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Benvenuti to Cositutti
Miei Amici
Italians do not celebrate Valentine's Day as a one day merchandising campaign because love is in the air all year long in Italy and has been for centuries. While we were busy developing the austere virtues of the Reformation, the Italians were relaxing in the inspiring glow of the Renaissance. And although we might want to identify the Italian style of love differently, Italians more often equate love with the concept of enchantment, charm or delight, innamorato.
Italians have been studying the concept of love for a longer time and in much more detail than we have. During the 12th century Andreas Capellanus wrote The Art of Courtly Love as a manual on how to conduct oneself in matters of the heart. Expressions of love in Italy often center around food. And what better way to express your love than with unique chocolate confections that are a delight to the senses.
Chocolatiers in Italy like Venchi, Slitti, Amedei and BruCo pair tradition with innovation to create unique chocolates that like all Italian food reflect the culture and landscape of the region. In Tuscany's Chocolate Valley the flavors of lavender, olive oil, balsamic and rosemary are infused into chocolate. Torino is known for a velvety chocolate hazelnut confection known as Gianduiotti, popularized in Italy as Nutella. And in the charming and ancient town of Perugia, the aroma of chocolate has been wafting over the ancient Umbrian hills for 80 years and began with a secret love affair between chocolatiers that produced the legendary Perugina Baci Kiss. Each Baci Kiss is wrapped in silver foil with blue stars and contains a romantic transparent love note.
Click here and be directed to play i gioco dei cinque sensi (the game of the 5 senses) brought to you by Cositutti and Perugina.it. Use the icons of the 5 senses to create your own Valentine's Day experience using Italian art, design, music and chocolate.
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World's Sexiest City 
Speaking of Perugia,
National Geographic Traveler asked their contributing photographers to name the World's Sexiest City. Perugia was listed as #1. Maybe it's because of the chocolate but in spite of that Perugia is one of the most evocative and romantic towns in Italy. Dating back to 900 BC, this ancient Umbrian hilltown retains the history of it's Etruscan and Roman past with rich culinary traditions including dishes prepared with the rock star of Italian cuisine, the intense, aromatic and complex black truffle. Considered to be an aphrodisiac by some, just like many a rock star, there is no scientific evidence to back up this claim to fame.
My Umbrian friends live in Perugia so I am partial to visiting whenever I can. The historic center with it's medieval architecture and winding cobblestone streets hold many treasures. Events like Eurochocolate Perugia and White Night (an all night street celebration when many shops, restaurants and bars stay open throughout the night) as well as the world famous Umbrian Jazz Festival make Perugia an attractive destination.
*Other cities listed included Copenhagen, Denmark; Prague, Czech Republic; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Chocolate and Wine
Wine and chocolate are natural companions. Both have complex flavors, similar components and subtle nuances. Both are meant to compliment each other and like any good relationship both contribute to your good health. A gift of chocolate paired with a memorable wine can create a special moment to share with your Valentine.
But as in any good relationship you have to pair them carefully to get the most out of the match. Generally lighter chocolates go well with lighter wines; darker chocolates with full-bodied wines. Here are 3 of my favorite Italian wines to pair with Italian artisan chocolate for Valentine's Day
- Kris Heart Merlot IGT: A Northern red wine from Bolzano in the Trentino Alto Adige; flavors of cherries and plums;garnet color with intense perfumes of dried woodland fruits;easy to drink with a lingering persistence;recommended with roasted meat dishes and rich pastas;the label is perfect for Valentine's Day $10-$20
- Zeni Teroldego Rotaliano DOC: A Cositutti favorite from the Trentino Alto Adige region of Northern Italy;dark garnet color with flavors of black currant and and wild flowers; a little more expensive and more difficult to find but a great opportunity for anyone wanting an extraordinary wine experience $20-$29
- Castello Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d'Aqui DOCG: From the Piedmonte region of Northern Italy in an area known for it's effervescence! Asti Spumanti comes from this region; it's sweetness is a perfect match for dark chocolate; described as a "delicious bottle of silky rose colored bubbles"; I first tasted this wine at an afternoon reception in the Milanese apartment of my friends Laura and Luccio and I have loved it ever since; the color of rose petals, it has been described as soft and creamy with hints of wild strawberries, raspberries and roses; a great after dinner sparkler, love in a bottle $17-$25
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| Visit CosituttiMarketPlace
For a unique selection of Artisan Italian Food and Giftsfor your Valentine celebration
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