As a young child in Naples, Sergio Esposito learned to appreciate the deep relationship between food and wine. Sitting at his kitchen table, he watched his mother, father, aunts, and uncles as they paired local dishes with simple country wines. So it seemed inevitable that the boy who savored thimblefuls of Sangiovese mixed with water would grow up to become America’s foremost authority of Italian wines. When his family immigrated to America, they were welcomed by their well-meaning relatives with a bland, uninspired meal, and his mother would soon discover that it was not easy to find the ingredients she needed to create authentic Italian dishes. Clearly, America’s palate was in need of a makeover, and as a young man Sergio was inspired to open Italian Wine Merchants, a shop dedicated to bringing the most authentic Italian wines to America.

Passion on the Vine is Sergio’s evocative memoir of his journey from Italy to America and his frequent trips back to his homeland, some with his growing family in tow. He takes you to the cold hills of Friuli, the world-famous cellars of Piedmont, the sweeping estates of Tuscany, the windy beaches of Le Marche, and the lush fields of Campania. Along the way he introduces a cast of remarkable characters, not the least of which are his own mother and father—at times exasperating but always endearing. You’ll also meet the man who introduced Italy's wine and gastronomic heritage to the world; a ballroom-dancing winemaker who bases his farming on the rhythm of the moon; and an obsessive prince who destroys his vineyards before his death so that his grapes will never be used incorrectly.

A very personal celebration of food, wine and family that no one will be able to resist, Passion on the Vine is quite simply the most beautiful love letter to Italy you will ever have the pleasure of reading.