#italy wine tasting tours

[psitalytours]

Website: https://www.psitalytours.com/

Address: Spring Lake, New Jersey, United States

P.S. Italy Tours, founded by friends Gina Marcello and Valerie Raffetto, unlocks the essence of Italy—the Italian Way. Gina, an Associate Professor, and Valerie, a local at heart, invite you to join them on an extraordinary journey.

Our Tours:

Flavors of Emilia-Romagna: Savor wine, food, and culture, from Pisa to Lake Garda. Foodie Lovers Itinerary: Master cheese and meat secrets in a flavorful week. Opera, Food & Wine: Opera meets cuisine, featuring live performances. Cooking with Nonna: Learn from local nonnas and dive into Italian cooking. Sand & Spa: Experience relaxation on sandy northern Italian beaches. Wine & Dine: Discover the countryside through vineyards and traditional foods.

What Sets Us Apart:

Intimate Boutique Tours, limited to 15 guests. 7-night stays, guided tours, meals, and more. Local guides fluent in Italian and English. Your Italian journey, your way. Unveil Italy's Beauty:

With P.S. Italy Tours, Italy's magic becomes yours. Choose us for a personalized adventure, where Italian culture, cuisine, and memories await.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psitalytours

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psitalytours/

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Velletri, Rome. Grape harvest 2023, visits to the Arsial experimental vineyards begin.

In Velletri, Rome, the 2023 grape harvest signifies the start of tours to the Arsial experimental vineyards.

This year's grape harvest in Velletri, located in the province of Rome, is expected to be among the finest in recent memory. The warm and dry weather conditions have been favorable, benefiting the ripening of the grapes and preventing diseases. The winemakers meticulously executed every cultivation phase, from pruning to harvesting, while adhering to the timing and methods mandated by production regulations. This has resulted in an exceptional wine that exemplifies the unique qualities of the region. This brief post outlines the primary features of the wines available for tasting and purchase at their wine shop and wineries.

The wines from Velletri are renowned for their exceptional quality and diversity, which stems from an age-old tradition and biodiversity-rich terrain. Cesanese, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Trebbiano, Bellone, and Malvasia Puntinata are some of the popular grape varieties. These wines stand out for their deep ruby hues, fragrant and fruity aromas, and well-balanced and lasting taste, while the whites boast a well-balanced flavor.

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During the 2023 harvest, Arsial is providing the chance to tour their experimental vineyards located within the Velletri Demonstration Farm. Visits are available every weekday.

It's currently harvest time, and Arsial's Experimental Demonstration Company in Velletri, located at Via Cantina Sperimentale 1/a, is initiating the grape harvest with the resistant Sauvignon Rytos b grape variety.

As part of its demonstration efforts, Arsial provides winegrowers in the region and those who request it the chance to visit the experimental vineyards in Velletri, as long as reception limits are not exceeded. Starting on August 22nd, daily access will be allowed from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. until the grape harvest concludes. If interested, please communicate your intent to participate by email or phone to the following contact information: Giovanni Pica, 347.9943431, g.pica@arsial.it. Contact Giorgio Colatosti at 320.4049893 or g.colatosti@arsial.it for more details.

The vineyard area of the Demonstration Farm encompasses just under 4.5 hectares and features over 130 vine varieties, including native and resistant options for wine and table grapes. Experimental trials are continually executed to confirm grape varieties' viticultural and oenological responses, all to minimize environmental impact during production.

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If you want to discover more about the 2023 Velletri vintage, we invite you to visit the winery's shop and vineyards. There, you'll have the opportunity to taste and buy your preferred bottles of wine and typical local products.

In this regard, We suggest you visit the farm website for helpful information and contacts to schedule your tastings.

ARSIAL - Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e l’Innovazione dell’Agricoltura del Lazio (Regional Agency for the Development and Innovation of Agriculture in Latium).

Image credit Arsial

🟠 Italiano

Intro

Vendemmia 2023, Al Via Le Visite Ai Vigneti Sperimentali ARSIAL

La vendemmia 2023 a Velletri , nella provincia di Roma, si preannuncia come una delle migliori degli ultimi anni. Grazie alle condizioni climatiche favorevoli ha beneficiato di un clima caldo e asciutto, che ha favorito la maturazione delle uve e la prevenzione delle malattie. I viticoltori hanno seguito con attenzione tutte le fasi della coltivazione, dalla potatura alla vendemmia, rispettando i tempi e le modalità previste dal disciplinare di produzione. Il risultato è un vino di alta qualità, che esprime al meglio le peculiarità del territorio In questo breve post, vi raccontiamo le caratteristiche principali dei vini che potrete degustare e acquistare nella nostra enoteca e aziende vinicole.

I vini di Velletri sono famosi per la loro qualità e varietà, frutto di una tradizione antica e di un territorio ricco di biodiversità. Tra le varietà più apprezzate spiccano il Cesanese, il Sangiovese, il Montepulciano, il Trebbiano, il Bellone e il Malvasia Puntinata. Questi vini si distinguono per il loro colore rubino intenso, il profumo fruttato e floreale, il sapore armonico e persistente e i bianchi per sapori equilibrati.

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Nel corso della vendemmia 2023 Arsial offre la possibilità di visitare i propri vigneti sperimentali all’interno dell’Azienda dimostrativa di Velletri. Visite tutti i giorni, da lunedì a venerdì.

È tempo di vendemmia. L’Azienda sperimentale dimostrativa Arsial di Velletri, in Via Cantina Sperimentale 1/a, inizia la raccolta delle uve, con il vitigno resistente Sauvignon Rytos b.

Nell’ambito delle proprie attività dimostrative, Arsial offre la possibilità ai vitivinicoltori della regione, e a quanti ne facciano richiesta, nei limiti delle possibilità di accoglienza, di visitare i vigneti sperimentali di Velletri.

Dal 22 agosto, l'accesso sarà consentito tutti i giorni fino al termine della vendemmia, dal lunedì al venerdì, dalle 9.00 alle 14.00.

Gli interessati possono comunicare la propria adesione, a mezzo email o telefono, ai seguenti recapiti:

• Giovanni Pica – 347.9943431 - g.pica@arsial.it

• Giorgio Colatosti – 320.4049893 - g.colatosti@arsial.it

La superficie vitata dell’Azienda dimostrativa si estende per poco meno di 4,5 ettari, sui quali sono impiantate oltre 130 varietà di vitigni tra autoctone e resistenti, sia da vino sia da tavola. Le prove sperimentali, finalizzate a verificare le risposte viticole ed enologiche dei vitigni, sono svolte sempre nell’intento di diminuire l’impatto impatto ambientale della conduzione.

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Se volete scoprire di più su la vendemmia 2023 a Velletri, vi invitiamo a venire a scoprire i loro vini nelle loro enoteca e vigneti, dove potrete assaggiare e acquistare le bottiglie che preferite. Troverete anche una selezione di prodotti tipici locali.

A tal proposito, vi consigliamo di visitare il sito web della Agenzia, dove troverete informazioni utili e contatti per prenotare i vostri tour e degustazioni.

ARSIAL - Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e l’Innovazione dell’Agricoltura del Lazio

Press release sent initially by Andrea Titti, Editor-in-Chief at Meta Magazine.

We appreciate your kind presence and attention to today's story. Thank you for joining us today.

⏩ The Board Behind

[sydneycorporatewellness]

Beyond the Brochures: Italy's Hidden Wine Delights

 Beyond the Brochures: Italy's Hidden Delights - Discovering Tuscan Gems and More

When you think of Italian wines, images of lush vineyards and robust reds from Tuscany likely come to mind. But Italy's vinicultural marvels extend far beyond the well-trodden path. This journey into Italy’s hidden delights will take us from the renowned vineyards of Tuscany to the less explored, yet equally enchanting, wine regions that produce some excellent and unique styles of wine.

 Tuscany's Traditional Charms

In the heart of Italy, Tuscany reigns as a timeless wine region, famous for its rolling hills, cypress-lined driveways, and charming old villas. Among its celebrated offerings are Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, wines that have become almost synonymous with Italian viticulture. These wines are primarily made from the Sangiovese grape, offering a complex bouquet of flavors from earthy and rustic to refined and fruity.

Chianti, often recognized by its emblematic black rooster (Gallo Nero) label, is a staple on dinner tables around the world. It’s loved for its high acidity, firm tannins, and cherry flavors which make it a perfect pairing with food, especially traditional Italian dishes like pasta Bolognese or a hearty minestrone.

Brunello di Montalcino, another Tuscan hero, is appreciated for its robust structure and ability to age gracefully. This wine is known for its boldness, rich texture, and flavors of dark cherries, dried fruits, and spices. It's a wine that demands patience, both in production and consumption, as it benefits greatly from several years of aging.

