Prosecco Hills around Valdobbiadene (a place the writer will finally get to say correctly one day!). The weather turned out perfect after a series of epic storms in the week before and the club is grateful to drivers Davide and Bruce for making the transit so easy.

The first stop was at Colline Guizzette where the family were very welcoming and offered a great feast of snacks to accompany their fine, small production Proseccos. Many of the vineyards have been handed down over multiple generations and it's great to see the next generation so excited about their family business. And to meet Eros, the dog.

Stop two was a break at Osteria Senz'Oste, a remarkable idea to offer products up on the vineyard hillside in vending machines. The area was full of hikers taking a much needed rest and the sun shone down on our members as we explored both the area and the offerings. Most people also got a souvenir glass goblet to take home and reuse as well.

Last stop was Ca Salina where Gregorio gave the group a detailed and fascinating history of how the production of Prosecco has developed over the years before offering us tastings of nine, yes NINE different wines. The conversation was in full flow by this stage and members bought wine at both locations.
As the sun set in a fabulous tramonto (was that also a bit of the aurora borealis that occurred very dramatically all over the Veneto later that evening?), the return journey over a very full Piave River took only just over an hour. It's wonderful to know such a place exists so close to the city of Venice.