I have been waiting for February to arrive so that I could finally write about the Valentine Typewriter—a design icon created by the Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass and British industrial designer Perry King in 1969 for the Italian typewriter brand Olivetti. It is found in the collection MoMA, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, among countless other museums around the world. How did a typewriter achieve such a feat? Let’s jump back in time to the 1960s. [Wavy time jumping lines]

On the 500th Anniversary of his death, I couldn’t not write about arguably one of the most prolific polymaths ever: Leonardo Da Vinci. Born Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci in 1452, this illegitimate son of a notary and peasant woman from Vinci, a small hamlet just outside of Florence would become known as the father of paleontology and architecture, one of the greatest artists of all time and inventor of futuristic machines and devices centuries ahead of their time.

What I wanted to get to the bottom of, however, is the legend I had heard since becoming a sommelier in Italy—that Da Vinci invented a simple yet genius device in wine-making called the airlock (sometimes fermentation lock)—that mesmerizing glass (sometimes plastic) ornament you see on top of oak barrels in winery cellars.

‘Tis the season to toast — A LOT. Some of you have waited all year for this: I know, I’m with you! In past years, I have highlighted various Italian sparkling wines, but, this year, I am sharing five fabulous Californian sparkling wines made in the Classic Methos (aka Champagne Method). CHEERS!

While Tuscany is famous for giving us both the momentous Renaissance and the musical Italian language, its cuisine is quite simple and austere. A variety of meats, beans, salt-less bread, seasonal vegetables, pecorino cheese and olive oil are the main staples of the Tuscan diet. The result is a rustic, but hearty cuisine that is especially welcomed in the cooler months of the year.

In past years, I have been thankful for Italian wines at Thanksgiving; This year, however, Sonoma wineries really need our love and support after the destructive Kincade fire this autumn.

It was a joy and honor to highlight these perfect Thanksgiving wines from fantastic small to mid-size Sonoma wineries that will make you the hero of Thanksgiving dinner this year—winter holidays too! Please note that these wineries ship, and I’ve included links, so please support Sonoma with your wine choices this Thanksgiving and let’s all be thankful for the thousands of first responders who contained the Kincade fire that could have otherwise devastated the region.

Wow your friends with the origins of this beloved cocktail!