 Venturing Beyond: Italy’s Lesser-Known Wine Regions

While Tuscany captures hearts easily, Italy is dotted with lesser-known regions that produce wines of exceptional quality and unique character. These hidden gems offer a taste of the country’s diverse wine heritage without the crowds.

 The Valle d'Aosta

Tucked away in the Alps, near the French and Swiss borders, the Valle d'Aosta is Italy’s smallest wine region. Its high altitude and cool climate make it perfect for growing grapes that are rarely seen in other parts of Italy. Valle d'Aosta DOC wines, such as Petit Rouge and Premetta, are distinctive with their light body, crisp acidity, and fresh, floral aromas. They are excellent for those who enjoy a lighter, more aromatic style of wine.

 Liguria

Liguria, a narrow coastal strip known for its dramatic cliffs and seaside villages, produces wine as captivating as its scenery. The region is known for Pigato and Rossese, two wines that embody the maritime influence of the area. Pigato offers zesty citrus and herbal notes, making it a delightful accompaniment to seafood, while Rossese is marked by its delicate fruit flavors and silky texture, pairing beautifully with the region's famous pesto.

 Molise

Among Italy’s least discussed wine regions, Molise is making a name for itself with its indigenous grape varieties like Tintilia. This red wine is appreciated for its deep ruby color, medium body, and a pleasing balance of acidity and tannins. It features flavors of ripe red fruits and a hint of spice, making it a lovely discovery for those looking to explore beyond the usual suspects.

 Embracing the Unexplored

Italy's wine repertoire is vast and varied, and while Tuscan wines like Chianti and Brunello often steal the spotlight, the country's lesser-known regions offer delightful surprises that are waiting to be discovered. From the Alpine influences of Valle d'Aosta to the coastal breezes of Liguria, Italy’s hidden delights challenge the palate and expand the horizon of wine lovers everywhere.

For the adventurous wine enthusiast, Italy offers an endless array of opportunities to explore and enjoy. So next time you think about Italian wines, remember that beyond the brochures and the well-marketed paths, there lies a wealth of hidden treasures that tell another story of Italy's rich and diverse wine culture.

[sky-kiss]

For the prompts: I’ve been thinking non-stop about your professor/barista au and would LOVE to see the date/the aftermath of said date 👀

A/N: Dude, I’m so glad to hear people like this dumb universe. Have a second prompt coming in for the same verse later. 

_____

Raphael x Tav: You Cannot Invite Her to Italy Yet, My Guy

_____

The temperature has dropped low enough to warrant a coat when they leave the restaurant. Tav shoves her hands into her pockets, turning her face up to feel the breeze on her skin. It’s fresh in a way you rarely experience in the city. Her head is pleasantly swimmy off good wine, food, and better company. 

Tav smiles to herself. Raphael lingers on her left. The wine has left a flush of color in his naturally tanned cheeks. She reaches out without thinking to adjust the hang of his scarf. He stiffens momentarily before relaxing, allowing her to smooth nonexistent wrinkles from the lapel of his jacket. “Well, I’d call that a successful first outing.”

“How gratifying to hear. Haarlep would never have let me live it down otherwise.” He holds out his arm. “Come, the night is young.”

“Oooh, a secondary location. I am doing well.” She tucks her hand in the crook of his elbow. 

“Exceeding all expectations, my dear, I assure you.” He sighs, angling down the street. She relaxes, hugging her guide's arm to her chest. Heat radiates through his jacket, much needed. The material smells pleasantly of him, a touch of spicy bleeding into the cherries and musk. A little creepy to go around smelling your date, but she won't apologize. Most men didn’t smell half as nice. Raphael continues, his movements and voice looser. He’s in his element, rarely liquid; it’s charming. “You read, you brew, you’re well-spoken…what more could I ask?” 

Tav snickers. “My, I’m uniquely qualified.” 

He tips her a wink. “Almost as if we were made for one another” 

It’s a terrible line. Raphael is attractive enough to make it work. Tav rolls her eyes, shrugging under his arm and dragging it over her shoulders. If he’s going to make his moves, she'll try hers. The barista winds her arms around his waist. “Look at that. We fit, too.” 

He stiffens, staring at her in a mix of amusement and wonder. It’s too open for the typically confident man. Tav fears she overstepped. Raphael chuckles, bringing her free hand to his lips for a kiss. “Wonders never cease.”

They wander for a while. He angles them towards a park. They talk about books they’ve read and the places they have traveled. Tav has never been to Italy. Raphael spent a decent portion of his childhood on the Mediterranean coast. 

“Do you get back often?” 

“Less than I’d like. But I am always looking for a new excuse to visit.” He glances down at her, eyes glittering. “In the dark heart of winter, Italy, Spain…they seem like a dream.” Raphael purses his lips. A real mischief crosses his face. “If you require a guide one day…” 

Oh, she shouldn’t. It’s the magic of the evening; it’s the chemistry and the company. She can't stop from saying, “I’d like that.”

They walk a little longer. When it comes time to part, Tav lingers by the door, chewing her lip between her teeth. It’s too early in the relationship, but she’s still chasing the high. “You could come up?”

Raphael chuckles. The professor leans over her, curling a finger under her chin, tipping her head up. He brushes his lips across hers, more delicate than she’d like, still tasting the rich cabernet they had with dinner. “Expectation will make such things all the sweeter, pet. Perhaps next time.” He kisses her knuckles and turns to go. 

Tav just stares after him like a love-sick idiot: a little disappointed and a little giddy. 

Before she drifts off to sleep, she sends him a text. Dinner, Saturday. There is a tapas bar near her apartment, and it only seems fair to continue their faux Mediterranean tour. 

She hates that his response makes her blush: he is, as ever, delighted to serve as her guide. 

[hyperdramas]

dokyeom with a talented cook s/o

warnings: mentions of overreating & being self-conscious about weight, a single the bear reference

now playing: flamingo, kero kero bonito (2020 lyr would have screamed in joy)

— seokmin is a great cook okay he's stated in the most recent allure korea video that he enjoys cooking and can make a mean sotbap

— but he wants to be spoiled by you sometimes

— ESPECIALLY if you can cook well

— he's really shy in the way he asks you to make something for dinner

— but you know he wants something

— he's always hovering around you when you walk into the kitchen for whatever reason, and after a while you just ask "what do you wanna eat dokyeom?" to which he pretends to act surprised about

— loves ANYTHING you cook or bake but has a personal list of requests he usually asks you for

— seokmin loves when you guess what he wants to eat before he tells you

— 9 times out of 10 it's an italian dish since he's still on his italy kick from nana tour

— will try to help you in the best way he can

— seokmin has matching aprons for you and him so whenever one of you is cooking, the other can supervise or watch with a matching apron

— helps you cut anything you need and is literally SO professional w it

— dicing tomatoes and onions like carmy berzatto from the bear

— eats and eats and EATS until he's satisfied (he's a plate cleaner)

— sometimes feels self-conscious about his weight or body and will not eat as much or as fast as he usually does (which you catch onto quickly)

— he's also very wary of overreating and sometimes will not eat at all (which you're very strict about at times because you want him to be healthy)

— you always assure him that he doesn't need to eat much, but also doesn't need to go without food or be hard on himself for enjoying a good meal

— professional at pairing drinks or wine with any meal

— he always gets cheery after that, and you give him a nice bowl of vanilla ice cream to cheer him up

— seokmin is your eager taste tester

— any sauce, broth, noodle, or egg you cook, seokmin is on standby, ready to try & give you feedback on it

— a great detector of missing flavors

— if your dish needs more salt, pepper, soy sauce, sesame oil, or whatever else you added in, seokmin can tell you what you need without hesitation

— always eats your food, whether it's something he's tried before, something he hasn't had, or testing an experiment you had just created

— calls you every fancy name under the sun when you plate your dishes like a professional with the smeared sauce on the plate & perfect seasoning

— literally brags to his friends about how you were a michelin-star chef in your past life

— buys new cookbooks almost every month so he can convince you to cook something out of them

— will pay for the groceries for the meal and EVERYTHING (he will do anything just as long as he gets to eat it)

— values meal time with you, and will always try to make a way for the two of you to have dinner together and at the same time

— seokmin LOVES you, but he also LOVES your cooking <3

[transbookoftheday]

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston's latest romantic comedy, two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they're over each other—except they're definitely not.

Theo and Kit have been a lot of things: childhood best friends, crushes, in love, and now estranged exes. After a brutal breakup on the transatlantic flight to their dream European food and wine tour, they exited each other's lives once and for all.

Time apart has done them good. Theo has found confidence as a hustling bartender by night and aspiring sommelier by day, with a long roster of casual lovers. Kit, who never returned to America, graduated as the reigning sex god of his pastry school class and now bakes at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. Sure, nothing really compares to what they had, and life stretches out long and lonely ahead of them, but—yeah. It's in the past.

