Ep. 2523 James MacNay IWA and Cinzia Long from MacNay Travel & Wine | Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon

Welcome to episode 2523 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 217 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. Today Marc is in conversation with James MacNay and Cinzia Long from MacNay Travel & Wine, to talk about organizing wine tourism activities across Italy. More about today’s guests: James grew up in East Sussex, studied humanities, and holds both British and Italian passports. He began his career as a walking tour guide before moving into the wine and food trade. In 2016, alongside his partner Cinzia, he founded MacNay Travel & Wine, launching their first itinerary, Heart of the Italian Alps. A top-scoring Italian Wine Ambassador, James is among fewer than 500 IWAs worldwide. He also holds other wine qualifications and loves sharing his passion for Italian wine and culture through writing and public speaking. Cinzia, originally from Piemonte and raised in the high Alps of Valle d’Aosta, studied Forestry and Environmental Science at the University of Turin, where she wrote her thesis on the wild red squirrel population of Gran Paradiso National Park. In 2022, she and her family returned to Italy, settling in Torre Pellice, Piedmont. In June 2025, she began her journey to become a Master Cheese Taster, passing the first level with ONAF, Italy’s national organization for cheese experts. Connect Website: https://travelandwine.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macnay_travel_and_wine/ More about the host: Marc Millon, a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador since 2021, is a celebrated expert in the world of wine, food, and travel, boasting nearly 40 years of experience. Born in Mexico to a diverse family—his mother hailing from Hawaii via Korea and his father, an anthropologist, from New York via Paris—Marc was introduced to a rich tapestry of flavors from an early age. Since 2021, he has been the engaging host of the “Wine, Food, and Travel with Marc Millon” series on the Italian Wine Podcast. Marc’s latest book is “Italy in a Wineglass – the taste of history” published by Hurst, London and Melville House, New York (this book won the Guild of Food Writers ‘Drinks Writer Award’ 2025 and the World Gourmand ‘Best Wine History Book in the World Award’ 2025.Together with his talented photographer wife, Kim, Marc has authored 14 other acclaimed books, including the groundbreaking illustrated series The Wine Roads of Europe, The Wine Roads of France, The Wine Roads of Italy (winner of the Premio Barbi Colombini), and The Wine Roads of Spain. His other notable works include The Wine and Food of Europe, The Food Lovers’ Companion Italy, The Food Lovers’ Companion France, and Wine: A Global History.In addition to his writing, Marc is a sought-after speaker and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy in partnership with Martin Randall Travel, a leading specialist in cultural travel. When he's not exploring the culinary landscapes of the world, Marc resides along the scenic River Exe in Devon, England. Connect: Website: https://www.quaypress.uk https://www.marcmillon.co.uk https://www.vino.co.uk https://www.quaypress.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Marc_Millon _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin! Thanks for listening! This show is all about food and wine pairings, and traveling through Italy with Marc. Join him on this food, wine and cultural journey!