I’m not a great fan of the winter months, but January passed by in a flash and this week the trees are blossoming. I’m continuing my walks along the beach and even managed a 20 minute run along the sand last week, but the next day was a struggle.. knees and hips were not happy and four days later I’m still hobbling… so I will try and remember my age and fitness level and tomorrow return to a gentle stroll. Le Marche is managing the pandemic professionally and we are still in the yellow zone, so restaurants, cafes, bars and shops are open during the day and everyone is being respectful and sensible.

This is one of my favourite sea front restaurants in Porto San Giorgio. The warm, friendly welcome from this family run business makes you feel instantly relaxed and longing for the first course. Their antipasti dishes are generous, and I advise a moment of sharing and caring together. Famous for their numerous fish dishes, try their cozze e vongole, risotto alla marinara and fried fish with potatoes, all served with a smile…. and their house wine is excellent.

This chalet is also open for early morning coffee and croissants. ..a great way to start the day, followed by a long stroll down the beach to the port or into the town for a little boutique shopping.

A lovely location and fabulous food at a very reasonable price.

I know you shouldn’t judge a book by the cover or a bottle of wine by the label … but in this case I did. Maybe it was the nonchalant lady staring back at me from the supermarket shelf or maybe the splash of colour which attracted me to this particular bottle of Celestiale, a 100% pecorino wine. But this wine certainly lived up to my expectations. I came across it in a local organic shop in Marina Altidona, owned by two young Italian men, passionate about their business and serving everyone with a smile… more about these two in my next DDD.

The Cantina, Casaleviteli is based in Montelparo and they produce a lovely selection of local wines.

Celestiale, meaning heavenly, is a true reflection of the local pecorino wine in the region of Le Marche.. but this has a little something special, very smooth and … heavenly.

Floral with notes of acacia, lime and jasmine and hints of passion fruit, pineapple and melon with a hint of spice makes this a very interesting white wine. I drank this wine with a slice of aged pecorino cheese, yes, we have cheese and wine with the same name here, it was the perfect combination.

What better way to discover Le Marche, this video gives you a snapshot of why we fell in love with this authentic region of Italy. Sit back and enjoy your journey from sea to mountains and the hidden gems in between.