All that remains is the unused voucher for the European tour that never happened, good for 48 months after its original date and about to expire. Four years later, it seems like a great idea to finally take the trip. Solo. Separately.

It's not until they board the tour bus that they discover they've both accidentally had the exact same idea, and now they're trapped with each other for three weeks of stunning views, luscious flavors, and the most romantic cities of France, Spain, and Italy. It's fine. There's nothing left between them. So much nothing that, when Theo suggests a friendly wager to see who can sleep with their hot Italian tour guide first, Kit is totally game. And why stop there? Why not a full-on European hookup competition?

But sometimes a taste of everything only makes you crave what you can't have.

[drewsbuzzcut]

Vineyard Adventures

mat barzal x model!fem!reader

a visceral in doses fic

warnings: steamy, makeouts, touching, mentions of smut related topics, consumption of alcohol, and i think that’s all

You were one full glass and many samples of wine deep into your date with Mat. He had signed the both of you up for a wine tasting and lunch in Tuscany, Italy. He thought it would be a nice opportunity to have a childless date- as your son was with Beverly. It wasn’t something Mat and you could always do when you both had busy schedules and a one year old.

There were different variations of cheese and fruits to pair with all the different wines; it was something you took advantage of, so you could keep yourself from getting tipsy too fast.

You were having such a good time. There were other people taking part in the experience, but it made it better because you got to meet new people. Plus, the weather was perfect. The sun was shining, leaving a dust of pink on your cheeks, and the breeze blew through the air, making everything feel fresh.

The set up was very beautiful. Right now, you were seated at a long table, trying the first round of samples of dry wine and picking which one you wanted to have as your drink. Later, you’d take a group tour of the vineyard before making your way back to the table to have a very large lunch.

As said before, you’re trying to drink slowly, wanting to actually remember this day, and not wanting to come home plastered to a child that you still had to care for. So, you were sipping from your wine glass and talking to a lady sitting across from you. Mat, well he was in awe with you. He listened as you laughed with the people you were talking to, the melodious sound made him melt. Your hair was down and each time the wind blew he could smell your musky perfume. One of your hands was placed in his lap, holding one of his hands. He could feel the vibrations from your laughs, making him feel even more connected to you. Every now and then you’d lean into Mat, and he enjoyed the feel of your silky, sun kissed skin.

“Mat?” You whisper to him, breaking him out of his trance.

You had noticed that he was quiet and off in his own world, so you wanted to make sure he was fine.

“Yeah?” He says, brows frowned in concern that something might be wrong.

You adjust yourself in your chair so that you’re faced more towards him, and lay your palm on his cheek to gain all of his attention.

“You’ve been quiet for a while, just wanted to make sure everything was alright,” you explain.

He just gives you that gorgeous smile that never fails to make you blush, and assures you that everything is fine.

“Are you sure? Is it because I’m talking to other people while we’re technically on a date? Oh my god! I didn’t even realize. I’m sorry; I’m not trying to ignore you,” you blurt out under your breath, only loud enough for Mat to hear.

“No, babe. I promise it’s okay. I’m actually enjoying seeing you talk with the others. I love looking at you like this,” he says with a small chuckle and grin.

“Like what?”

You really didn’t understand how much Mat adored looking at you and just listening to your voice. Of course you knew how much he admired you, but you never really noticed just how much attention he paid to you. You had him hanging on your every word, since the very first time he met you.

“Your personality shining through, willing to let anyone see just how beautiful you are, inside and out,” he whispers in your ear. He had moved his chair even closer to yours, and moved so that he invaded your space.

You tilt your head into his out of shyness of his kind words. He just presses a loving kiss to your pulse point on your neck.

“I love you,” you mutter into the skin of his cheek before staring into his eyes, and moving them to look at his lips.

“I love you,” he says and happily gives you the kiss you wanted.

An hour goes by and you’ve downed almost two more glasses of wine. You’re not drunk, but you’re starting to feel lighter, and your want for Mat grows stronger.

You had to sit in your chair and watch his every movement. The way his nose would crinkle when he’d laugh to the way he draped an arm over your chair, letting his fingertips glide against your shoulder which sent chills throughout your entire body. It got even more unbearable when you’d watch him drink from his wine glass. It doesn’t sound like something sexy, but you knew he wasn’t a big fan of wine like you were, so him planning this date with your interests in mind and him drinking wine with you, was incredibly attractive. It didn’t help that he would lick his lips after every drink he took.

For his amazing efforts, you’d be attending a basketball game with him when the season starts. You will even take him to his favorite restaurant, and just treat him to whatever he wanted because he definitely deserves it.

When it’s time for the group tour to start, you are tipsy. Something you hadn’t been since you had your baby. Mat holds onto your hand a little tighter, always needing to protect you.

At different spots where the tour guide talks about the history of the place, they hand out even more samples of different wines. You couldn’t deny any of them, and when you found your favorite of the bunch, you were given a glass full. You did share your first glass with Mat, though. The second glass was all yours, so by the time you were almost done with the tour, you were a little passed tipsy. You knew how told hold your alcohol, but this was meant to be relaxing for you, so you let yourself indulge.

“Maty,” you sigh out as you grip Mat’s bicep.

“Yeah, baby?” He tucks a piece of your hair behind your ear and it makes you swoon.

You giggle, momentarily forgetting what you wanted to ask him. You have to think for a couple of minutes before it finally comes back to you.

“Is this thing almost finished?” You whisper into his ear.

“Umm… I’m not sure, why?” He asks.

“Kiss me,” you don’t give him time to respond, you just simply stand in front of him and lean into his body, attaching your lips to his. You’re both so caught up, you don’t even care that you’re now separated from the group.

Mat comes to his senses and separates from you, causing you to pout.

His hands that were on your waist are now holding onto your hands. He looks around behind you and then behind himself. You want to ask what he was doing, but before you get the chance to, he’s guiding you to an empty, dim lit hallway. You smirk in response and follow him willingly.

“Maty,” you whisper into the silence. The silence that was way too loud, filled with the buzzing lust lurking in every corner of your bodies.

He pulls you flush against him, one hand gripping your hip and the other holding the back of your neck. Both of your hands are pressed against his torso, relishing in the feeling of his rock hard muscles tensing under your touch.

You stare at each other for a while, imagining what you both could be doing if you were behind closed doors, and on a comfortable bed. You know that his head would be buried between your legs, eating you out until you were a squirming mess. You squeeze your thighs together at the thought and that catches Mat’s attention. He dips his head down, secretly trying to hide his smirk, and drags his nose along the side of your neck all the way down to your collarbones, smelling your musky perfume that you always use. He didn’t care that the halter neck of your dress made it a little more difficult.

“Oh you think your slick, huh, hotshot?” You ask, feeling his not so well hidden smirk.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mat answers.

When you start to reply, he’s already pressing kisses all over your neck, causing the words to die on your tongue.

You bring your hands to his back, wanting so badly to rip his shirt off. For now you just let your hands grip the material tightly.

Mat feels your nails trying not to dig in his skin, so he decides to tempt you even more. Both hands travel down the length of your silky, pink dress and continue down to your smooth legs. The feeling of his rough hands softly traveling down your body makes you hot, desire flowing through your veins and settling in your core. You lift a leg up and set it on Mat’s waist as a way to bring him even closer to you.

For a moment you both just stay still. You look into each other’s eyes and just float in the warmth and want that’s taken over. Mat brings a hand up to caress your cheek, his thumb rubbing your bottom lip. His eyes move lower, watching your chest move with every erratic breath you take. You love being the center of his attention, so you wait for the perfect moment to suck on his thumb, and when you do, his eyes are flashing to yours. Your tongue wraps around his digit and you make sure to make a show of sucking it, small moans and hums falling from your mouth. When he pulls his finger out of your mouth, he’s quick to crash his lips on yours, sucking on your bottom lip.

Mat moves you further down the hallway where there’s barely any light. It’s filled with boxes and might be dusty, but none of you cared enough to leave.

The lip lock gets sloppier and rougher. You wouldn’t be surprised if there would be bruises on your lips afterwards.

“Maty,” you whine when he moves away.

“Look at what I found,” he says, showing you a bottle of wine that you had no idea where he got it.

The label reads “Capezzana: Vin Santo Di Carmignano Riserva.” You had never heard of it before, and it wasn’t one of the sample you had earlier.

Mat opens the bottle, as it had already been opened, and brings the bottle to your lips.

You allow him to pour some in your mouth, and you have to restrain yourself from taking your clothes off and letting him have his way with you. The look in his eyes was dark and so sexy.

After your small drink, Mat sets the bottle down and kisses you again.

