Page 10 - Italian-American Herald - August 2023

10 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | AUGUST2023 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD WINE
Homemade: Old tradition
quite alive around the world
Continued from front page
steamer trunk among his artwork workshop and display gallery.
Ruzzi’s grandfather fought in the American Army in World War I before returning to Italy. As you walk past the trunk you walk back in time to the early 1900s. A wall of wooden shelves stores bottles of Ruzzo’s homemade wine, affixed with unique labels through the years.
In the country hillside of Loreto Aprutino, it’s a family affair at the Pantalone farm. Living among the animals, Marianna Di Tonno and her husband Roberto Pantalone create a variety of homemade wine including Prosecco. At age 7, their son Gabriele already understands and respects the winemaking process. He also helps harvest olives for oil.
My maternal grandparents Guido Acciavatti and Lucia Nobilio were from Loreto Aprutino.
Memories of Upper Darby, Pa.
Growing up living with four families
under one roof, I remember my grandfather Paul Zippi (1900-1976) making wine in the cellar on Marshall Road in Upper Darby, Pa. I remember walking behind the wine barrel’s wooden sticks to turn the grape crusher, the smell of fermented grapes perfuming our house for weeks.
My brother Anthony also continues the homemade wine tradition, most recently in the newly opened Walnut Street Kitchens in Thornbury Township. His daughter Angela produces labels for his bottles.
Off to the Abruzzo region
What Americans know as vineyards Italians call cantines and wine cellars. Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded the Abruzzo region of Italy “2022 Wine Region of the Year.” In May, I attended Cantine Aperte in Collecorvino, Italy. Located hillside among the fields of vines, Cantine Aperte is part of a collective of wine cellars, starting to promote the region of Abruzzo as the newest destination for wine-tasting tours.
In 1993 the Movement Turismo del Vino
was created to welcome wine tourism. For a list of wine cellars by region, visit http://www. movimentoturismovino.it/en/cellars/
Glen Mills, Pa.
Nick Cappelli, first-generation Italian American, grew up with Italian traditions of food and wine. Fifteen years ago Cappelli created Fruit of the Vine, a local farmers market for specialty grapes and juice, a division of Suburban Food Services. He continues to run the business with mobile food trucks and event catering. To help pass on the homemade wine tradition, Nick has created a short tutorial on “Making Wine from Juice or Grapes” and “All About Grapes” available free on his website www.suburbanfoodservice.com.
Maurizio Ruzzi selects a wine bottle in his wine cellar.
Fruit of the Vine carries Juices and Grapes from California, Chili, Italy and South Africa. Need advice? You can reach Nick by phone at (610) 618-9250 or email at nick@fruitofthevinedv.com.
Finally, South Philadelphia
My friends Ray and Joanne Maturo make wine every year and share the precious bottles making memories at their home in South Philadelphia. Ray produced a special
batch for daughter Danielle’s wedding. They gave us a gallon of their homemade red wine. It exploded when we stored it over the kitchen stove – not a good location.
For video clips and photos on this story’s Adventures in Abruzzo, visit Facebook: Italian American Herald.
Sylvester Grande Lodge #1838 presents
Wildwood
Sons of Italy
Italian Festival
Friday September 29
& Saturday September 30
FOX PARK
4500 Ocean Avenue Wildwood, New Jersey
Hosted by Joey M and Tommy C Special guest host:
WVLT Lou Costello/King Arthur
Special thank you to GWTIDA / City of Wildwood TDC / Pepsi
Friday, September 29
5 pm Procession of St Anthony Mass in Fox Park
6:30 PM. Friday Entertainment Angelo Capone
As Jerry Lewis
Vito Piccone & The Elegants “Little Star”
Bobby Wilson
son of Jackie Wilson
Saturday, September 30 Noon Festivals opens with King Arthur
Saturday Entertainment Spaghetti and Meatball eating Contest
Anthony Bucci
Chicklettes
Zach Taglioli
Just In Time
Tommy C
The Voice of Tribute
Drifters
Under the boardwalk
The Tymes
So much in love
With music from the Coda Band