Italian Wine and Acoustic Guitars
Travel Through Seaside Italy and “Cin Cin” Fine Wine to Live Music
Nov 10, 2009
Visitors to Gabriel’s bar in Manarola, one of the five villages in Cinque Terre, will experience a generous serving of fine Italian wine, hospitality, tradition, and good music! This dimly lit bar, its walls decorated with mounted acoustic guitars and shelves crowded with jars of sauce, has been passed down from one generation to the next and heartily embraces travelers as if they were family.
For those staying in Manarola, Gabriel’s bar is tucked away on the only main street. Just walk down the hill towards the harbor, and the bar can be seen on the right.
Gabriel’s Bar Displays More Than Italian Wine
Amber light reaches out from behind small windows. Inside several small tables against a brick walled space, just opposite the bar. Shelved cabinets lined the brick, comfortingly over-crowded with jars of sauce, oils and lemoncella. Guitars and mandolins decorated the walls, including an 18th C French Mandolin from Milan. Gabriel will proudly point out the history and sentiment attached to each instrument, including the very first guitar he ever owned.
The Italian Family History and the Italian Family Wine
The welcome radiating from Gabriel’s bar can surely be attributed to it being a family-run business for the past 50 years. It has the comforting feel of grandmother’s living room. The Italian wine and the acoustic guitars are surely enjoyable; however, the black and white weathered photos of Gabriel’s grandparents are what set this Italian wine bar above the rest.
Gabriel’s grandfather was born in 1900, opened the bar in 1958, and died in 1992. Gabriel will often retrieve a large envelope, spill its treasured contents across the table, and relate who is who to his eager guests, and retell stories of the older generations. It’s with a touch of affection and pride that Gabriel shares his family history, the aged wine, and the lively tunes from his guitars.
Live Music, Italian Style
The live music is melodic, upbeat, and captivating. The robust Italian accents sing popular favorites as well as traditional tunes. It’s more of a round-the-fire feel than a one-sided performance. Gabriel will gladly offer his guitar to guests who are musicians, and locals and travelers alike sing right along.
The wine is always generously poured, ensuring that the music will continue! A black and white photo of Gabriel’s grandfather is printed on the label of each wine bottle. If you’re lucky, an elderly local will stop by, bringing with him his own flower-bedecked guitar, and a solo harmonica player with a case of shiny instruments will harmonize with his own musical chords.
Cin Cin to Good Wine and Live Music in a Seaside Italian Village
Visiting Gabriel’s bar will ensure that travelers leave in the highest of spirits, and surely with reluctance, and regret that the closing midnight hour came so soon. The cozy and warm ambience, the friendly live music, and the tannins of Italian wine wraps around the soul of each friendly visitor. Gabriel’s grandfather would be proud.
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