“Fuck,” Mat whines at the sweet taste left on your tongue. It’s so good he can’t resist the chance of sucking on your tongue when his lips are back on yours.

Your hands abandoned his neck and are now satisfied with being buried in his hair, pulling on the soft strands.

“What has gotten into you?” You ask.

“You’re so sexy and just seeing you enjoy yourself after the stressful year you’ve had; I love seeing you happy,” Mat whispers.

You pout and become a puddle of mush at his sweet words. You were so appreciative of how much Mat had stepped up- especially with a busy hockey season. He was the best father, after all the fears he had, and he was the best partner you could ask for.

“How about you, hotshot? You’re sexy, drinking wine with me even though you hate it,” you speak into his lips.

Mat’s hold on your waist tightens and he buries his head in your neck. He sometimes got shy whenever you would compliment him with sincerity. His hands travel up your back, stopping just below your shoulder blades. It was his quiet way of making the moment sweet.

You slot your lips with his, savoring the way this kiss was softer, slower, but just as intimate as the others shared. Once the kiss turns into pecks, he presses them from your jaw to your cheek, making you giggle.

“We should probably head back,” he tells you.

“If we must,” you groan out.

He leads you back to the table, hand in hand, your hair looking a bit disheveled and your lips plump from all the kissing. You have to keep yourself from looking into the eyes of all the others. They didn’t need to know what just happened, and you didn’t want to think about the looks you were probably getting.

“Nice of you all to join us,” the tour guide says as we sit in our seats.

Mat smirks and I just smile and nod. Hopefully no one would post about it online, not that they really knew what happened.

Mat and you get through lunch with only little embarrassment from the knowing looks you both were getting, but besides that, everything was lovely. You continued to chat and laugh, and even allowed yourself to practically sit on Mat’s lap for most of it. You didn’t need to care about what the others were thinking.

Mat even surprised you when he flagged down one of the servers to request something.

“Can we each have a glass of Vin Santo Di Carmignano Riserva, please?”

You look at him surprised, not expecting him to ask for that certain wine. When you make eye contact with him, he shoots you a wink and a small smirk, making your heart pound faster, wanting to escape into his hands. He always knows how to make you feel giddy.

“I would actually like to buy two bottles,” Mat says when the wine was brought out to the both of you. You just let out a laugh and pull him away from his conversation to give him a loving kiss. You loved your man so much.

a/n: This part is set in the future bc if you noticed, I mentioned that they have a one year old, so say 4 years into the relationship. I hope you all enjoy!!!

[cressthebest]

Art Heist, Baby! thoughts pt. 9

chapter 25:

1. my marlene and remus freindship needs are being satisfied. they have theif nicknames for themselves 😭😭

2. wolfstar and dorlene trying to sit in their partners’ laps is so funny to me. (and regulus is 100% being possessive over having james in the car with him)

3. james REALLY likes reg’s hands 😳

4. james thinking barty is a sociopath was funny until he provided evidence as to why. then it was not funny. then i think barty may be a sociopath

5. james forgetting how periods work, while trying to be helpful to lily is so funny

6. holy shit wait barty is a sociopath. holy shit. wait. sirius has a gun filled with blanks, and when asking if it was really filled with blanks, he aims it at barty to test out and barty just MANIACALLY GRINS.

7. not marlene asking if reg’s dick is huge 😭😭 ma’am, now is not the time.

8. dorcas is smart, dorcas is hot, dorcas is so damn fucking cool, dorcas is queen. send tweet

9. remus and marlene being so incredibly efficient at their job, and james being mesmerized <3

10. oh shit, wait, sirius has real bullets in his gun. this feels like it’s gonna be significant later

11. JAMES IS SENT IN TO HELP SIRIUS. THE MARAUDER CRIMES/PRANKS ARE BACK AT IT!!! JAMES AND SIRIUS ARE A TEAM AGAIN. MY LIFE IS COMPLETE

12. they completed the fake heist is 48 minutes, twelve seconds, earning 88.5 million A PERSON. holy fucking shit

13. JAMES AND REGGIE KISSING IN FRONT OF EVERYONE

chapter 26:

1. starting the chapter off with smut again, i see 😳😳😳

2. goddamn, reg is going at it

3. oh nooooo i see. reg is worried about james going in during the heist. my babies

4. wolfstar and jegulus were both going at it, but reg just HAS to interrupt i guess

5. GODDAMN black brothers fighting. this is going to cause more irreparable damage to their relationship

6. remus and james not knowing how siblings are supposed to interact 😭😭😭

7. reg knowing that sirius would be in rem’s room 😭😭😭

8. sirius naps on remus’ lap after big conversations- wait that’s so cute

9. reg and james are dancing in the kitchen with each other i’m gonna cry anhdksjdkajsksk that’s so cute

10. they’re all dancing together and are so happy. this is gonna change so fast, i know. something is gonna fuck up their happiness and i’m not prepared for it.

chapter 27:

1. james is coming to wake sirius up and is scared to open the door and see naked remus or sirius. i’m sobbing, thsi is so funny

2. “Regulus was very sensitive when it came to James. If sensitive was the right word. Maybe volatile; volatile seemed more fitting.” what a goddamn mood

3. OH NY GOD SIRIUS MIGHT SEE PANDORA OH SHIT

4. okay, it’s fine. i have a bad feeling about it tho. really bad feeling

5. reg calling this the last supper is extremely haunting. i know y’all are all readjng this and laughing at me. i know i’m in for horrors. but i’m still so scared and haunted by the thought that this is the last supper

6. reg and james are gonna do a wine tasting tour in italy. i’m crying

7. jegulus is holding hands at their last supper, and i can tell this isn’t gonna end well

8. OH they’re dancing together. they’re so soft for each other. and pointing at the stars and they’re in love

9. regulus’ hands are shaking from telling james he loves him. they’re in love, they love each other, and this isn’t gonna end well

[great-aunt-aesthetic]

Quick rant. I'm straight up in Italy as a graduation gift to myself right now. And the fact I have to act normal in a tour group is exactly wild right now. You expect not to talking about Bridgerton or Polín. I am lurking on the discord, the reddit, Tumblr, and Instagram. I watched the live stream of the red carpet and episode 5 in my hostel room trying to hold my face during a scene involving a mirror. I am internal screaming and external being active participant trying to get Colin season 2 gap year experience. I must not look at the internet until after a wine tasting and then I have to stay all night before we travel to a different city. Send a prayer and coffee my way.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 The Pairing Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD If you could travel anywhere for the summer, where would you go? ❓ 🦇 Theo and Kit have been a lot of things: childhood best friends, crushes, in love, and now estranged exes. After a brutal breakup on the transatlantic flight to their dream European food and wine tour, they exited each other's lives once and for all. All that remains is the unused voucher for the European tour that never happened, good for 48 months after its original date and about to expire. It's not until they board the tour bus that they discover they've both accidentally had the exact same idea, and now they're trapped with each other for three weeks of stunning views, luscious flavors, and the most romantic cities of France, Spain, and Italy. Will it be too much, or a reminder that a small taste can make you crave what you can't have?

💜 Pairs well with: healing hearts long bottled up but aged well, a decadent glass of light-bodied wine with hints of cherry (memories of sweet syrup spilling down warm wrists on a hot summer's day), and a lover's kiss (their taste stained against your lips). I don't know what I was thinking, reading I Kissed Shara Wheeler, Red, White, & Royal Blue, then The Pairing all back to back in a rushed, heart-aching CMQ marathon for Pride Month, but WOAH does my heart hurt. The Pairing is the perfect rom-com summer read. This story will whisk you away on a tour of Europe, inviting you to feast on local cuisine until adjectives tantalize and taunt your tastebuds, soothing you like a rich glass of red (smooth and velvety, bursting with flavors of ripe plum, black cherry, and toasted cedar, sparking unfamiliar memories). If you adored Red, White, and Royal Blue (namely, the queer references and quotes pulled from history), the exploration of Europe's never-ending artistry and ageless anecdotes will no doubt tug at your heartstrings. Nevermind the detailed descriptors, the pristine explorations of pastries, pasta, wine, and wonder. Let's talk about Kit and Theo.

💜 CMQ does an outstanding job at Show, Don't Tell throughout the entire novel. Too often, there's a moment in second-chance romances, a piece of the past that broke a meant-to-be couple apart, that SO many novels reveal all too quickly. CMQ doesn't hinge the entire story on that reveal, nor is it unveiled too soon. Instead, we're given the chance to understand Theo and Kit's points of view, not about that ONE defining moment, but about everything; how they came to be, what their lives were becoming, the lost possibility. These two characters feel SO much, but those emotions are never defined with clear-cut words, forcing readers to accept those feelings. Emotions aren't so cut and dry, nor singular; they're a tangle, a messy knot of hurt and longing, love and betrayal. Instead, we experience them through glimpses of the past and present. We heal alongside them. I'm grateful the story focused on Theo's POV first, THEN switched to Kit's during a pivotal moment of their present. We experience Theo's still raw pain and self-doubt before delving into Theo's everlasting love and regret.

