This post officially opens a new section in the English version of this wine blog: VinoPigro’s Travels. Wine, Food, Lifestyle, Culture and Destinations In Italy and Beyond.
A good journalist is usually also a keen observer of people.
Traveling in Italy, it often happens I enjoy observing the tourists cozily strolling along the shopping streets of a city, or taking a series of photos in the usual touristy places. And ever since Instagram came along, selfies have been everywhere—even in the most unexpected places. There are, however, some situations I find somehow funny, especially when it comes to tourists visiting Italy for the first time: their endearing stubbornness in insisting on ordering the wrong thing at the wrong time, just because “that thing” is so Italian. Or the puzzled look on their faces when they read a wine list. Or their surprise at a restaurant when they see the local people around them exchanging amused or scandalized glances: what are they doing that’s so funny or wrong? They’ve just filled their glasses to the brim with wine—because it’s so good! Isn’t that how you’re supposed to do it? (Spoiler: no, it is not.)
And so on. The truth is, as in many countries, Italy also has its (more or less unspoken) rules about food and wine, how to order and enjoy them. Here are three of the most common pitfalls travelers face – and how to avoid them
The Myth of the Familiar Choice
One of the most frequent mistakes is playing it too safe. Many travelers look for global grape varieties they recognize from home, like a standard Merlot or Chardonnay. However, Italy is home to over 500 indigenous grapes and 350 distinct wine zones. When you stick to what you know, you bypass the incredible biodiversity that makes this country unique.
The Strategy: look for the names you don't recognize. In the Italian context, a "weird" name often signals a bottle that has evolved alongside the local soil for centuries. It is likely more interesting than a mass-produced international brand.
Deciphering the Menu Structure
Italian menus follow a specific rhythm: Antipasti, Primi (pasta or rice), Secondi (meats or seafood), and Dolci. A common error is expecting a Secondo to come with vegetables or potatoes included. In Italy, these are Contorni, and are ordered separately. If you want veggies or potatoes with your steak or roasted meat, ask for them, don’t assume they are automatically included. In same cases they are, but in many others they are not.
Cultural Etiquette: The Small Details Matter
Local people often identify tourists through small, unconscious habits, like the following:
- holding a wine glass by the bowl instead of the stem is a giveaway. The stem is there to prevent your hand from warming the wine and leaving smudges;
- adding ice to a glass of wine, especially a red. This is considered a major faux pas. Unless you are in a outside restaurant and the temperature is close to the water boiling point;
- asking for a cappuccino at 11 a.m., or 6 p.m, or preferably with dinner - or just after that. Milk-based coffees like cappuccinos are strictly for the (early) morning and the breakfast. Ordering one after a dinner of pasta and wine is a cultural clash that will definitely mark you as a “foreign tourist”.
If you are a wine lover, sooner or later you’ll want to visit Italy. To enjoy your journey the most, keep on following this blog and the tips I’m going to post in the next weeks. (1 - Continue)