Last November, I traveled to Montepulciano in the heartland of Tuscan wine country to meet Michele Manelli of Salcheto - a winery that, under Michele’s leadership, has emerged at the forefront of sustainability awareness and innovation in the European panorama of winemaking.

On a recent trip to Naples, I met a family that has assumed the task of defending the printed word's legitimate place in the Information Age. They have had great success over the past 20 years, and their approach can be a blueprint for other small businesses throughout Italy to offer authentic cultural experiences to locals and tourists alike. Libreria Colonnese is on our list of Napoli recs.

The Buddhists call it, “Nirvana;” I call it, “mid-autumn dinner for one at Coco Lezzone.” No frills and down-to-business decor in a place that has done it right for more than two centuries is a sure ticket to transcendental bliss.