Vino

     What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word “Italy”? For some, it might be the beautiful scenery or architecture, while for others, Venice and it’s gondolas or he Vatican may come to mind.  When I hear the word Italy, an array of things pop into my head, but Italy’s rich winery culture is the most prominent. 

     Located in the region of Sicily and the city of Marsala (located just a few kilometers from the city of Trapani, on the western coast of Sicily), Florio Winery has been in continuous Marsala wine production since 1833. Through our energetic and passionate tour guide and the atmospheric environment, we soaked in the rich history and culture of the prominent Florio family. Although this winery has had a few different owners, its tradition for quality still holds strong. 

     Our tour guide, Sarah, was definitely a highlight of this winery tour. Her strong Italian accent seemed to make the rich history come alive. We learned the Florio family was in control of this winery for many generations until they sold every possession their family owned, including the winery, so they didn’t have to declare bankruptcy. Because of this noble and unheard of action, the Florio family was honored. Many years later, during World War II, the winery was mistaken for a military hangar and bombed, resulting in tremendous loss. A few casks were spared from the bombing, resulting in small amounts of these wines still in the cellars to this day. Now, your probably thinking that it would be really cool to buy a bottle of this culturally rich Marsala, but that won’t happen, ever. These reserve wines are kept only for prominent people, only people who the president of the company allows to buy (not some random guy who wants to blow hundreds of euro on a bottle of Marsala). One of these reserve wines in particular was limited to a production of 1,000 bottles total and sold at a whopping 500 euro ($663 at the current exchange rate). There are two small casks left of this particular wine, but it will not be bottled and sold any time soon. Sarah explained that if and when this Marsala is bottled again, the price would definitely increase. After being immersed in the rustic cellars and rich culture of the Florio Winery, I had to buy a bottle of Marsala to share with my parents!

-Taylor R

Driving on Italian Roads

There is something to be said about the way Italians drive. It seems to me that they all have the skills of professional stunt drivers!  They speed their Fiats, Peugeots, and other models around corners and other cars with literal inches separating them while mopeds flow past obstacles like ants on a disturbed mound.   This display of vehicular handling is both a wonder to behold as well as the cause of heart attacks.  However, handling cars are one thing while modern busses are quite another. Like a puzzle master, these drivers can fit modern busses into and through lanes made over a thousand years ago solely for pedestrians. How I have not yet witnessed destruction yet i cannot tell you.

I greatly admire the skills these people posses, but as a pedestrian I have had my fair share of frights and close calls, keeping my head on a swivel.  However, this awareness has allowed me to take in more of the sights and sounds of Italy, greatly enhancing my experience and for this I thank them.

- John Langford

First day of touring in Sicily: June 4

Needless to say, I've talked nonstop for this past semester about my excitement for this Horticulture Study Abroad trip and the amazing experiences that we will learn from. I now am seeing that this description is a major understatement. Today was deliciously exhausting, as we ate infinite amounts of Italian delicacies and toured three factories where Italian horticultural products are produced. We started our day with a home-cooked breakfast, which included about eight different types of delicious coffee cakes, extremely strong coffee, and local juices. Our first stop of the day was the local pistachio factory, where we learned lots about the production of pistachios. We also learned about the different ways to eat a pistachio…and we went to town on the samples of sun-dried pistachios, pistachio butter (surprisingly delicious), cookies, cakes, liqueur, and, of course, pistachio gelato. I really couldn’t get enough—that is, until I had had enough. After scarfing down every pistachio dessert that they handed us, I realized that I could probably last for years if I never had to eat another pistachio again. Of course, we had a pistachio-themed seven-course meal for dinner at night, but that’s a different matter.

After the pistachio extravaganza, we made our way to a restaurant for lunch, and proceeded to take many obnoxious and touristy pictures in front of the beautiful view. It was well worth the disgusted stares that we got from the local diners, though, since the scenery was breathtaking. Our enormous group then made our way to the next stop: an organic honey farm. Bees swarmed about 200 yards away from us in colorful boxes, while the owners explained that they moved those boxes around the countryside, creating different types of honey based on the different flowers that the bees pollenate. Some varieties included orange, lemon, bee balm, eucalyptus, chestnut, and multi-flower honeys, which are created by placing bees in a large orchard that produces only certain organic fruits. The hives and bees are then removed, and the honeycombs are stripped of the wax and placed in a large centrifuge that can extract up to three tons of honey every eight hours. We had an extended period of taste testing and an opportunity to buy different types of honey, which I can't wait to bring home and show my family. 

