On most nights during a trip, I end up drinking.
Whenever possible,
I try to match local food with local drinks.
In fact, for me,
traveling is almost the same as wandering around
in search of new food and new alcohol.
But if you drink something new every day,
you eventually get tired of it.
At times like that, refreshing the mood with a glass of wine
somehow makes it possible to go back to exploring new drinks again.
On this trip as well,
I had a feeling there would definitely be a moment when I’d want wine.
While walking around the shopping street during the day,
I came across a wine bar and saved it on Google Maps.
Judging by the name,
it might mainly deal with Italian wines.
After finishing the first round
with good food and Japanese sake I really liked.
For the second round,
I wanted to change the mood while lingering in that aftertaste.
Right, let’s go to the wine bar I saved.
Diva Italiano is located right in the middle of Kyomachi (京町) shopping street,
on the corner of a four-way intersection.
The small space somehow still feels like the end-of-year atmosphere hasn’t faded,
as if time flows a little slower there.
Inside, there was only the owner sommelier,
and no other customers.
Thursday night, 10 PM.
It wasn’t a strange hour to have at least one or two more guests.
I took a seat at the counter, greeted him,
and asked for a glass of white wine.
He showed me several bottles,
and I chose La Spinetta Timorasso 2022.
There wasn’t any particular reason.
It was just that the label with the rhinoceros felt familiar,
something I had often seen in Korea.
I had only tried their reds before,
so this was my first time with their white.
Timorasso is said to be a native grape variety of Italy,
especially from the Piedmont region.
It had a refreshing yet elegant character.
The color looked slightly cloudy, which made me hesitate at first,
but it turned out to be an easy and pleasant wine to drink.
I needed something light to eat,
so I ordered raclette.
Next to the counter,
a huge wheel of cheese was hanging, cut in half.
When the machine is turned on,
a plate above the cheese heats up.
As the top layer softens and melts,
it is tilted over a plate with bread and prosciutto,
and the melted surface is scraped off with a large knife
and served.
The owner sommelier was, in a good way, quite talkative.
If you ask one thing,
he enthusiastically tells you three or four more.
I couldn’t understand all the Japanese,
but I could fully feel his passion.
Then the topic of “yatai (屋台, street food stalls)” came up.
He said there are yatai in Karatsu as well.
I asked where exactly,
and he told me they’re right in front of Karatsu Station.
I opened Google Maps
and saved the exact location.
I have to visit. Definitely.
While chatting like that,
the cheese had gone cold.
Kindly, he reheated it in the microwave,
so I could enjoy it warm again.
For the second glass,
I asked him to recommend a red.
Again, he brought several bottles
and explained them.
Among them, I chose a Barolo.
Just as Burgundy in France uses 100% Pinot Noir,
Barolo in Italy uses 100% Nebbiolo.
The one I picked was
Fontanafredda Barolo 2021.
Its light and bright garnet color was appealing.
I could clearly feel rich floral and fruity aromas,
but once it reached the palate,
the impression faded more quickly than I expected,
which felt a bit disappointing.
Usually, I would have one or two more glasses
before moving on.
But the “yatai” I had just heard about
suddenly became too intriguing.
I felt like stopping the wine here
and going to see the yatai as soon as possible.
I wanted to drink there.
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