Trentino, nestled in the Alps, welcomes each and every guest with a glass of Bollincine Da Montagna translated as Mountain Bubbles but officially known as Trentodoc - their splendid sparkling wine. But what else is there to drink in this gorgeous northern region of Italy.

I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time by the best in the industry.  

Today we get to meet a few people who are making the drinks that Trentino is famous for and some that were a surprise.  Matteo Covazzi from Mezzacorona, the second largest producer of Trentodoc, is with us to explain exactly what Trentodoc is. Then we have Andrea Luchetta telling the tale of Bellaveder, a small producer of Trentodoc and the other wines I got to try. Michele Dolzan from the world famous Villa De Varda grappa distillery joins us and, to end it all, we have Andrea Paternoster who is making mead, the Trentodoc way. 

This is just a fraction of what’s available to imbibe in Trentino. To find out what else? You would have to read my new Lush Guide to Trentino at alushlifemanual.com, but don’t leave us yet, as we head to Mezzacorona.

Our cocktail of the week is not really a cocktail recipe but a syrup recipe and a syrup which can be used in loads of cocktails.  

On the aforementioned jaunt through Trentino, we met Nonna Ponomarenco at the agriturismo Maso Flonkeri where she showed us how to make an amazingly aromatic, yet subtle rose syrup to add to Chardonnay. At least that’s what she added it to and it was incredible.  

We picked her roses to make it,  but please buy CULINARY-GRADE roses. Do not use the ones you get at the florist!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup water
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• 1 cup sugar
• 
  
• 1 lemon
• 
  
• 2 cups fresh rose petals

METHOD

• Place the rose petals in a bowl.
• 
  
• Squeeze the juice of a lemon over them and scrunch the liquid with the petals.
• 
  
• Place the water and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• 
  
• Stir to dissolve the sugar.
• 
  
• Add in the rose petals and cook for 10 minutes.
• 
  
• Strain into glass jars, removing the petals from the liquid
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• Turn the glass jars upside down and store for a few days.

When it’s ready add it to Chardonnay or Prosecco or anything you want...

You’ll find this recipe, plus a video of Nonna making it, and all the cocktails of the week at ALushLifeManual.com, where you’ll also find all the ingredients in our shop. 

Full Episode Details: http://bit.ly/2Jxh7XX

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