Molly Mitchell

Reminds me of home...

I really like seeing something that reminds me of home; it makes me more comfortable. Most of the music playing in shops and at bars is American. It’s interesting to me that they prefer to play our music. I guess the US does well in exporting its culture.

When driving from the airport to the first agriturismo in Sicily there is desert vegetation reminding me of New Mexico. Rather than trees there are large shrubs along with cacti and yucca or century plants surrounded by brown grasses. The cacti are in larger clusters than in Albuquerque. But they have the same large pad, sparse needles, and purple fruit. They also have the same waxy, colorful flowers as at home. 

       

The yucca here are larger than home with lighter coloring and thicker leaves. Also their blooms grow taller and into inflorescence of tiny flowers whereas at home they may be two feet with white, waxy, bulbous flowers growing an inch or so long and attracting ants. One of the grasses here is very similar to Albuquerque. It has a long stem with a row of seeds pointing downwards. 

What's interesting is if you travel to a different area you'll find large trees, green grasses, and many flowers. There are even palm trees which I never would have expected in a place that has cacti. The vegetation is very dependent on location and it is fun to watch it change while driving around Sicily. 

- Shannon Murray

Italian Public Transport - What a Ride!

I must say, it has been an adventure here in Italy so far. We, as a group, decided to head to Amalfi for the day today and see the city.  We spent an enjoyable afternoon enjoying the sun, the sea, and the scenery, but the true entertainment (at least for me) was the bus ride back.

The crowd for the bus for Sorrento began to form early and the crowd swelled for a good while.  Every bus that arrived was greeted by a throng of locals and tourists seeking the bus. We were dissapointed several times, but finally our bus arrived. As the door opened, people swarmed the entrance.  It didnt matter age or gender, everyone was pushing everyone else. Ultimately, packed like sardines, the bus began to move. The first leg was as enjoyable as this packed bus could be, but several stops in the real drama began.  For reasons unknown, two women began to argue about available space on the bus and ultimately clogged the doorway preventing the bus doors from closing.  A heated argument ensued with many a hand gesture and it escalated quickly. More people got involved, yelling ensued, and ultimately the bus driver took his leave for a cigarette break, leaving the bus in the middle of the lane.  He returned thirty minutes later with the argument still in full swing. The rest of us got ansy during this time period and entered our opinion while simultaneously filming the event on our assorted devices.

It is important to note that we were still in a bus and clogging the rode, so it seemed everyone within a mile on either side was upset. The honking and general anger added itslef to the cacophony of sounds creating a vivid and passiote Italian argument. Finally, the polizia showed up and settled the situation peacefully while allowing us to get on the move again. The rest of the trip went on with only occasional outburts from the lady earlier.

Whether cooking, or fighting for a place on a bus, it is true Italians put passion into everything they do!!

In all, this situation has given us an interesting case study of Italian mass transit and memories to last us a lifetime!

- John Langford

When Italy gives you lemons, make Limoncello.

Ciao from Sorrento!

Today we took the early flight to Napoli, and arrived in Sorrento just in time for lunch.  We enjoyed our first bites of true Italian pizza on the patio outside of our hotel. The weather was perfect, and the view was even better. Once we were done most of us parted ways to check out the area.  I walked around a few shops and almost every store sold some form of Limoncello. Recently, I learned that Sorrento is very famous for it's production of Limoncello.  Why? Well, they have tons of lemon production.  Try to imagine lemons in the United States, but the size of your head. These lemons don't mess around, they are huge! Okay, so what is Limoncello, you may be asking yourself. Limoncello is mostly served cold in a frosted small glass, and after a meal as a digestive citrusy drink.  It is made by gathering some lemon rinds, 100-proof alcohol, sugar, and water.

The lemons here grow much larger than in the States because of the perfect soil mixture in which these lemons are propagated.  Not only does the soil provide an ideal cultivation of lemon trees, but it also gives the lemons a sweeter taste as opposed to the tart taste we're accustomed to.

