I had the pleasure of attending a housewarming recently, which was a merry and casual little potluck of sorts—we were loosely encouraged to bring “whatever, drinks or snacks, if you feel like it!” I bought some cheeses, charcuterie, a baguette, and a magnum of bubbles, which is my go-to for large get-togethers (everybody loves a big bottle). In the kitchen, I arranged my platter and popped the cork, nosing around in the cupboards for glasses to set out. As I poured, a friend poked her head into the kitchen, asking coyly, “Did I hear Champagne?” “Oh,” I laughed, “No, it’s—” But just then, two more smiling faces appeared at the pass-through counter, reaching for glasses...

For years, I’ve been dying to take my husband on an Italian adventure. I wanted us to fully immerse ourselves in the culture, eat the food, see vineyards, and experience all of the things that I love about Italy. This spring, I finally settled on Piemonte and Liguria, and from the beginning, I knew I wanted to visit our only producer along the Ligurian coast: Punta Crena...