Marsala wine. Generically you hear about this in sauces with steak. I've heard of it most of my…read moreeating life as I tried to discover new things from a culinary perspective. However, how many have had a quality Marsala wine on its own? De Bartoli is on the forefront of wine pioneering in Sicily with Marsala being the age old focus. Got to try the drier Vecchio Samperi Ventennale flagship and the sweeter Vigna La Miccia with a dessert. Fantastic. If you've only ever had this wine in a sauce, do yourself a favor and seek Marco De Bartoli's Marsalas and sample them in a glass. You'll wonder why sauce was the only way you had it.

An absolute gem. With rooms about 4x the size of what you'd normally find in Europe, Sotto Le…read moreStelle delights with its blend of modernity and old world. Views are stunning, accommodations are clean and beautiful, and most of all, your hosts are welcoming. We arrived as a party of 9 but are quietly plotting to kidnap brothers Giuseppe and Leonardo and take them back to Austin in our baggage. They are funny, patient and professional, and display an obvious passion for their business. We are already planning our return to Caltabellota and to Sotto Le Stelle, and we are still here!