Tag: off the bike

Vino & Velo Wine Consulting

Michele KarlssonLeave a comment

Tourism is on a sabbatical this year due to COVID and while we’re going to miss spending time on our bikes with everyone we’re very excited to shift our focus from the Velo part of our name to the Vino, and the aromas, tastes, and feelings that that word inspires. Many wineries rely on tourism for the majority of their sales, whether it be directly to visitors in their cellars or to local restaurants and wine shops. During these difficult times we’re uniquely positioned to connect wine producers, especially boutique and small family wineries, with wine lovers…or wannabe wine lovers.

Leif is a certified AIS (Associazione Italiana Sommeliers) sommelier. He’s passionate about wine but what he loves even more is the challenge of finding the perfect wine for every occasion. In the last fifteen years he has crisscrossed the country with guests visiting wineries in every corner of Tuscany and many other regions. In the past his knowledge of wine and the producers has been a valuable complement to our main business of bike tours. Now is the time to take that deep knowledge of Italian wines to the next level and focus on getting Italian wines into the cellars of people wanting to expand their wine experience without traveling.

Leif stands ready to take the menu from your special occasion and choose the perfect wines to make your day unforgettable. If you’re interested in growing your wine cellar Leif can help you find wines and producers that will round out your selections so you’ll always have the perfect wine on hand. He can guide wine clubs in creating outstanding tasting events. Maybe your company would like to switch things up and give wine as bonuses or corporate gifts this year. The possibilities are endless.

Once the wine is chosen Leif will act as liaison between you and the vineyard. This is where his language skills and personal connections with many of the vineyards will become apparent as he helps assure a smooth order and shipping process.

Contact us at leif@vino-velo.com for more information about how we can work together to make your wine dreams come true.

First Sundays

Michele Karlsson2 Comments

Not everything happens on a bike or with a glass of wine in our hands. I swear.

One of the really great things that Italy has sponsored since 2014 has been to offer free admission to state museums on the first Sunday of the month. Florence has responded by opening some of the city museums and gardens for free as well. That means if you are planning a trip to Florence or Italy you may have the opportunity to see a museum or two for free if you can plan your trip to coincide with the first Sunday of the month.

As an example, for the first Sunday in March we visited the Archaeological Museum near Piazza Santissima Annunziata. It’s a treasure trove of Etruscan, Roman, Greek and Egyptian artifacts collected by the  Medici and Lorraine families, and eventually donated to the city. It’s the kind of museum I could spend the whole day investigating.

The Bargello is another museum that is open on first Sundays. It’s a favorite among artists and students of art because of its many sculptures, with at least four different versions of David and several Bacchus. The Galleria dell’Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s David is free on first Sundays, as is the Uffizi. The Boboli and Bardini gardens are also on the list along with parts of the Pitti Palace. You can find a fairly comprehensive list of museums here.

If you’re planning a trip and are lucky enough to be in Italy, especially Florence, on the first Sunday consider taking that day to visit a museum. My advice? Get there early as the lines can be outrageously long because who doesn’t want to get into a major museum for free?

Confession time: I only go to the museums when it’s raining or bad weather. Sunday is the day that every person capable of pedaling a bike is out on the road basking in the sunshine and the camaraderie of fellow cyclists.