💜 I just, I CAN'T. I didn't last a single chapter without making a mess of annotations. I've lived a friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-back-to-lovers, second-chance romance. I know that feeling of one person being your everything, regardless of time and distance. CMQ captures it fully.

💙 My only hang-up: this story relies on the miscommunication trope to survive, not only in the present, but the past that broke Theo and Kit apart in the first place. The execution is flawless, though, giving it realistic reasoning instead of simply using it as a plot piece. I'd also like to point out that the description you read online, regarding the hookup competition, is hardly the story's real focus. It's like the garnish for an already sublime cocktail. You can do without.

🦇 Recommended for fans of Jandy Nelson, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, and all things CMQ.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 🍷 Bi4Bi 🥐 Queer Romance 🍷 Europe Tour 🥐 Second Chance Romance 🍷 Friends to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers 🥐 Dual POV 🍷 Food, Wine, History, Art, Culture

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #ThePairing

💬 Quotes ❝ The problem is, we’ve only ever been everything or nothing to each other. I don’t know how to start being something to him. ❞ ❝ It’s not just that I want him. It’s that he taught me what wanting was. ❞ ❝ I wonder if anyone else in the whole blackberry-jam galaxy has ever loved someone so much that it made their soul feel fixed in their body. ❞ ❝ An expression of delighted awe dawns on Theo’s face, and in it I see layer after layer, old self after intermediate self after current self, the Theo I met as a child and the Theo I got to call mine and the Theo who fills her own body. They’re all here, hanging in the air, harmonizing with one another. Maybe they’re always here. Maybe she feels so familiar and so new to me now because I’d heard the beginning note but not the completed chord. I knew her before her arches had points, before the paint to finish her had been invented. What a wonder, what a miracle: somehow, more of her. ❞ ❝ My favorite parts of me are the ones that Theo brings out, the ones that grew to match theirs. ❞ ❝ I could love that ongoing, extant Theo again. There’s so much romance in that, so much beauty in learning how much my heart can endure. Sometimes I think the only way to keep something forever is to lose it and let it haunt you. ❞ ❝ If I can give my whole heart to love without fearing the cost, I will regret nothing. ❞

[readyforthegarden]

Pairing: Sam Kiszka x Reader

Warnings: None, pure cute date night fluff!

AN: This is based on the absolutely adorable post made by @sunfl0wer-power about date night with the guys, and Sam’s being pasta night. Brenna thank you so much for this inspiration and okaying me to write this! (To anyone who sent in a prompt the other week, I am working on them, I promise!!)

🍝 🍝 🍝

Date nights with Sam were always incredible. Since you met, he always knew how to have a good time, taking you out to dinner, dancing, a little dive bar for some drinks, even to a line dancing competition where you almost won fourth place (which was entirely based on charisma, in your two-left footed opinion). You always left the night with your cheeks hurting from smiling and laughing so much, and hot from blushing under his attentions and touches.

All that being said, you were relieved when he texted you one day, asking if you’d be okay with a date night at home, well, his home. You were excited for something a little more casual, asking what he had in mind.

‘I thought we could make some dinner together, watch a movie…makeout on the couch until our lips fall off?” you giggled, knowing the lanky man would quite literally go on kissing you until that happened.

“All of that sounds wonderful to me. Can I bring anything?”

“Just your cute self. And a dog treat for Rosie, she won’t forgive you if you forget.”

“I already have a milkbone in my bag for her 😉”

“Perfect. I’ll see you tonight, around six?”

“See you then, 😘”

“😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘”

Laughing at the string of emojis he sent back, you focused back on your work, glancing towards the clock and counting down until you were done and could leave for Sam’s.

After the longest four hours of work of your life, you were knocking on Sam’s front door, hearing the excited tapping of Rosie’s nails on the floor as she ran to see who was there, and Sam telling her it was you in an excited voice.

“Hi baby!” Sam grinned as he swung open the door. He ushered you inside, pressing a kiss to your cheek as he closed the door behind you and you knelt down to give some love to Rosie, having her sit before giving her the treat you’d tucked away in your purse. Standing back up, you turned back to Sam and wrapped your arms around his waist, just happy to be in his embrace. You pulled back and looked up at him, pressing a soft kiss to his pouty lips before turning towards his kitchen, hearing music spilling from the speaker in there.

“Are you playing Sinatra?” Sam shrugged and nodded.

“Fits the theme,” was all he supplied with a smile. You set your bag down and kicked off your shoes and put them next to Sam’s by the door and followed him down the hallway. The lights in the kitchen were lowered, the atmosphere already starting to feel romantic, making your heart beat excitedly in your chest. You saw a big mound of flour on the large, square island, and a small, metal machine with a crank. Fresh herbs were peeking out from a reusable cloth grocery bag, along with a crusty loaf of bread.

“Are we making pasta?” you turned to him, eyes wide. He smiled and nodded.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I thought a nice Italian dinner sounded good, and making it together from scratch sounded like fun.” Sam took your hand, gently leading you to the mound of flour and picking an apron from the other counter, draping it over your head. “Besides, there is nothing like the taste of fresh, homemade pasta. I had some when we toured in Italy and it just hits different. I made sure when we came back to learn to make it.”

“I bet that was amazing. Italy sounds amazing and beautiful.” you sighed wistfully, imagining drinking a glass of wine looking over the Italian countryside with a plate of carbonara.

“I’ll take you one day, I promise.” Sam murmured, reaching down and around you, tying the apron strings around your waist before putting his own on. He leaned his head back, shaking his hair over his shoulders and gathering it into a small bun at the back of his head, and you bit your bottom lip, trying not to stare at how handsome he looked with his hair pulled back. “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready!” Sam brought you in close, picking up a mixing bowl and gently pressing it into the middle of the flour mountain, making a divet. Explaining that there were two types of flour in the mix, semolina and all purpose, he handed you the bowl, and instructed you to pour in the contents, bright yellow egg yolks, into the hole. Setting the bowl aside, you took the fork he handed you, and watched him as he showed you how to mix up the yolks and incorporate the flour. He had you try and soon enough, you’d made a large ball of dough.

“Okay, now we need to…well, knead.” Sam chuckled, sprinkling some more flour on the work surface. He left you try first, but soon his hands were over yours, arms around your body and front pressed to your back, helping you apply the right amount of pressure to work the gluten in the dough. He was letting out soft, quiet grunts from the exertion and your cheeks flushed.

“You keep grunting like that in my ear, we’re not going to finish this dinner.” you giggled, causing Sam’s body to shake against yours with a laugh.

“Trust me, you’ll hear them later, baby.” he pressed a kiss to the shell of your ear. “Focus on the pasta, and you’ll get a nice cannoli for dessert.” you shook your head, letting him know his joke was bad and he just laughed more. “Okay, no more jokes, let’s roll this out.”

After another surface dusting of flour, Sam grabbed a rolling pin, coating that with flour and starting to flatten out the dough. After a few moments, he handed it to you, and you took your turn rolling, before it was the perfect thickness to roll.

“What kind of noodles are we making?” you asked as Sam cut wide strips out.

“Papardelle. It’s just a little wider than fettuccine and holds sauce really nicely.” you nodded and took the sheet he handed you, listening to him as he instructed you how to run the sheet through the pasta cutter. You couldn’t help the excited squeal you let slip through your lips as you watched the separated noodles come out the other end of the machine as Sam turned the crank.

“Look!” you picked one up, pinching it between your thumb and forefinger and holding it up in front of his face. “I made pasta! Barilla who?” Sam just grinned at you as you admired your handiwork, and noticed a small bit of flour on the apple of your cheek. He reached out and cupped your face, swiping it away with his thumb as his warm, coffee brown eyes gazed down at you. If you’d been in this relationship longer than you had, you would’ve sworn it was a look of love he was adoring you with. You were certain your eyes were filled with the same emotion as he slowly, gently closed the space between you and pressed his lips to yours. You couldn’t help the little spring in your feet as you popped up to his level so he wouldn’t have to bend his back too far, making him smile as you softly placed your hands on his sides, using the fabric of his shirt to tug yourself closer to him.

After a few moments of the sweet embrace, you parted, both of you smiling and getting back to work, making more noodles. Once that was done, Sam lifted a large pot onto the stove after filling it with water.

“We’ll boil the noodles and while we wait for the water to heat up, we’ll start our sauce.” He pulled out a saucepan from a cupboard and placed it on the stove. Turning to the bag, he pulled out the herbs, a clove of garlic and a large onion. He handed you the onion to peel and dice as he took care of mincing the garlic, saying he’d handle the stinkier of the two.

