La Dolce Vigna

04/20/2024

Wonderful visit to Zungri, Calabria with Asfalantea 🫶🏼🥖

03/21/2023

GIVEAWAY TIME! 🍾

La Dolce Vigna has teamed up with cookbook author Katie Parla on a giveaway of her hot-off-the-presses cookbook Food of the Italian Islands!

What you could WIN:

🌊 Your very own copy of Food of the Italian Islands cookbook

🥂 Sommelier-selected bottle of wine (by yours truly) from one of Italy's islands

💛 La Dolce Vigna-branded golden corkscrew

Entering is as easy as 1-2-3!
1) Follow both Katie Parla] and La Dolce Vigna by Leslie Rosa]
2) Like this post
3) Comment with your favorite Italian island + Tag the person you would want to be on that island with!

BONUS ENTRY:
Share this post in your IG Stories, tagging La Dolce Vigna by Leslie Rosa] and Katie Parla] for an extra THREE chances to win.

Good luck/ In bocca al lupo! The winner will be selected randomly on Tuesday, March 28th and announced here in the comments and contacted via DM.

Open to US Residents. Must be 21 or older. Giveaway begins March 21st and ends March 28th at 8:00 AM PST.

03/14/2023

Sunset in Mendoza, Argentina! 🤩

I just finished my Mendoza Wine + Culture Tours for the year, and, wow, were they incredible! 🍷

It’s always fun seeing how much this region blows everyone away. From the amazing wines and meals to the epic Andes and the beautiful traditions created by a melange of cultures.

I’ll be releasing my 2024 tours for Argentina (and Italy!) very soon. If you’re not on my email list, visit my website and sign up so that you can get first dibs.

03/08/2023

Great new post by LM Archer up on La Dolce Vigna’s blog! 🥂🗻

Instead of reaching for red wine this winter, why not try an Italian white? Fun, versatile, and approachable, Italian white wines brighten even the gloomiest winter day. Plus, they pair well with everything - from holiday celebrations and Sunday brunches, to cozy aprés-ski fondue and evening firesi...

02/14/2023

Window for two. ❤️

Happy Valentine’s Day! 😍 Buon San Valentino!

Bifora windows, two arched windows vertically divided by a column, are typical of Byzantine architecture, especially in the Romanesque and Gothic periods.

This bifora window was found in Friuli, in the lovely town of Cividale del Friuli.

Looking forward to bringing a group here on a Friuli Wine + Culture Tour!

02/13/2023

On the list of most romantic places in Italy, Tuscany’s hill towns have to be up there! Like if you agree ❤️

Check out La Dolce Vigna’s Brief Guide to Tuscan Hill Towns for dreamy travel inspiration. Link in bio.

A big grazie to travel writer and editor Elizabeth Heath, who wrote the piece. You can find her work in and learn more about her life in Umbria here:

Shown here: View from

02/04/2023

So excited to be taking a special group on a wine + culture tour of Friuli this spring! 🇮🇹
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Friuli, or Friuli-Venezia Giulia, is in Italy’s Northeast, is especially famous for its white and orange wine production, though it makes amazing reds too. Some of the earliest winery experiences I had while studying to become a sommelier in nearby Venice were in Friuli, so I have a special soft spot for this region.
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Among the places I’ll be taking this group is a longtime favorite . Their beautifully crafted wines—especially their white wines, including Pinot Grigio—are out if this world!
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I know people either love or hate Pinot Grigio, but this is an example of one that everyone can get behind: Complex, full of mineral and vibrant acidity, and even a bit of body… 👌
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02/01/2023

Let’s just say it wasn’t a dry January for me. 😅🌧️

01/30/2023

One month down—11 more to go! 🗓️

This January, I got back from Bali, made a pit stop in NYC to see family, continued settling into my new place in Miami Beach and set off again to South Africa to spend a couple of weeks with friends, exploring wineries—and penguins! 🍷🐧

I think that perfectly sets the tone for this year!

In addition to South Africa, my 2023 food + wine travels will be taking me to Argentina and Italy (of course!), Mexico, California, Spain, and Turkey.

Follow along if you are curious about any of these places. I’ll post as I go! 💌

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and fulfilling New Year!! 💫🥂👌 And, Hello from South Africa 🙃

PS: I sewed the jumper in this photo 😊️🪡 See a few posts back for details (in case you are interested)
Photo taken by in Friuli (more on that soon!)

12/31/2022

Arrivederci, 2022!

Raising my glass to you 🥂 and to the new year ahead!

(And, you know it’s filled with an Italian traditional-method sparkling wine such as Franciacorta, Trentodoc or Alta Langa. Just sayin’ 😉)

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Shown here: majestic Lake Como! 💙

12/16/2022

Did you see my cameo on White Lotus?!?!!!

