Zoom details will be available on Resources. 

A Ceramic Lover's Journey Through Italy 

with Dott.ssa Elizabeth Brewster Thursday May 20th @ 18.00 pm

Dott.ssa Arch. Elizabeth Brewster is a native of San Francisco, California holds degrees in architecture from the University of California at Berkeley and Università degli studi "La Sapienza", Rome. She specialized in restoration and urban design. Her restoration projects have brought her to work in direct contact with the rich historical layers of Rome and Italy.

She has lived in Rome since 1988 practicing architecture, researching design and lecturing at university study abroad programs.

Pack your bags as we take a trip down the Italian peninsula with an expert in decorative arts and architecture to discover lesser-known medieval towns and hamlets where the art of making ceramics has been going strong for centuries.

Italy is world-famous for its maiolica, a brilliantly colored, hand-painted earthenware ceramic that has been produced there since the 1400s. Gorgeous maiolica tableware which once graced renaissance banquets of European nobility can be seen today in top museums such as the Louvre, the Victoria and Albert, the Ashmolean, the Met, the Getty, and the Hermitage. Today hundreds of artist and artisan workshops throughout Italy continue this tradition, handcrafting new pieces in traditional, regional, and contemporary styles.

We'll explore 5 important ceramic-producing towns, each from a different region: Faenza (Emilia Romagna), Deruta (Umbria), Vietri (Campania), Grottaglie (Apulia), and Caltagirone (Sicily). In each town we'll seek out the local maiolica traditions, looking for the unique colors, patterns, designs, and specialty pieces that are produced and sold there. We'll see historical maiolica proudly decoration each town's public spaces: in the streets and piazzas, on the building facades, and inside the courtyards and churches.

Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants might be inspired to visit some of these medieval towns, bringing with them a new understanding and appreciation of the ages-old local craftsmanship.

Pull out your ceramics and maps and grab a glass of whatever you like and join us for this stimulating talk/aperitivo at 18.00. We’ll cover a few general AWAR topics and then have the pleasure of hearing from this interesting speaker.   

When:   Thursday May 20^th

Time: 18.00 pm Rome time CET

Where: Zoom virtual meeting

Link:   https://zoom.us/j/97199742674

Meeting ID:  971 9974 2674

Please join the AWAR Wine Appreciation Club for a fun and fascinating look at "Summer Reds." This is a virtual event led by Sommelier, Cynthia L P Chaplin, Director, Exquisite Italy. 

Please select a few of the wines below to enjoy during the tasting. We recommend using Tannico to order your bottles: 

• Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetrano Frizzante Secco DOC “Vigna Ca del Fiore” by Manicardi
• Morellino di Scansano DOCG by Terenzi
• Liguria di Levante Ciliegiolo IGT by Lunae
• Puglia Nero di Troia IGT by Cantina Ariano
• Schioppettino IGP Venezia Giulia by Dario Coos 
• Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva DOC “Duca Sanfelice” by Librandi
• Valpolicella Classico DOC by Allegrini

Monday, May 24: After the Fire, Lauren Belfer

DOMORI was founded by the creative mind and passion for nature, gastronomy and cocoa of Gianluca Franzoni. In 1993, after his studies in Economics and Business, he landed in Venezuela and was fascinated by the magic of cocoa and decided to develop a business model to reposition fine cocoa.

Franzoni lived in the field for 3 years. He experimented with different varieties and post-harvest processing in order to preserve Venezuela's biodiversity and prevent the extinction of a particularly extra-fine quality cocoa: CRIOLLO.

The name "DOMORI" was born out of the love for 17th century Venice, a symbol of trade, travel and adventure. Today the company is based in None, just outside Turin. Since 2006, DOMORI is part of the ILLY Spa Group, whose president is Riccardo Illy. 

The Polo Del Gusto was born with the mission of becoming a reference point for culture and the excellence of taste in the gourmet/super premium segment worldwide, placing itself on the market as an innovative group and offering a selection of products of extreme quality. The Polo Del Gusto includes DOMORI, Mastrojanni, DAMMAN FRERES, Prestat and the subsidiary Agrimontana.

DAMMAN FRERES was founded in 1692 when Louis 14th granted Sir Damame the exclusive privilege to sell tea in France. Over the years the company has developed and its range of products multiplied and shops were opened worldwide, but it continues to be driven by the passion for tea's most enchanting and captivating qualities. The company is now run by its third generation who continue to cultivate and grow this passion for tea.

We will be given a masterclass on the ritual of tea and the Dammann excellences.

Date and time: May 25, 2021 05:00 PM Rome

Save the date! More details to come. This will be a hybrid event, with a zoom and in-person option. 

Save the date for this hybrid (in person and virtual) wine and cheese tasting event. More details to come.