“I already blanched and peeled the tomatoes before you got here, I didn’t think you’d want to sit here and peel them, it can be frustrating.” Sam informed you, grabbing a strainer from the sink. The soft flesh of red tomatoes shone under the kitchen lights.

“I didn’t realize we were making the sauce from scratch too!” you looked up at Sam, smiling excitedly. So far cooking with him had been amazing, you were excited to do more of it.

“This is not a jarred sauce household, babygirl.” Sam winked at you. “You’ll never use store bought again once you taste this.”

“Ooh, I’ll be the judge of that.” you teasingly challenged him back as you finished your last cut through the onion. Sam guided you back to the stove, drizzling olive oil in the saucepan and letting it heat up before having you add the onions in and then him the garlic. While that cooked down, you and him made quick work of cutting up the tomatoes, scooping out the seeds and putting the halves back in the strainer. Once that was done, he added them to the pot with the fresh oregano, thyme, basil and salt and pepper.

“Okay, we’ll let that boil for a little bit and meld everything together.” Sam started cleaning up a bit, and you pitched in, starting to wash the plastic cutting board and knives in the sink as he wiped down the counters and cleaned them until the pasta water starting boiling. You washed your hands and nearly danced over to the pot, watching Sam toss some salt into the water as the bubbles rolled. "I'll let you do the honors of the first pasta drop."

"Why thank you, what a gentleman." you chuckled, picking up one of the little nests of noodles. You let it gently slid from your palm into the water, and Sam picked up the next one, plopping it in unceremoniously, making you laugh. You finished putting the noodles into the pot, wiping your hands on your apron before moving around Sam and stirring the sauce. Sam came up next to you, a clean spoon in hand and dipped it into the sauce, blowing on it when he brought it back up and held it to your lips, cupping a hand under it in case a drop spilled. You opened your mouth, taking a taste of the sauce and humming as the fresh flavors coated your tongue. "That's so good, Sam." he smiled as he put the spoon into his mouth, pulling it out clean, nodding and doing a little dance.

"I think this is my best batch of sauce yet." he proclaimed, tossing the spoon into the sink and turning back to you. "And it's all because you helped me make it, I think."

"Oh I don't know if that's true." you shook your head. Sam wrapped an arm around you, pulling him into his side and pressing a kiss to the top of your head.

"It is, this sauce is made with love. You can taste it." you snuggled into Sam's side, letting him sway you around to Dean Martin's "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" as the sauce simmered and the water bubbled in the background. Sam was humming along to the melody, and just as you wished he would sing, his voice softly filled your ears, his cheek resting on top of your head. "As sure as the stars shine above you're nobody 'til somebody loves you, so find yourself somebody to love."

You could've stayed like that all night, but the timer he set for the pasta started going off, and you had to leave the warmth of his embrace. You leaned up against the island and watched as he took a pair of tongs and pulled out a few noodles, taking one to the sink and running it under cold water to cool it before testing the doneness. He bit off a bit of it and then held it out for you. You took the noodle and bit into it, a perfect al dente. Dipping a measuring cup into the pasta water, he set that aside and went to drain the pasta.

He took it straight from the strainer and into the sauce pan, coating the noodles with the rich tomato sauce and adding just a little bit of the reserved pasta water and letting it simmer a bit to thicken the sauce. In the mean time, he took the bread from the bag, slicing it and laying the slices on a baking sheet, rubbing a cut clove of garlic over the bread and sprinkling some extra herbs on it once he'd put some butter on top. Popping the tray in the oven on broil, he timed it a few minutes before pulling out perfectly browned, crispy garlic bread.

Once the consistency of the sauce was too his liking, he had you grab two bowl-like plates from the cupboard and hold them for him as he plated the pasta, twisting it into a cute spiral on the plates.

"Okay, now just a little extra." he reached into the grocery bag and pulled out a wedge of parmesan cheese, and found a grater in one of the drawers of the island. He unwrapped it quickly and shaved it over the pasta, sprinkling it with the finest snow of cheese you'd ever seen, and then a pinch of some parsley he got just for garnish. "There. Perfect."

"This looks and smells incredible, Sam, I can't wait to try it." you rubbed your hands together excitedly.

"Follow me to the dining room." you expected Sam to lead you to his actual dining room, but instead, he took you to the living room. You hadn't noticed it when you'd passed by earlier, but he'd rearranged the space to fit a small table and two chairs. There was a bottle of wine at the table and glasses ready for a pour as he set the plates down. He came back and reached forward, untying the knot at the front of your apron and tugging the strings loose before taking the apron off you. He did the same with his and took your hand leading you to the table. You noticed as he tucked your chair in for you, instead of sitting across from you, he was right beside you, his knee brushing yours under the table as he sat.

"Sam, no matter what this tastes like," you began. "I just want you to know, this has been one of the best dates I've ever been on." Sam blushed and smiled, moving the hand closest to you and taking yours in his.

"For me too." he agreed. "You're easy to work with. And the kissing between tasks is a plus."

"Yeah, I'll cheers to that." you giggled. "Well, once you pour the wine." Sam reached out and grabbed the bottle of wine, opening it and pouring both of you a glass before raising his and meeting yours with a small cheers and taking a sip. From there, you both dug in, and you couldn't help the praises that slipped from your lips at how good the dinner was, glad that you'd made so much so you could ask for a little to take to work the next day for lunch.

"Okay, can I ask something?" Sam pushed the pasta around his plate for a minute.

"Sure, what is it?" you asked, dabbing your napkin against your lips as you set yours down. Sam took a small breath.

"I know it's dumb and silly, and you don't have to, but..." he squeezed his eyes shut before looking at you. "I've always wanted to have a Lady and the Tramp moment with pasta..." you took a moment to realized what he was trying to ask.

"Oh! Well...neither of us are wearing white, and it's kind of cute you want to do that...why not?" Sam lit up, picking up a long noodle from his plate and sticking one end in his mouth, and holding out the other for you. You got the other end in your mouth and both you and Sam had trouble keeping your giggles at bay as your lips inched closer and closer before the final bite, and your lips were planted firmly against one anothers.

"Rosie probably thinks we're idiots." Sam laughed, wiping sauce from his chin as you wiped some from your cheek.

"She always has," you shrugged. The two of you finished your meal together, and you helped him clean up, packing up the left overs into tupperware and into the fridge, nearly squealing with delight when he told you that two of them were for you to take home.

Sitting on the couch, you were snuggled up into his side watching the movie on the television, when you realized something.

"Hey Sam, is there any dessert?" Sam looked down at you, eyebrows furrowed.

"I thought you were stuffed?" he asked, and you leaned up, taking his chin in your hand and gently shaking his head back and forth.

"Well, someone promised me a cannoli..." Sam smirked immediately and wrapped his arms around you, leaning you back on the couch until you were flat on your back.

"Oh, there's dessert alright, c'mere baby."

Taglist: @lunaindigoraven @lvnterninthenight @allieisacrybaby @xserenax-13 @sarakay-gvf @shutupdevvie @myownparadise96 @watchingovergvf @gretavanfleetposts @gardenofgreta @streamsofstardust @joshkiszkas @jakewhorecore @fictional-duchess @like-a-woman-in-a-dream @josiee-gvf @ascendingtostardust @joshkiszkatoothgap @andeejoness @gardensgatedaisy @kkdarling @demonrat444 @teddiie @writingcold @livinginthevioletsounds @dannyandthekiszkas @gretavanbestie

[haveyoureadthistransbook]

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

goodreads

Theo and Kit have been a lot of things: childhood best friends, crushes, in love, and now estranged exes. After a brutal breakup on the transatlantic flight to their dream European food and wine tour, they exited each other's lives once and for all. Time apart has done them good. Theo has found confidence as a hustling bartender by night and aspiring sommelier by day, with a long roster of casual lovers. Kit, who never returned to America, graduated as the reigning sex god of his pastry school class and now bakes at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. Sure, nothing really compares to what they had, and life stretches out long and lonely ahead of them, but—yeah. It's in the past. All that remains is the unused voucher for the European tour that never happened, good for 48 months after its original date and about to expire. Four years later, it seems like a great idea to finally take the trip. Solo. Separately. It's not until they board the tour bus that they discover they've both accidentally had the exact same idea, and now they're trapped with each other for three weeks of stunning views, luscious flavors, and the most romantic cities of France, Spain, and Italy. It's fine. There's nothing left between them. So much nothing that, when Theo suggests a friendly wager to see who can sleep with their hot Italian tour guide first, Kit is totally game. And why stop there? Why not a full-on European hookup competition? But sometimes a taste of everything only makes you crave what you can't have.

Mod opinion: I haven't heard of this book before and I personally probably won't read it, but I do like the cover!

