After Vinitaly and after Bordeaux en Primeur, then it is time for Texas. One of the events I so look forward to is the Buffalo Gap Wine & Food Summit out in West Texas. Held for the past seven years at Perini Ranch, this year the theme is Italy and the wines and grapes of Tuscany. So we have rustled up some of our favorite Tuscan producers and we are gonna be scurrying out past Abilene deep into John Wayne countryThe weather has been predicted for a beautiful spring weekend, which means days in the mid 70’s and nights in the near to low 40’s. Lots of sunshine and dust, the red clay dust of West Texas, which gets all up in your eyes and skin and everything and it is a wonderful thing. Chefs from all over Texas along with winemakers from Texas and a few friends from California who have Texas roots will meet up with the Tuscan contingency. It’s gonna be a ball. Like it always is.Some of the folks who are coming:Giulio Galli representing Petra and La Badiola Luciano Castiello representing Castello BanfiJacopo Bacci representing Renieri, Terre di Talamo and Castelli di BossiSome of the food we’ll be eating:Libations will be wine and local spirits:This really is the best little wine festival in little ‘ol Texas. And this year we're going "Eye-talian".Like I said, I can hardly wait, got my jeans pressed and my cowboy shirts all laid out, ready to play Texan for a weekend. And eat and drink and dance and relax with some of my favorite people in the world.Wish you were here!written by Alfonso Cevola limited rights reserved On the Wine Trail in Italy

read more: Tuscany Slow Dances with West Texas at the Buffalo Gap Wine & Food Summit