Just kidding. I wish. But, here’s a photo of me in Taormina—during one of the THREE Sicily wine + culture tours I did this past fall. 😅

(Also, I sewed those shorts! My inspiration was the iconic beach umbrellas you see along Italy’s generous coastline)

Sicily is on 🔥 and I think it will only be more so thanks, in part, to all the beautiful spots captured in the series.

My 2023 wine + culture tours have sold out, but if you visit my website you can get on the list for advanced notice of 2024 trips, which will be released late winter/ early spring.

Join me in Italy, won’t you?

Shorts Info:
✂️ Pattern
💛 Fabric found at

11/20/2022

There's something about the fall that makes me want to head to Tuscany's scenic hill towns and sip on a glass of Sangiovese! Who's with me?

We’ve included a few better-known choices in this brief guide to Tuscany’s hill towns, as well as some of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany you may be less familiar with.

11/06/2022

One of my favorite symbols of autumn 😍

Shown here is a I did in Bologna recently while sitting at a cafe in a street full of fruttivendoli with

🎨 Paint set is from

(BTW, watercolor sketching is something I started to do more seriously during the height of the pandemic thanks to my talented friend Diva of who led a daily practice online. She also offers art retreats around the world!)

What are your favorite signs of autumn’s arrival?

11/04/2022

Matchy matchy.

I made this dress! An Italian friend said, “It reminds me of my nonna’s apron.” 👵🏻 I’ll take it! 😂

Pattern (“borrowed” from sister ) and fabric from ! 🫶🏼

Shown here: me 👋🏼 in front of one of the layered courtyard walls at 📍San Stefano Sanctuary in Bologna.

I was in Bologna doing some research for a new project that I’ll be sharing soon. 🎉

Photo by 😍

Follow if you like Italy, wine, sewing and/ or me.

11/03/2022

One of my favorite corners in all of Venice. Also, fall has finally arrived in Italy! 😅

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09/01/2022

Prosecco Cocktail anyone? 🥂
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Check out La Dolce Vigna’s latest blog post (link in bio) to learn more about four prosecco cocktails named after famous Italian composers.
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(And, yes! There are recipes and links to pieces by each composer. 🎶)
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Hope they help make your Labor Day weekend more festive!
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Big thanks go out to my friend Scott Noriega, cocktail connoisseur, pianist and musicologist, for writing this post. 🙏🏽 Follow him at for cocktail recipes and their fascinating histories.
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Cheers, darlings! 🥂
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08/25/2022

Love! 🥂

You can improve your drinking experience by taking a more thoughtful approach to the bottles you choose and how you judge what’s in your glass.

08/22/2022

GIVEAWAY! I’ve teamed up with on this fun wine lover set.

WHAT YOU WILL GET IF YOU WIN:

• “In Vino Veritas” Unisex T-shirt in your size and favorite color (natural, black or navy)
• golden Pulltap corkscrew
• silver sparkling wine stopper

HOW TO ENTER:
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1. Follow and
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​​2. Tag a friend who you love drinking wine with
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DEADLINE: Wednesday, August 24th at 11:59 PM PST.
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BONUS ENTRY:​​​​​​​​
Share this post in your IG stories, tagging and , for an extra THREE chances to win! 💫💫💫​​

Good luck! The winner will be selected randomly on Thu, August 25th at 12pm EST and will be contacted via DM and posted below as an update.


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08/16/2022

Today is the second race (and last of the year) of Siena’s famous Palio! ​​​​​​​​
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Horses in chapels? Fierce Rivalries? Ba****ck? Snails and Giraffes?!?!! Everything you need to know about this centuries-old Senese tradition is in a new blog post written by over at ladolcevigna.com or LINK IN BIO.​​​​​​​​
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08/15/2022

FERRAGOSTO GIVEAWAY! La Dolce Vigna has one copy of the Mangiamo cookbook by Mark Perlioni & Angela Persocke to celebrate the Italian holiday of Ferragosto—a day of rest and celebration of the harvest!​​​​​​​​
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Cook your way to the heart of Italian cuisine with recipes like:​​​​​​​​
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• Branzino with Tarragon Tomato Cream Sauce​​​​​​​​
• Ricotta Gnocchi Primavera​​​​​​​​
• White Bean and Red Pepper Dip ​​​​​​​​
• Homemade Lavender Lemon Gelato​​​​​​​​
• Elderflower Aperol Spritz​​​​​​​​
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ENTERING IS AS EASY AS 1-2-3!​​​​​​​​
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1. Follow and ​​​​​​​​
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2. Comment with your favorite Italian wine and...​​​​​​​​
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3. Tag the person who you would like to cook (and drink wine) with! 🥂​​​​​​​​
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DEADLINE: Tonight!! 12am PST. ​​​​​​​​
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BONUS ENTRY:​​​​​​​​
Share this post in your IG stories, tagging and , for an extra THREE chances to win! 💫💫💫​​​​​​​​
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Good luck! The winner will be selected randomly on Tuesday, August 16th at 12pm EST on Instagram live.​​​​​​​​
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Open to US residents. Must be 21 or older. Giveaway begins August 15th at 8am EST and ends August 15th at 12am PST. ​​​​​​​​
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Mangiamo! 🥂🍝🥗 Let’s Eat! ​​​​​​​​
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08/14/2022

