Superyachts and Wines on the Italian Riviera

Overview Video—

The 66th Genoa Boat Show

Over a thousand water craft from 45 countries were on display at the 66th Genoa International Boat Show during the first six days of October. This is the third largest boat show in the world (did you know that more than half of the world's superyachts are built in Italy?).

I was invited to attend by the awesome team at Seaclear PR Communications, and the caliber of the event (and their organization) was astounding. Prime Minister Georgia Meloni casually strolled along the dock, chatting with boat makers, while superyacht owners showed off their double digit million Euro custom crafts.

We explored the superyacht GTX116 from Pershing, a 35.3 meter (115 foot) long craft that can move at up to 32 knots and can take 20 persons from 360 to 800 nautical miles, depending on the speed of operation.

We also walked on board the Icona 70 (inspired by Mangusta) a 28.9 meter (68+ feet) long svelte craft powered by versatile Volvo Penta engines that can move at up to 30 knots, providing a range of up to 300 nautical miles. The object of the designers was 'to create an object of desire.' [I previously wrote about Volvo's hybrid boating technology for Forbes previously, here.]

Above, Stefano Arlunno—President Americas of Mangusta Yachts—describes features of this yacht, which won Best Exterior Design award at the 25th World Yachts Trophies event earlier this year.

Food and Drink in Liguria—

The Business Lounge at the Genoa Boat Show served wines from Villa Cambiaso, which has about 4 hectares (10 acres) of vines located in Liguria. Their wines—produced by a noble family—include one that is a blend of Albarola, Vermentino and Bosco grapes from the appellation known as Val Polcevera Coronato DOC.

Albarola is native to Liguria, and grows around La Spezia and Cinque Terre. It is usually added to blends to provide freshness, salinity and acidity.

They also produce a white wine made 100% from the Pigato grape (closely related to Vermentino).

In the evening, we ate dinner at a sumptuous restaurant in the heart of the city—Giotto in Hotel Bristol Palace. We drank a local white Vermentino wine, and selected a red from the Piedmont region located to the north. The Barbera red wine had both spice and shoulders, providing a blast of welcome heft.

Menu:

Antipasti: Octopus Salad Ligurian Style 

Primi:

Pansotti fresh pasta with walnut sauce

Trofie pasta with green beans and potatoes

Dessert:

Semifreddo alla Panera with strawberries and cream

Wines:

Lunae. Vermentino. Colli di Luni DOC. 2025.

Monchiero Carbone. Mon Birone. Barbera d’Alba DOC. Grand Cru. 2020.

Book Feast! Voila—a Gastronomy Holiday Treat

This book— A Story of Gastronomy & Wine—comes from renowned Bordeaux wine producer/library Château Haut-Brion. It includes over 470 historic recipes and 100 restaurant wine lists from thousands of historical sources related to gastronomy and wine. December is a whisper away, and this could be a holiday treat to purchase for others (or yourself). Click here to learn more.

I had lunch with Prince Robert of Luxembourg, producer of this esteemed wine as well as the book, a few years ago in Bordeaux. He's a charismatic, down to earth fellow. Check out the Instagram video of him below, regarding this book.

"Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars - Season 2" by Apple TV.

Special Edition Vino Voices Coming this Friday—

I have been provided advanced screenings of this engaging series from Apple TV. Episode 4 ("We could make history!") will be publicly released on October 9th and features three Brazilian restaurants—in São Paolo and Rio de Janeiro. I'll include a review, photographs and videos this coming Friday in a Vino Voices Special Edition release. Please tune in!

Free Recipe from The Winemakers' Cooking Companion Cookbook

My cookbook titled The Winemakers' Cooking Companion was compiled over a ten year period. It includes 108 recipes from 18 countries—contributed by winemakers, winery chefs and winery owners. The book launch dinner took place on September 16th in my village in southern France. Fifty diners joined. There will also be another book related event at the Green Cat art gallery in December.

Recipe—

Below is a free recipe from this cookbook for succulent leg of lamb from Maverick Estate Winery in British Columbia, Canada.

More Free Chapters From The Book Vino Voices: Wine, Work, Travel, Life

I'm continuing to provide all chapters from my book Vino Voices: Wine, Work, Travel, Life for free here. Originally written over a decade ago, this book has been revised and is available as an e-book. It is 230 pages long and includes interviews with more than 45 professionals in a dozen countries who work in the world of wine, and explain why they love their work. It includes more than 100 photographs.

Click below to download chapters 29 and 30, about an Italian grandfather from near Venice who made wine in his garden shed, as well as an American who told how he and cellmates made jailhouse wine.

What's Next in Vino Voices

• Two dinners and wines in Provence, France
• Norwegian winemakers in southern France
• Indonesian food paired with French wine

Follow me on Instagram at @tjlmullen or at @VinoVoices.