How will we survive amidst all that vino? Here at home we sometimes drink dealcoholized wine, a passable substitute. Any such thing in Italy? Will we be treated like we're absolutely mad?

Who will be judging you? Order water with or w/o fizz, orangina, coca cola, whatever you want..you won't be treated like you're mad!

We were teetotalers during our trip to Italy in 2002, and didn't get a minute's grief about it. We simply ordered our preferred drinks and were not pressured or even encouraged to change our minds. It's a non-issue.

Thanks - of course we will be happy sniffing the corks. Does anyone know if dealcoholized wine is available?

Hi pius,

>Does anyone know if dealcoholized wine is available?<

That's like asking for diet Coke in Atlanta.

Worse, it's like asking for fat free cheese in France.

...or meat-free bratwurst in Bavaria

I highy doubt you will find Dealcholized wine in umbria. So I would not ask. But I agree with all the other posters - just order what they have and no one will say anything. When we were in italy I always drank wine at dinner but my wife did not, she had water and somtimes one of the soft drinks(orangina, or whatever) not every italian drinks wine every day.