[sk8theinfinitysims4-leavan]

Honeymoon trip of Kojiro and Kaoru and Carla ~ Benvenuti in Italia (July 13th until July 15th 2021)

They have already arrived in Italy after a flight of several hours in a row. Before starting their sightseeing tour, they went to the place they rented from the Internet, dropped off their bags and settled in. After their first night in Italy the next morning:

Kojiro: Benvenuti in Italia!!

Kojiro and Kaoru were in Rome, Italy. And one of the first things Kojiro did was to take him to la Fontana di Trevi. They tossed a coin into the fountain for what the legend says and.... Kiss in front of it.

After a bit of sightseeing in Rome, they went to eat at a local restaurant. And Kojiro went to ask for a table. Once seated and given a table, they waited to be served by a waiter. Kaoru: I must say that for a sometimes brainless gorilla this place you have chosen has a beautiful view. Kojiro: Thank you? Kaoru: You're welcome, Kojiro. Don't be modest.

Then they go to ordering dinner at the restaurant Waitress: Buonsera signori, cosa desiderano da bere? Kojiro: Buonsera! Una bottiglie di vino rosso, per favore. Waitress: Allora… Una bottiglie di vino rosso… va bene… E poi? Kojiro: Io vorrei gli spaghetti alla carbonara, di primo, e di secondo una braciola di maiale con le patate arrosto *Kaoru very cherful* Kaoru: Per me, gli spaghetti alla carbonara!!! Waitress: E di contorno? Kaoru: Un'insalata mista, grazie! Waitress: D'accordo… Due Spaghetti alla carbonara, braciola di maiale con patate arrosto, insalata mista e una bottiglie di vino rosso. When the waitress left: Kojiro: The effort during the whole trip out I see it was worth it, huh? Kaoru: Carla is the best AI, and she taught me the best pronunciation. Kojiro: But I've corrected you several times…. 💢 Kaoru: None! 💢

The food arrives but... What is this? It's not Spaghetti alla carbonara, it's Spaghetti al pomodoro!!! Kaoru tastes that Spaghetti but it tastes bad!

Kojiro gets up to talk to the kitchen manager, but is interrupted by the waitress who tells him that she will give his complaints to the manager.

After leaving there angry, being the wine the only thing they liked they went to the nearest hostel they rented just for that night, it was already very late and the place they rented was a bit far away. Kojiro: I should have taken you to the restaurant where my old colleagues work, but it isn't in Rome… Kaoru: Gorilla… Are you all right? You look like you've climbed 100 trees in less than an hour. Kojiro: Let's go to bed and rest. And indeed, the food they ate in that restaurant was spoiled food for Kojiro. So he called the restaurant to ask for an explanation. Translation of image: Oh no, it looks like Kojiro is suffering from food poisoning! Something he ate at that restaurant must have been bad, so Kojiro should call the restaurant to report it! What happened at the restaurant is an unforeseen event in the game.

The next day, after waking up and thinking that today would be a better day, they went to the house they had rented for several days and there they met Ainosuke and Tadashi. Kaoru: Kojiro… What are these two doing here? Is this revenge for making you take photos at the beginning of our previous trip? Kojiro: No, it's because they're our friends and… Kaoru: But it's our honeymoon!

And so much for the first day, after packing and settling in, and the start of the second day of their trip in Italy. Why did Ainosuke and Tadashi come to Italy? You'll find out in the next post!

LOVE AGAIN! 💗

(You can find the building Little Rome, here)

SK8 MainStory:

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[signalterminated]

milf vessel grows in power every day. soon he'll be strong enough to carry a single Valentino handbag around with him that contains every necessity known to man. wear platform boots with heels so thin you break your ankles just looking at them. a few more notes and he'll be investing in leather pants imported from Italy. gonna get himself a wine club membership and go on tasting tours every 3 months subsisting only off of charcuterie boards and gourmet chocolates until he returns home with 2 new bottles of complimentary rosé and a handwritten card from the winery owner that he definitely didn't flirt with the whole trip

[apoptoses]

What do you think was Armand’s favorite thing for Daniel to eat or drink when he was mortal? Why?

oh man, you're asking someone who has eaten quite a bit of renaissance period food so BUCKLE IN you're getting more than you bargained for with this answer.

The short answer: modern fruit, modern seasonings/meats, cold food, and olive garden style italian

Fruits: we have so many varieties of fruits that just were not available in Armand's time. The apples and pears you see at the grocery store now are distant relatives of the apples and pears that Armand would have known and I really think he'd have sat Daniel down and had him try a little bit of everything from the produce section just to see what's better and what's worse.

He'd be totally unimpressed with the fruits we pick early and ship to stores covered in wax (their flavoring pales in comparison to a fruit allowed to ripen) but enthralled by fruit which would have been totally unknown to him, like bananas or mangoes.

(also every time they walk through a store? he's stealing some grapes off a bunch or a strawberry from a pack and pushing daniel to eat it right then and there, he's one of those grubby little fruit tasting thieves)

Meats: he'd also be totally enthralled by modern meats, but not for the reason you'd think. Spice usage in the 15th century was very different from what we have now, and spicing your meat dishes to be kinda sweet/savory was the thing. The seven most common spices were: ceylon cinnamon (NOT the ground stuff you get from the store, a totally different variety), grains of paradise (a type of red pepper), hyssop (an herb), saffron, sandalwood, galingale (a relative of ginger), cubebs (another variety of pepper not at all like black pepper)

So like. Just tossing a burger on the grill and eating it as flavored by the charcoal? Throwing some black pepper on and calling it a day? Unthinkable to him!

Armand would go through the grocery store spice aisle, get one of every premixed seasoning in a jar that's available, and force Daniel to try them all. Daniel never wants a fucking burger or seasoned chicken breast again after that.

Cold Food: this one is kinda obvious, in Venice you couldn't just dig a hole and build an ice cellar so chances of Armand ever having had a frozen treat while mortal are slim. Even cold drinks just were not really a thing in the renaissance, so Daniel sipping an ice water would be just wild to him.

He'd love ice creams and gelatos and sherberts and frozen custards. They're colorful, they have strange (to him) flavors, Daniel would have to try a bite of literally every single one of the 31 flavors offered by Baskin Robbins.

Also pudding! Jello! Cheesecake, which befuddles him because it's not cheese as he knew cheese. If it's in the fridge/freezer section Armand makes Daniel get it and take it home.

Modern 'italian' food: DID YOU KNOW Olive Garden was founded in like 1982 so in my heart Armand dragged Daniel there multiple times because it's Italian themed but is nothing like the Italy he knew. Tomatoes? Not a thing in his time but they're in like 90% of the food on the menu! Alfredo sauce? Never heard of it! Deep fried ravioli bites? What in god's name is that?

Daniel tries the soup because whatever, it comes with the meal. He powers through the Tour of Italy because Armand can't comprehend lasagna or chicken parm. He downs like four glasses of different sangrias because that? Armand doesn't know what that is and he's delighted that it's similar to the mulled wines of his youth but sweeter.

By the time dessert hits our man is sweatin'. Armand doesn't understand what could be 'italian' about cheesecake (they sell jello no bake cheesecake powder at the store, what could be different about olive garden's??) so he orders a slice of that as well as the tiramisu AND a fancy espresso cocktail. It's the Copley all over again but cheaper and greasier and with Frank Sinatra blaring on the speakers.

Would you gentlemen like a frozen entree to go? NO Daniel says just as Armand says YES, PLEASE, ONE OF EACH. He's so stuffed, he's drunk, he's in hell. Armand rants all the way back to the Night Island about his mixed feelings on modern innovations in cooking, Daniel doesn't care, Daniel never wants to see a noodle again.

(they go back the next night. and the next. and then armand discovers the fact that barbecue is different depending on which state in the US you're in and he's calling for the private jet. It's their own version of Diners, Drive ins and Dives from there and today Daniel can be found in Trinity Gate, watching Guy Fieri on the TV and yelling that HE did that first, he should be getting royalties or at least financial compensation from Armand for the emotional damage eating THAT MUCH greasy food left him with)

[les-degustations-ugo]

🇫🇷❓❓Hello les amoureux du tire-bouchon. Et vous, aimez-vous les Côtes de Bergerac blanc ❓❓🇫🇷

🍇🍷Aop Côtes de Bergerac blanc 2020 du @chateau_monestier_la_tour 🍇🍷:

🍇 :

97% Sémillon (vignes de 70 ans)

3% Muscadelle (vignes de 26 ans)

Production de 3046 bouteilles

Sols Argilo calcaires

Fermentation en barriques

🌿:

Bio

👁️ :

Robe de couleur jaune avec quelques reflets verts

👃 :

Un nez sur des notes de fruits à chair blanche

💋 :

En bouche, on a un vin avec une belle fraîcheur. Sur des arômes de pêche, poires, fleurs blanches. Une belle longueur en bouche avec une finale sur des notes de pommes vertes et une belle tension qui fait saliver les papilles. Un régal.