Overall, Limoncello seems like a very interesting, and creative use of their abundant supply of lemons. I really enjoyed seeing the vast products stores provided, and their creativity when it came to advertisement!

-Jenna Rios

Olio di Oliva

Howdy from Palermo!



The rows of olive trees.

A little baby olive.

Today is June 6th and today also happens to be the day we set off for our adventure to the local organic olive oil farm. When we arrived we were welcomed with not just hundreds, but thousands of olive trees. The rows seemed to have never ended.  We got off, stretched our legs and began our tour with the founder's daughter.  She was the quintessential Italian lady. I don't think I saw her put her hands down once while she was speaking, and she was SO sweet! She walked us out to the rows of olive trees and began her lecture.  Founded in 1936 by her grandfather, this farm was a trailblazer for its time. In the 80s her father started a revolution by growing olive trees instead of a vineyard.  


The daughter, her father, and our translator.

Currently, their plot is 19 acres and yields about 5,000 trees of 3 different varieties. She continued to tell us about the harvesting processes and what they do differently to be considered an organic farm.  Very animated, she began to tell us how critical it is to harvest right when the olives are turning from green to black.  It is critical because of the high anthocyanidins at that stage, the anthocyanidins give the oil a very wonderful spicy flavor. Now, I'm sure you're wondering, "How do they stay organic?" Well I have the answer for you. She explained to us the importance her father felt to maintain an organic farm. So she walked away for a few minutes to snatch up their form of pesticides.  She lifted up a large water bottle of some green, opaque solution. This solution consists of water, and sardines; that's it.  They tie theses bottles to the trees and leave them until they need to be replaced about 3-5 months later. As opposed to the weekly spraying of pesticides on non-organic farms. Everything she told us was just amazing.  After we ended our tour, we were greeted with the friendly farm donkey. At first he greeted us with a loud, "Heehaw, heehaw." But he warmed up to us eventually. We were able to sample their delicious product along with a few appetizers, and I don't think I've ever tasted oil that wonderful in my lifetime! Our trip to the olive farm was definitely educational, and I enjoyed every second of it.

-Jenna Rios





The farm donkey.



Aggie Hort is in Italy now and will be reporting soon!

Once in Italy, the group will first travel through Sicily.  The latter part of the journey will be at Santa Chiara in Castiglion Fiorentino, a small town in Tuscany and their trip will intersect with UT's Art history program.  They keep a blog, too: http://blogs.utexas.edu/learningtuscany/ .  The trip will wrap up in Rome.  So stay tuned for fresh Aggie posts...

A brief introduction to Millie and Paul

For those of you who do not already know us, the photo below is of Millie Burrell and Paul Greer at the Vatican Gardens during a previous trip to Italy.  Millie and I are married, and live in south College Station.

Hopefully many of you will know us already, as we both have been in the Horticulture Department for many years.  Millie completed her masters here, and a PhD in Botany in the Biology Department. At one time or another, Millie has taught most of the classes in the department, so she is well versed on the subject.

Millie studied Ancient Greek and Latin as an undergraduate, lived in Italy for a year, has travelled through out most of the country and speaks Italian.  

Visit:  http://youtu.be/BvynCd8Dicg for high resolution video

I have been at Texas A&M since 1994, and in the Horticulture Department since 1997. My background is as varied as horticulture itself, including computer and networking, to research on cotton and guayule (Parthenium argentatum), a drought resistant rubber producing plant commonly found in the Chihuahuan Desert of West Texas.

We are sorry that Leo and Terri can not go on this trip, but we are excited and looking forward to interacting with the students, and sharing our experiences and knowledge of Italy. Please feel free to contact me by email at pgreer@tamu.edu, or on my cell phone at 979-220-0796 as needed.

Boboli Gardens in Firenze. The gardens in Italy are so incredible, rivaled only by the architecture and culture. And the food is not bad either.

Paul at the Vatican Gardens

Paul at Siena, Italy during Serpentine Meeting

Paul appreciating classic cars during the Rally 1000 Miglia in Siena

Millie in Pisa

Gearing up for this year's trip!

Wow! It won't be long until Aggie Hort is back in Italy.  Follow along here as we journey through Italy (including Sicily!)...