Sip of the Day

Today is National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day, and I will never forget my first taste! Many moons ago, when I was still a newbie in the US, a friend invited me to visit with her family in Vermont around this time of year, and her mom welcomed us with a piece of homemade pie. Up until that day, the American fascination with pie had eluded me, and the paltry samplings of NYC diner apple and cherry pies I had before weren’t making a case for the pie as the National thing. Mrs. Hall’s strawberry rhubarb pie that day tasted like a piece of the American dream, family, hope, and everything good in this world all in one bite. I’d like to toast Mrs. Hall and her family for showing me why pie is such a big deal in the United States. I am opting for a glass of Tutto Mio (“all mine” in Italian). Hailing from the Lambrusco region of Italy, this semi-sweet effervescent wine has hints of strawberries and blackberries on the nose and palate, and pairs perfectly with fresh strawberries, grilled meats, spicy Thai or Indian cuisine.