Anche se vivo in Australia da molti anni, non mi sono abituata1 al fatto che qui, a settembre, inizia la bella stagione, mentre in Italia arriva l’autunno. Strano, vero? Ogni volta devo pensarci due volte!2 In che mese siamo? Qui a Perth, settembre assomiglia tanto a3 maggio in Italia, un periodo in cui si sente nell’aria un nuovo inizio4, il sole caldo, i fiori e le prime zanzare5!
Anche la nonna si confonde quando ci sentiamo su WhatsApp. Mi chiede preoccupata: “Ma non hai freddo con le maniche corte6?” Poi, con un sorriso, si ricorda: “Ah sì, lì è diverso!” E così, ci abituiamo ogni volta a questa realtà che sembra capovolta, con le stagioni invertite.
Proprio per questo, mi fa un certo effetto7 vedere le foto della vendemmia8 in Italia, quelle immagini che arrivano dal Piemonte, con le uve bianche raccolte nei vigneti. La vendemmia, che ha un'aria così romantica… eppure, tanto romantica sempre non è! È una serie di gesti che si ripetono ogni anno, sempre uguali eppure sempre nuovi9. Si piega la schiena nello stesso modo, si riempiono le cassette nello stesso modo, si affondano i piedi nella terra allo stesso modo. Poi ci sono i trattori con il rumore "rattatataa"10 che vanno avanti e indietro per le strade di campagna e che, se hai voglia di farti un riposino, puntualmente, ti svegliano. Sì, sono proprio una nostalgica...
Mi ricorda quando11, da bambina, la facevo (la vendemmia intendo) con i nonni, la mamma e gli amici. Ci si metteva gli stivali12 e i vestiti più brutti che si potevano trovare nell’armadio. Chi con i guanti13, chi senza, ma tutti con le forbici da vendemmia14 in mano e la voglia di finire in fretta15 per mangiare una fetta di salame o di toma16 sul pane. E per i grandi, un bicchiere di vino!
E tu hai mai vendemmiato? Se sì, sono davvero curiosa di sapere dove e quali sono i tuoi ricordi.
Oggi, nella newsletter, troverai una serie di cose interessanti su questo tema e chissà se ti farò venire voglia17 di correre a comprare una bella bottiglia di vino piemontese, del pane e qualcosa da mangiare… sì, perché si parla meglio18 l’italiano con un bicchiere di vino!
Un abbraccio,
Ci sentiamo la prossima settimana!
Monica
P.S. Adoro scrivere queste newsletter, ma ci metto tanto tempo nel crearle. Perciò, se ti piace leggerle, fammelo sapere con un cuoricino, un messaggio o lasciando un feedback tramite questo velocissimo questionario. Per me è fondamentale per migliorare, mantenere alta la motivazione e giustificare le ore che non passo a guardare la TV, ahah!
If you can’t understand everything yet… you can find the translation in English at the bottom19.’
Listening practice:
I often hear from students that the most difficult thing to do is understanding spoken Italian. That’s exactly why all my newsletters are recorded.
Listening to the newsletter while reading along is a great way to improve. It helps you hear how words are pronounced and how sentences flow naturally. Here’s how you can use this:
Prima, listen without reading to see how much you understand.
Poi, listen again while following the text to catch any words you missed.
Infine, repeat tricky words or phrases out loud to practice pronunciation.
Feel free to replay sections as many times as needed!
Vocabulary corner : LA VENDEMMIA
Throughout this letter, you've probably come across some new vocabulary, highlighted in bold, with their English translations in the footnotes. But I wanted to share something special with you—a resource that we’ll be using with all our students in the coming weeks.
Experience in Italy: How to work on a vineyard in Italy
If you've ever thought about packing your bags and heading to Italy to work during the harvest, this post will give you all the insights you need to get started. From the types of jobs available, to the logistics of making it happen, learn everything Liv experienced and how you can make this dream a reality too!
