THE ITALIAN JOB by Eric Cook
ravelling the by-ways of the Columbia and Willamette Valleys , the rolling topography offers refreshing novelty to the drive . Over these rolling fields , a crest of a hill or curve in the road opens new vistas , new altitudes , and new aspects of soil , sunshine and perspective across our flood-sculpted landscapes .
Delicious wine is grown on those hillsides .
Tuscany undulates like this too — hilltop towns , broad plains and curvy roads from sea level to mountainside with arrays of variation in altitude and aspect . Tuscany ’ s Sangiovese grapes respond well to warm Washington vineyards , and all Italian varieties are enjoying a surge in popularity from intrepid tasters . Turns out , Italy has been a formative presence in the Northwest wine world for decades .
In the 19th century , many Italian families came to the U . S . knowing how to make wine — and share it . In California , names like Gallo , Mondavi , Martini and Trinchero ( among thousands of others ) became
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