Cosa vuoi di piu' dalla vita? - The History of Amaro Lucano with Francesco Vena
Manage episode 434033716 series 3592911
This week on The Italian Radio Hour - If you grew up in Italy, you might be familiar with the tag line: "Cosa vuoi di piu' dalla vita? Un amaro Lucano! A conversation with Francesco Vena as we introduces us to the history of the most well-known liquor from Lucania (aka Basilicata), founded in 1894 by Pasquale Vena, a pastry chef who blended more than 30 herbs. The secret recipe has been passed from generation to generation in the Vena family. In 1900, Amaro Lucano gained fame throughout the Kingdom of Italy, after the Vena family became the official supplier to the House of Savoy, whose coat of arms appears on the label. After a period of recession during World War II, in 1950 the workshop became an industrial enterprise under the management of Vena's sons Leonardo and Giuseppe and in 1965 a new factory in the frazione Pisticci Scalo was opened. In the 1970s, the Vena family also began producing other alcohol-based drinks under the name "Lucano" such as the Sambuca, Limoncello and Caffè varieties, as well as liqueur-filled chocolates. So, "Cosa vuoi di piu' dalla vita? Amaro Lucano: storia di un'Italia dal bicchiere mezzo pieno" is an insightful reading into the family history and the history of Italy throughout those years.
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