Keeping those soft Sunday vibes of Bassano del Grappa 😍 as I cross over to Monday (especially since it’s the Italian holiday of —a day of rest after tiring weeks of harvesting.)​​​​​​​​
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Of course, there’ll be some celebrating too! 🎉 And food. And wine… ​​​​​​​​
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I’ll be hosting a tomorrow that will help with all of those things, so check back in! 😉​​​​​​​​
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SHOWN HERE: The Ponte Vecchio (or Ponte degli Alpini), a wooden pontoon bridge designed by Andrea Palladio in 1569, spanning the Brenta River.​​​​​​​​
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01/09/2022

Winter day care package! 🍾❄️

Shown here is a Classic-method sparkling wine made from Sagrantino grapes from and black truffle potato chips. Mmmmm…

Subscribers to my quarterly Italian Wine + Culture Club are getting this bottle in their Apennine Mountain-themed Winter Box…along with some truffle goodies.

Interested in joining me on this exploration of Italian wine and culture? 📦

Great! This is so much more than a wine club! You get sommelier-selected wines organized around a theme by yours truly with histories, descriptions, pairing notes…

AND!

A sweet package of cultural goodies which have included ceramics, textiles, cookbooks, music, artisan chocolate, novels, soaps, pasta, olive oil, truffle honey, and much more.

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I started this club during the pandemic as a love letter to Italy when my Wine + Culture Tours were not able to happen due to Covid, and I am really proud of each and every curated shipment. 💌

Past themes have included: The Venetian Republic, Magna Graecia, The Alps, Coast to Coast, Islands…

Ready to join? Check out the link in bio!

Cheers 🥂
Leslie

12/31/2021

It’s beginning to smell like the New Year!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Wishing you all a festive and healthy New Year’s Eve and lots of wonderful things in #2022! 🥂🍾⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Shown here: One of the pack over at Ciro Biondi Winery on Mount Etna, Sicily. 😍 and ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Get on the Pre-Launch List to get first dibs on my 2023 Wine + Culture Tours to Sicily and other fabulous regions in Italy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Sign up on my website or head to the link in bio. ✏️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I’ll begin releasing tour dates this winter! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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12/23/2021

‘Tis the season! 🥂

We may never know how the Feast of the Seven Fishes originated, but it's an Italian-American tradition we like!

12/19/2021

What’s behind door No. 2022? 🤔⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Excited for the wonderful things in store for the new year, while also realizing the Omicron variant is a cause for concern. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Stay safe this holiday season, friends! If you haven’t been vaccinated or boostered, please do so and protect yourself, your loved ones and everyone on our planet. ❤️🌎🌍🌏❤️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Cheers,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Leslie ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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PS: Shown here are the main doors to the Santa Maria Maddalena Church in Ragusa, Sicily📍⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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PPS: Only a few spots remain for my Piedmont Wine + Culture Tour in 2022. All other tours have sold out! You can get on the list to get first dibs on my 2023 Tours my visiting my website: www.ladolcevigna.com ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#2022

12/19/2021

Cheers to Italy 🥂🍾🇮🇹

Italy has been crowned Country of the Year by The Economist, an annual recognition by the international newspaper, with Mario Draghi playing a central role.

12/17/2021

Wishing lunch was this today. 😕 Like if you’re with me! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There’s nothing like a plate of piping hot gnocchi to warm your belly on a cold winter day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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❄️ What’s your go-to winter comfort food?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Cheers,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Leslie⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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PS: This dish was enjoyed on my recent trip to Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in the northeast of Italy. Have you been? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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12/05/2021

Thinking a lot about aging these days… #40 🍷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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As I turn the page onto a new decade, I’m recalling many sayings related to wine and aging that I’ve heard over the years. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Below are a few favorites. Am I missing any good ones?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🍷 Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust and old authors to read. - Francis Bacon⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🍷 I’m like a fine wine. I get better with age. The best is yet to come. - Richelle Mead⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🍷 Wine is, perhaps, the closest thing this planet has to an elixir of life.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🍷 Age is just a number. It’s totally irrelevant unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine. - Joan Collins⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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10/29/2021

Cheers to this! 🥂

The Italian airline will fly to the U.S. as early as November, and offer low fares and status match.