On July 14, 2009 I joined an entourage of fellow students and faculty from the ieiMedia program here in Urbino, Italy, to  experience a wine tasting event that was being hosted by Otello Renzi at the Serra Alta Hotel.

Upon arrival, I was swept off of my feet. The picturesque hotel is nestled up on a hill with a view of the city of Urbino. The brick architecture whispered Italy. The courtyard had a small rectangular water feature in the center. With the sun setting, I quickly toured the grounds of the romantic setting. Every step I took only brought more joy to my heart as I discovered a place of endless entertaining possibilities. I intend to be a wedding planner when I graduate college and this hotel provided all of the features I dream of. Trees on which to hang lighting, canopies to dance under, a pool to mingle around, a mini castle to sleep in, a playground for the children, a covered dining area and a main building with all the amenities necessary to make magical dreams come true.

Not knowing exactly what to expect for the wine tasting I could only imagine that it was going to be nothing but the best. Our host Otello Renzi is an esteemed sommelier in the Le Marché region, meaning that he would surely take us through an experience that no one would want to forget.

Our group sat around a long table in the covered outdoor dining area with soft light illuminating us as the darkness enveloped the countryside. The coolness of the night was a welcomed change from the blazing heat that had been beating down on us all day. As Renzi gave an introduction to what the night held in store for us, I could not contain the excitement that was building inside of me. Surrounded by new friends, I began to learn about some of the finest wines in Italy.

A five course meal was presented over a four hour period. A total of five different wines were enjoyed and savored (especially by Jesse who was sitting across from me). Every time a new dish was presented I would glance across the table and Jesse would have a look of disbelief and a slight hint of bewilderment (he kept thinking that this evening might be a dream and was afraid to be awakened).

As the night came to a close, congratulations to the staff and host of the night were far from few. With happy faces and delighted stomachs (no cafeteria food!)  we made our way home to a night of peaceful sleep and happy dreams (at least for me).