A gastronomic review

So here are my nominations for best food and wines... I can't pick one but instead I will nominate some selections. Note that these are just my personal opinions based on where I ate and what I ate!

Best Food

Things that I really enjoyed on this trip would have to include burrata cheese, the lovely little pears that were common at breakfast, and a big variety of bruschetta toppings.

Of all the food categories, I probably ate significantly more seafood than on other trips to Italy. Scampi, prawns, clams, several varieties of fish, octopus... all good.

Ristorante di Alighiero in Anghiari, was probably the pick as a complete meal. Beautifully presented fine dining with a formidable range of wines. I dined alone at the end of of my COVID bout.

Keiv Bistrot in Matera. Elegant food in an elegant setting with good staff.

The salads that Kate and I had in the shade of a lime tree for lunch at Gabo' gia' Coffee & More in Ostuni.

Best Restaurants

At the winery Masseria Li Veli near Cellino San Marco, grand service of a sumptuous lunch with matched wine tasting from the vineyard, all served in the impressive winery building.

The gardens are lovely too, with views out over the vineyards. Knowledgeable and friendly host.

Ristorante La Cantina in Alberobello was enormous fun. Just a great atmosphere and good food and wine. Good work by Kate to select and book! The restaurant was full and there were many prospective customers turned away while we were there.

We had a picture taken with the chef and boss and I suspect it happens a lot.

Best Provided Breakfasts

Sui Tetti in Lecce, with a rooftop restaurant, a barista on hand and a reasonable selection of breakfast items.

Le Dodici Lune in Matera, if only because omelets are available.  

Fresh squeezed orange juice is much more common in Italy than it used to be.

Best Red Wines

Very difficult. We drank a lot of good red wine!

Several stand out including the Montefalco we had in Sansepolcro.

Less well known in Australia was susumaniello that we tasted at Paco's Wines and at Masseria Li Veli. 

Also really liked some of the Negroamaro wines

including this one in Alberobello.

Some old favourites further north including this half bottle in Anghiari. Note the very fancy cork presentation!

Best White Wines

Hands down winner is the Cava Bianca Terrecarsiche1939, a blend of Bianco d'Alessano, Chardonnay and Fiano that we had in Ostuni. A revelation!

Lovely mouthfeel, good balanced acidity, lovely golden colour, what's not to like?

We had it at lunch and the next day went back and had it with dinner!

And here is one included because it is a stranger to me... a variety I had not had before.

Falanghina is one of the ancient grape varieties staging something of a comeback. Interesting, somewhat like a semillon, somewhat like a trebbiano. Citrus nose but all apple and pear on the palette.