Sometimes communing with another culture requires a bridge, connecting the familiar to the unknown. Many such bridges, like art, local festivals, or even a savvy tour guide, can help us delve into Italian culture. But our favorite tactic for crossing the cultural divide-and probably the most familiar and effective-is to experience Italy through the complex aromas and flavors of its exquisite food and wine.

In the United States we eat plenty of Italian cuisine, but no matter how authentic a restaurant purports to be, the only place to get a real taste of Italy is, well, in Italy. Eating basil pesto in Liguria or pizza alla Margherita in Campania is an unparalleled experience mostly because the main ingredients showcased in such dishes are the most fragrant and flavorful when grown or produced in these regions. Combining such bounty with Italy's spark of culinary genius provides innumerable food and wine delicacies that are among the best and tastiest ways to embrace Italy's rich heritage.