Opening a Bottle: Italy
Stories from the Heart of Italian Wine and 100 Wines to Admire
Opening a Bottle’s founder and creator, Kevin Day, has just published his first book: Opening a Bottle: Italy — a loving ode to the world of Italian wine.
It is available now on BookBaby and as an e-Book exclusively through openingabottle.com.
Ways to Get the Book
About the Book
With his vivid storytelling and captivating photography, Kevin Day chronicles the story of 24 groundbreaking wineries that have come to redefine our understanding of Italian terroir and craft. From Sicily’s ash-spewing Mount Etna to the brisk and improbable terraces of Valtellina high in the Alps of Lombardy, this visually rich journey will take you deeper into the world’s most layered and complex wine nation.
Faced with climate change, these winemakers are looking to the past for answers—reviving polyculture, nurturing biodiversity in and around the vineyards, and embracing the physical demands of exceptional sites. In doing so, they are redefining what fine wine means today.
This book features:
18 chapters of immersive storytelling spanning from Sicily to Friuli, Piedmont to Lazio. (See producer list below)
100 Wines to Admire offering a dual perspective for “beginners” and “wine obsessives” on each one.
169 photographs spanning Kevin’s 20-year career photographing Italy.
Foreword by Anthony Giglio, Contributing Editor at Food & Wine Magazine.
“Kevin speaks fluent Italian soul. He gets it — not just the technical stuff (though he’s got that, too), but the feeling that Italian wine inspires: the pride, the struggle, the reverence for legacy, and the cheeky rebellion that says, ‘We can do it our way.’” Anthony Giglio
Contributing Editor at Food & Wine Magazine
(from the book’s Foreword)
Look Inside the Book
“Elegant, modest, heartfelt and insightful, Kevin Day’s Opening a Bottle: Italy takes us to what matters about wine: its stories, its creators, its power to illuminate.” Andrew Jefford
Acclaimed Author and Columnist for Decanter and The World of Fine Wine
“At once serious yet whimsical, informative but a delight to relish, Day’s unique perspective (and stunning photography) gives us access to producers both iconic and emerging.” Ashley Hausman MW
Founder of SoWhatWine.com
“In prose that is at once effortlessly elegant and sneakily informative, Kevin Day has captured the stories that unlock Italian wine’s countless facets. Consider this your concise, companionable key.” Valerie Kathawala
Editor, TRINK Magazine
For a Limited Time: Order a Signed Copy from the Author
Kevin is issuing 50 signed copies of Opening a Bottle: Italy for U.S. customers. Includes flat rate shipping ($10) and added packaging to protect the book in transit.
Don’t miss your chance to own this special edition.
Wineries Featured in This Book
Wineries Featured in This Book
Abbazia di Novacella
ARPEPE
Azienda Agricola Biondi
Benanti
Caparsa
Cascina delle Rose
Cascina Penna Currado
Castello di Monsanto
Castello di Volpaia
Damiano Ciolli
Donnafugata
Emidio Pepe
Foradori
Francesco Mulinari
Gravner
I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna
I Fabbri
Il Marroneto
Istine
Monteleone
Montenidoli
Radikon
Ronchi di Cialla
Venissa
Plus nearly 100 others in the list of 100 Wines to Admire
This Book is a Family Affair
About the Author
Kevin Day is a wine writer and photojournalist who has covered Italian wine extensively since 2014, when he established an online wine publication called openingabottle.com.
As Opening a Bottle’s Editor-in-Chief, he annually files reports on Barolo, Barbaresco, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Etna, and regularly hosts online wine classes for the site’s paid subscribers. Based in Denver, Colorado, he consults on private wine collections and speaks at wine events, using his photos and unique storytelling ability to engage with audiences. Kevin has passed the Wine Scholar Guild’s Italian Wine Scholar™ and French Wine Scholar™ exams, both with Highest Honors.
You can follow him on Instagram @openingabottle.
About the Graphic Designer
Hailey Day is Denver-based designer and developer who founded her solopreneur studio, Heyday Creative, in 2008. Over the years, Hailey has established a signature approach that blends artistic sensibility, technical expertise, and a refreshingly straightforward work ethic. She is the designer and architect behind openingabottle.com and is responsible for the design, layout and execution of Opening a Bottle: Italy. She and Kevin have been married for more than 20 years.
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Book FAQ
Why did you self-publish this book?
Since the beginning of openingabottle.com, my photography has been as essential element to telling the story of wine. It was something I wanted to prioritize with my first book.
However, producing a full-color photography book with stories of this scope can be an expensive endeavor — one that a lot of publishers found too risky for a “first-time author.” So we took on all of the risk to produce this book, and in turn, have found the freedom to create a book the way we wanted to: visually rich, approachable for readers of all levels, and free from the commercialization and elitism that often dominates wine discourse.
When will the book be available on Amazon?
Amazon KDP does not print hardcover books at this size (8.5" x 11"). However, they do for paperback, which is something we are considering in the future. Our upcoming wholesale efforts may result in the hardcover version earning an Amazon presence due to demand and press attention, but our economic model is centered on sales through BookBaby, E-book sales through our site, and local events where Kevin can build relationships with guests.
Contact us to inquire about public speaking events and private functions.
How does BookBaby work?
BookBaby is our official print-on-demand publisher for individual fulfillment. When you place an order with them, the book will be printed and shipped directly to you within a matter of 5 to 6 business days.
The books are printed in New Jersey and shipped from there to individuals. We have found that the print quality at BookBaby is to the highest standards, and we have enjoyed great customer service with them.
They can ship internationally as well. For larger orders (domestic and international) we will be offering another service soon that will be more economical.
Can BookBaby fulfill international orders?
Yes. At checkout enter your address to see the costs associated with shipping to your country. Please contact us if you have any special requests.
I am a retailer. How can I sell this book in my store?
We will have wholesale distribution set up soon. Right now, we are calibrating the print quality and paper stock options to ensure a continuity of the product, while maintaining some revenue retention.
For immediate requests, contact us.