How to work on a vineyard in Italy in 2024
More Beautiful Things:
First, have fun listen to this song I recently found. (I'm sure NONNO Domenico would have loved it)
Next, follow along with my friends Swantje and Marco aka La vedetta wines on Instagram as they document their vendemmia experience..
Dive deeper into the Piemonte vendemmia this year, I found an insightful article that covers both the quality and quantity of the 2024 harvest.
Take a note: 4 VINI PIEMONTESI
For your next visit to the vineria (wine shop) or when browsing the Lista dei Vini (wine list) at a restaurant… Search “Alta Langa” if you’re keen for something other than Prosecco, or try a crisp Arneis.
For red wine lovers, Dolcetto might cause some confusion—despite its name, it’s not a sweet wine! Pair it with a nice panino for a picnic. If you're a fan of something bolder, Barbera is another fantastic choice.
Of course, the list could go on forever, but for now, these are just a few to explore. Enjoy your sips and stay tuned for more wine wisdom in future editions!
Mi sono abituata – I got used to
Devo pensarci due volte – I have to think twice about it
Assomiglia tanto a – It looks so much like
Un nuovo inizio – A new beginning
Le prime zanzare – The first mosquitoes
Maniche corte – Short sleeves
Mi fa un certo effetto – It has a certain effect on me
La vendemmia – The grape harvest (Vendemmiare - To harvest wine)
Sempre uguali eppure sempre nuovi – Always the same, yet always new
Il rumore "rattatataa" – The "rattatataa" noise
Mi ricorda quando – It reminds me of when
Gli stivali - The boots 👢
I guanti - The gloves 🧤
Le forbici da vendemmia - The Scissors for the Harvest
La voglia di finire in fretta – The desire to finish quickly
La Toma - piedmont’s cheese 🧀
Ti farò venire voglia – I will make you want to
Si parla meglio – You (one) speak better
ENGLISH: Even though I've been living in Australia for many years, I still haven't got used to the fact that here, in September, spring begins, while in Italy, autumn arrives. Strange, right? Every time I have to think twice about it! What month is it? Here in Perth, September feels a lot like May in Italy, a time when you can sense a new beginning in the air, the warm sun, the flowers, and the first mosquitoes!
Even Grandma gets confused when we chat on WhatsApp. She asks worriedly: "Aren't you cold in short sleeves?" Then, with a smile, she remembers: "Ah yes, it's different there!" And so, we get used to this upside-down reality every time, with the seasons reversed.
Because of this, it feels a bit strange to see the photos of the grape harvest in Italy, those images that come from Piedmont, with the white grapes being picked in the vineyards. The harvest, which has such a romantic air... yet, it's not always that romantic! It’s a series of actions that are repeated every year, always the same yet always new. You bend your back in the same way, fill the crates in the same way, sink your feet into the earth in the same way. Then there are the tractors with their "rattatataa" noise going back and forth on the country roads and, if you feel like taking a little rest, they inevitably wake you up. Yes, I'm quite the nostalgic...
It reminds me of when, as a child, I did it (the grape harvest, I mean) with my grandparents, mom, and friends. We would put on boots and the ugliest clothes we could find in the closet. Some wore gloves, others didn't, but everyone had pruning shears in their hands and the urge to finish quickly to eat a slice of salami or toma cheese on bread. And for the adults, a glass of wine!
And you, have you ever harvested grapes? If so, I’m really curious to know where and what your memories are.
Today, in the newsletter, you’ll find a series of interesting things on this topic, and who knows, I might make you want to run and buy a nice bottle of Piedmont wine, some bread, and something to eat... yes, because you speak Italian better with a glass of wine!
A hug
See you next week!
Monica
P.S. I love writing these newsletters, but they take a lot of time to create. So, if you enjoy reading them, please let me know with a heart, a message, or by leaving feedback through this super quick questionnaire. It’s essential for me to improve, stay motivated, and justify the hours I’m not spending watching TV, haha!
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