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Showing posts with label wines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wines. Show all posts

Far Removed From The Firm

The Burnett family had lived in central London since Mr Burnett became involved with 'The Firm' fifteen years previously. They organised a place for the family to live, they even organised a removal company for them. Mr Burnett had to admit, they had been good to them many times but it all came at a price and he'd been in this game for too long now. He wanted to get out but the boss wasn't keen.He makes all the right noises. Oh yes, no problem, he says, you can leave whenever you want. They will organise the removal company again but the foreboding Burnett feels at this statement says he will probably be removing his head rather than his furniture before he lets him leave.

On top of this Burnett has a wine collection that has been obtained through his contacts at the firm. Any removal company he uses will have to have specialist knowledge of how to handle this treasure of Burnetts.There are men watching the house. Burnett know this because he tried to organise his own removal company. For some reason he felt it would be best if the boss didn't know where he was moving to, just for the family's peace of mind. The removal company called the next day to say how sorry they were but they didn't have the time or resources to help him move. Ever.

The boss paid Burnett a visit yesterday, with his heavies in tow of course, just to enquire after the family's well-being. He didn't directly say anything threatening but it made burnett shiver when he was stroking his young daughter's hair while giving him 'the look'. After asking to check out his wine collection, Burnett was horrified when he dropped the most vintage bottle in the collection. Seeing claret all over the floor left him in no doubt that he wasn't happy about his plans.

The boss likes to think he's a big shot in the world of protection rackets but there are bigger fish than him and during Burnett's time with them even he managed to work out there are areas of the world that even the boss won't go, due to the gang wars over territory.Burnett and his family choose one of these areas and using a complicated method of getting someone else to track down a property for them without the bosses knowledge, a deal on a house has been secured in Italy. A family friend also has connections in the underworld and they know a rival gang that would do anything to get one up on his boss.

They have their own controlled removal company who are willing to help their rivals for a small fee. It has all been arranged via secret telephone calls and an escape plan has been set.This rival gang are setting up a red herring to lure the bulk of The Firm into a distraction. They will then go in, pack up Burnett's home including his precious wine collection, and ship it all over to Italy in an apparently untraceable operation.The rival gang have laid on a private jet and in the dead of night the family are whisked away to start their new life. After a few cautionary diversions, they arrive at their new home to find the removal company had beaten them to it and everything is set up to just move straight in.

Six months later the Burnett family are completely settled and adjusted to their new way of life with no contact from 'The Firm', much to Mrs Burnett's relief. That's when he gets the call from the removal company that helped them on their way. It seems it's time to pay back that favour and, with a sinking feeling, Burnett realises he has gone from frying pan to fire.

Why Wine Clubs Loves These Historic Favorites

Wine clubs love the historic wine regions of Italy, including Campania, Basilicata, and Puglia. The wines from these regions offer a modern day wine from some very ancient vines that still produce grapes today. This article looks at these three historic wine regions along with the culture of the times when these ancient vines were originally planted.

Campania

The capital of Campania, Naples was founded by the Greeks, enlarged by the Romans, and subsequently invaded by the Normans, Hohenstaufen, French, and Spanish among others. Established by the Greeks in the 11th century BC, Naples was the earliest of a cluster of far-flung settlements throughout southern Italy.

Many important figures of the age, including Pythagoras, Archimedes, and Aeschylus lived in these settlements, and today some of the best ruins of the ancient Greek world can be found there. Along with mathematics, architecture, and drama, the ancient art of winemaking also flourished in the hills and valleys of the region as the cult of Dionysus spread. Aglianico and Greco, grapevines that the Greeks introduced, are highly priced today and prized by wine enthusiasts and wine of the month club members. The Greek historian Herodotus called this part of Italy Oenotria, the land of wine.

Basilicata

Along with Sicily, Calabria, and Puglia, Basilicata was part of Magna Graecia in the sixth century BC, when the Greeks planted one of Italy's finest grapes, the noble Aglianico. Later the Romans dominated the region, calling it "Luciana," but Basilicata derives its name from its Byzantine rulers.

Greek ruins, medieval abbeys, Norman castles, and a collection of hill towns grace this wild and remote region, the most mountainous in Italy with only eight percent of its surface area flat. Despite southern Italy's reputation for semi tropical weather, Basilicata's capital, Potenza, is often the coldest city in Italy, chilled by cold winds from the Balkans and the Apennine mountains. The best vineyards have developed on the high ground of Monte Vulture, both on the steep eastern side of the volcano and on the high plains around Venosa. The wines from the Basilcata region are a favorite of most wine clubs.

Puglia

Puglia, the heel and spur of the Italian boot, is rich in art and architecture that reflect the many cultures that have dominated the region over the centuries. The Greeks, Romans, Saracens, Normans, Swabians, and Spainards among others have all left their imprints there. The octagonal fortress in Castel del Monte was built by Emperor Frederick II in 1240. The towns of Otranto and Gallipoli evoke the Greeks. And much of Lecce is Baroque in style, having flourished in the 17th century.

Alberobello is the capital of the "trulli," whitewashed, circular buildings with conical roof tiles, whose origins no one is certain of. In the north, the terrain is hilly and the climate temperate. Red wines dominate but the region produces many white wines enjoyed by wine of the month club members. In the south, the traditional wines of Salento are the powerful reds Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera, and Primitivo, related to California's Zinfandel, a common favorite of many wine clubs. Salice Salentino is the most prominent zone and is noted for its rich reds and its rose. These three historic wine regions of Italy still produce wines today using these ancient grapevines, providing a taste of the past along with enjoyment for today.