The first time I went to Italy, wait, that sounds like I’ve been a jillion times. I’ve only been twice, y’all. Anyhoo… The first time I went to Italy, I was fortunate enough to visit the Biondi-Santi Winery in Montalcino. This was a very big deal, as Biondi-Santi is the place where Brunello wine was invented. I don’t care who claims what or for how long – it all began with Biondi-Santi. And to this day, their Brunello is sublime. I mean spendy. No, I mean sublime.
As we were leaving the winery, I looked out across the fields and saw grapes being harvested. It was early afternoon and the countryside couldn’t have been more beautiful. I turned my gaze up the road and the view just spoke to me. As it was the time of film (and not digital), I worked with what I had loaded in the camera. I ended up snapping a black & white pic. I would show you the pic, but it’s packed away in a POD, somewhere in the desert. But I digress…
Years later, that photo continued to speak to me. And I wanted to paint it, but not in black & white. So I used my imagination and came up with my own colors. What I ended up with is the above painting. I call it “Montalcino.”
For now, it hangs at the end of my galley kitchen. It reminds me that there are always roads to travel, places to see and experience. I don’t know if I’ll ever make it back to Montalcino, but the painting takes me there from time to time. Even now, I can smell the dust in the air and feel Autumn coming on.
A new season. What a blessing.