📜En résumé📜 :

Un beau Bergerac blanc avec du fruit mûr et de la tension en bouche. Une belle cuvée avec un équilibre parfait.

🧆Dégusté sur du Saumon fumé🧆.

🍷Quelques accords mets et vin possible avec cette cuvée🍷 :Bouchées à la reine aux fruits de mer, Chair de crabe, Croustillants de saumon,...

📌N'oubliez pas, boire un canon c'est sauver

un vigneron. Allez voir le site internet du domaine pour voir toutes les cuvées et promotions du moment📌.

🔞« L'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la santé, à consommer avec modération »🔞 La plupart des vins ont était dégustés et recrachés.

#lesdegustationsugo #wine #winelover #vino #winetasting #winetime #winelovers #food #instawine #redwine #winestagram #winery #beer #wineoclock #vin #sommelier #love #vinho #foodporn #winelife #instagood #whitewine #cocktails #drinks #bar #wein #italie #foodie #wineporn #drink

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🇫🇷🗣️Description du Domaine 🇫🇷🗣️

Le vignoble de Bergerac s’étend dans le département de la Dordogne (sud-ouest de la France), autour de la ville de Bergerac, sur 93 communes, dont fait partie la commune de Monestier.

Le Château Monestier La Tour produit du vin sous trois appellations : Bergerac, Côtes de Bergerac et Saussignac. La surface totale exploitée est de près de 30 hectares, 17 hectares en cépages rouges (63% de Merlot, 30% de Cabernet Franc, 5% de Cabernet Sauvignon et 2% de Malbec) et 12,5 hectares en cépages blancs, secs et doux (61% de Sémillon, 30% de Sauvignon Blanc et 9% de Muscadelle).

La plus grande production annuelle du Château Monestier La Tour se fait sous l’appellation Bergerac, qui réunit environ 35 000 bouteilles de vin rouge, 30 000 bouteilles de vin blanc et 5 000 bouteilles de vin rosé (Cadran, Château Monestier La Tour).

L’AOC Bergerac est située au sud-ouest de la Dordogne, sur les bords de la rivière du même nom. La superficie du vignoble en production est proche des 13 000 hectares et s’étend sur 93 communes du département.

Le vignoble est implanté sur des sols variés de calcaires, de boulbènes, de sables, d’argiles et de limons. Le climat océanique, aidé dans le Bergeracois par les reliefs de la vallée de la Dordogne et les vents marins qui la remontent, tempère l’atmosphère et conserve une humidité élevée toute l’année. Cette dernière favorise le développement de la vigne, surtout lors des étés chauds et ensoleillés.

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⏬🇫🇷Français dans les commentaires🇫🇷🇮🇹Italiano nei commenti 🇮🇹⏬

🇬🇧❓❓Hello corkscrew lovers. And you, do you like white Côtes de Bergerac ❓❓🇬🇧

🍇🍷Aop Côtes de Bergerac white 2020 from @chateau_monestier_la_tour 🍇🍷:

🍇:

97% Sémillon (70 year old vines)

3% Muscadelle (26 year old vines)

Production of 3046 bottles

Clay-limestone soils

Fermentation in barrels

🌿:

Organic

👁️:

Yellow color with some green highlights

👃:

A nose with notes of white-fleshed fruit

💋:

On the palate, we have a wine with beautiful freshness. With aromas of peach, pears, white flowers. A nice length in the mouth with a finish with notes of green apples and a nice tension that makes the taste buds salivate. A delight.

📜In summary📜:

A beautiful white Bergerac with ripe fruit and tension on the palate. A beautiful vintage with perfect balance.

🧆Tasted with smoked salmon🧆.

🍷Some possible food and wine pairings with this vintage🍷: Seafood queen bites, Crab meat, Crispy salmon,...

📌Don't forget, drinking a barrel is saving a winemaker. Go to the estate's website to see all the current vintages and promotions📌.

🔞 “Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation”🔞 Most of the wines were tasted and spat out.

#lesdegustationsugo #wine #winelover #vino #winetasting #winetime #winelovers #food #instawine #redwine #winestagram #winery #beer #wineoclock #vin #sommelier #love #vinho #foodporn #winelife #instagood #whitewine #cocktails #drinks #bar #wein #italie #foodie #wineporn #drink

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🇬🇧🗣️Domain Description 🇬🇧🗣️

The Bergerac vineyard extends in the Dordogne department (south-west of France), around the town of Bergerac, over 93 municipalities, including the municipality of Monestier.

Château Monestier La Tour produces wine under three appellations: Bergerac, Côtes de Bergerac and Saussignac. The total area under cultivation is nearly 30 hectares, 17 hectares in red grape varieties (63% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Malbec) and 12.5 hectares in white, dry and sweet (61% Sémillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc and 9% Muscadelle).

The largest annual production of Château Monestier La Tour is under the Bergerac appellation, which brings together around 35,000 bottles of red wine, 30,000 bottles of white wine and 5,000 bottles of rosé wine (Cadran, Château Monestier La Tour).

The AOC Bergerac is located in the south-west of the Dordogne, on the banks of the river of the same name. The area of ​​the vineyard in production is close to 13,000 hectares and extends over 93 communes in the department.

The vineyard is planted on varied soils of limestone, boulbènes, sand, clay and silt. The oceanic climate, helped in the Bergerac region by the reliefs of the Dordogne valley and the sea winds that go up it, tempers the atmosphere and maintains high humidity all year round. The latter favors the development of the vine, especially during hot and sunny summers.

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🇮🇹❓❓Ciao amanti dei cavatappi. E a te, ti piacciono le Côtes de Bergerac bianche ❓❓🇮🇹

🍇🍷Aop Côtes de Bergerac bianco 2020 di @chateau_monestier_la_tour 🍇🍷:

🍇:

97% Sémillon (viti di 70 anni)

3% Muscadelle (viti di 26 anni)

Produzione di 3046 bottiglie

Terreni argillosi-calcarei

Fermentazione in botti

🌿:

Biologico

👁️:

Colore giallo con alcuni riflessi verdi

👃:

Al naso presenta note di frutta a polpa bianca

💋:

Al palato abbiamo un vino di bella freschezza. Con aromi di pesca, pera, fiori bianchi. Bella persistenza in bocca con un finale con note di mela verde e una bella tensione che fa venire l'acquolina in bocca. Una delizia.

📜In sintesi📜:

Un bellissimo Bergerac bianco con frutta matura e tensione al palato. Una bella annata con un equilibrio perfetto.

🧆Gustato con salmone affumicato🧆.

🍷Alcuni possibili abbinamenti enogastronomici con questa annata🍷: Bocconcini di regina dei frutti di mare, Polpa di granchio, Salmone croccante,...

📌Non dimenticare, bere una botte fa risparmiare

un enologo. Vai al sito dell'azienda per vedere tutte le annate e le promozioni del momento📌.

🔞 “L'abuso di alcol è pericoloso per la salute, consumare con moderazione”🔞 La maggior parte dei vini sono stati assaggiati e sputati.

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🗣️🇮🇹Descrizione i Dominio 🗣️🇮🇹

Il vigneto di Bergerac si estende nel dipartimento della Dordogna (sud-ovest della Francia), intorno alla città di Bergerac, su 93 comuni, compreso il comune di Monestier.

Château Monestier La Tour produce vino con tre denominazioni: Bergerac, Côtes de Bergerac e Saussignac. La superficie totale sfruttata è di quasi 30 ettari, di cui 17 ettari a bacca rossa (63% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon e 2% Malbec) e 12,5 ettari a bacca bianca, secca e dolce (61% Sémillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc e 9% Muscadelle).

La più grande produzione annuale di Château Monestier La Tour è sotto la denominazione Bergerac, che riunisce circa 35.000 bottiglie di vino rosso, 30.000 bottiglie di vino bianco e 5.000 bottiglie di vino rosato (Cadran, Château Monestier La Tour).

L'AOC Bergerac si trova nel sud-ovest della Dordogna, sulle rive del fiume omonimo. La superficie del vigneto in produzione sfiora i 13.000 ettari e si estende su 93 comuni del dipartimento.

Il vigneto è piantato su terreni vari di calcare, boulbènes, sabbia, argilla e limo. Il clima oceanico, aiutato nella regione di Bergerac dai rilievi della valle della Dordogna e dai venti marini che la risalgono, tempera l'atmosfera e mantiene un'elevata umidità tutto l'anno. Quest'ultimo favorisce lo sviluppo della vite, soprattutto durante le estati calde e soleggiate.