What a difference a week makes. This time last week, Vinitaly was in crescendo. I had been on the road more than two weeks, and had a good three more days of putting the pedal to the metal. And now back home, in a jet lag stupor, working, reflecting and hopefully preparing for the next trip out. For now those trips will take me around the great State of Texas, but someday, sooner than I think, the wine trail in Italy is going to get lit up. That’ll be when the volcano calms down (live webcam here) and when the planes start to fly again.
Some of the feeds from Facebook and Twitter that I have been following:Air space over northern Italy is closed because of ash from the Icelandic volcano, about 2000 miles away - Corriere della Sera
Lufthansa cancels all flights until 6 p.m. GMT (2 p.m. ET) due to volcanic ash, no Lufthansa plane is flying anywhere in the world.
'there are no trains in France. They're on strike.' No other details on how long or how many affected.
Flavors From Afar Day One of our first group for our Spring Food and Wine Trips to Tuscany. Tons of cancelled flights due to Iceland volcano cloud. Picking up four of our six travelers this morning at the Roma airport. Two are still stuck in Dallas. We're on to Grosseto them San Gimignano today and hope the Radkes get in tomorrow!
All Heathrow flights suspended until at least 01.00 on Sunday 18 April due to volcanic ash #ashtag ( if you want to track the news on Twitter #ashtag is the #hashtag)
This sort of eruption could go on for days, weeks, maybe months. As long as the ash is thrown up with such intensity it is very difficult for anyone to predict what will happen next.-Sky's Greg Milam in Hvolsvollur 
Meanwhile, we’ve got some Italian wine in the closet. I have an old bottle of Aglianico just daring me to open it. It’s spring. I have a slew of seeds for the garden that need sewing and I’m pretty happy to just drive my couch around the living room for the time being. Happy weekend y’all!
@BreakingNews - British Airways cancels all flights until Monday afternoon - Sky News