In mid-July, I finally got a true taste of life here in Tuscany. It was my first full weekend off where I wasn’t travelling, and I was able to explore the area with my roommates. Gabi and Lucas have lived here for over a year, so they were able to make some great suggestions and drive me to places that truly filled my cup.

I wanted to continue my Books & Bottles series with Part Three, featuring some of the books I've read in 2026 paired with a few Italian wines. It felt fitting to make this edition all about Italy, since this summer has been spent learning about wine here. 

I am writing this post for the girls who love a crisp summer white, whether that's Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. But what if I told you there was a wine that shares some of the best qualities of both?

In summary, Super Tuscan is a style of wine that was created to give Italian winemakers more freedom to experiment outside of traditional wine laws, including the use of non-native grape varieties. At first, these wines were not officially recognized within Italy’s classification system, but due to their popularity and growing reputation, they eventually became part of the IGT designation.

After a month of working at the winery, I've had some of the best days and have laughed so much, but I've also had some hard days. Living and working in another country has definitely been an adjustment, but it's been one I'll never forget.

I feel like I have gone through every emotion possible these past two weeks in Italy. I knew it would be an adjustment, but I didn't realize just how hard it would be or how guilty I'd feel for being overwhelmed and homesick.