2020 is a year that many of us will be delighted to wave goodbye to and one of the hardest things for all of us has been the lack of opportunities to meet up with friends and family.  We've missed our lovely team in Europe so much and have checked in to see how they will be spending Christmas this year, especially as so many areas of Europe are still operating under strict lockdowns.  

Tansy and husband Andreas who live in France are usually hard at work on Christmas Day, as they are ski guides in the French Alps, but not so this year.  Travel and tourism restrictions mean that their work has been severley curtailed, but the silver lining is that they will be home with their two children, opening stockings, enjoying champagne cocktails, taking long snowy walks and filling up on roast turkey.

Iole who lives in the beautiful Pollino National Park in the south of Italy will spend Christmas with her Mum.  Usually they join up with her sister who lives and works in Bergamo in the north, but this year that will not be possible. Iole is nevertheless determined to get the tree dressed and the decorations up even though it will be a quieter Christmas than usual.

For Cinzia and husband James December is the busiest time of all in their deli Cuculo in Heathfield, East Sussex and Christmas Day is their first day off after a month of fulfilling orders for cheeses, wine and chocolates.   Her parents in Italy will not be able to come over to the UK this year but they hope to see James's family and just put their feet up!  Key elements of Cinzia's Christmas include panettone, German marzipan and Belgian chocolates all washed down with Armagnac, Grappa, Cognac or Port!

Laura lives in Rome and will be busy too over Christmas in the wine warehouse where she works - in fact overnight on Christmas Eve until 7.00 am on Christmas morning, so she intends to spend the rest of the day catching up on some much-needed sleep.  We really hope she gets the chance to relax and enjoy herself a little during the days after Christmas!

Annabel in our UK office will be with her father and sister but no other family members this year. They've been together pretty much throughout 2020 in the same bubble and they've opted for a low-key, low-risk Christmas with a few celebratory drinks, a traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings, the Queen's Speech and a couple of good films!  

Mick and I will speak to my family in the UK when we first wake up on Christmas Day. This is the first time for years that they will not be spending the day together but we can Zoom and wish them all well.  Mick's family are spread around Australia and the UK so we will catch up with them too, before heading over to friends in Beechworth for a fine festive feast of fresh seafood and lobster!  

In case you need a bit of inspiration for your Christmas cocktails we thought we'd share with you some of our favourite Italian classics, to get your festive celebrations started in style.  

First up is the Aperol Spritz - that gorgeous tangy orange herbal syrup which mixes so well with proscesso or soda.  Serve over ice with a slice of fresh orange in a tall glass or large wine glass.  Second is the wonderful Bellini made famous by Giuseppe Cipriani at Harry's Bar in Venice.  This is prosecco (or champagne) mixed with fresh peach juice or peach puree served in a tall champagne flute - luxurious and indulgent and totally delicious.  If you're in Australia why not order your prosecco from Dal Zottos in the King Valley - the very first family to plant prosecco grapes here! The third is the legendary Negroni, one third gin, one third sweet red vermouth and one third Campari, best served over ice with a twist of orange in a tumbler. Totally irrestible!

Cheers, Salute and Santé to everyone this Christmas and here's hoping that 2021 brings brighter and better news for us all.     

Jackie