Latest news with #Serafino
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Owner Calls Cat—Nobody Prepared for How He Replies
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In a video that has taken Instagram by storm, a cat named Serafino has melted hearts among social media users, thanks to his unexpected vocal talent. Posted on Friday under the username @misterserafino, the now viral clip shows the kitty's owner, 33-year-old Sonia from Italy, singing her cat's name aloud, as the tabby immediately show up at the door. But Serafino doesn't just answer with a typical meow, he lets out a soulful melody that sounds like something straight out of a musical. The heartwarming clip had received over 513,000 views and 56,085 likes at the time of writing, and users across the platform can't cope with the kitty's unique talent. Screenshots of the viral video show Serafino singing as he approaches his owner, Sonia. Screenshots of the viral video show Serafino singing as he approaches his owner, Sonia. @misterserafino, Sonia told Newsweek that the dramatic reaction shared in her now viral clip is something that her kitty often does when she speaks to him in a playful tone. "It actually wasn't something I taught him, it's just his natural behavior. He's always been expressive and playful, and over time we started to reinforce it because it was so cute and funny," she said. "I'm so happy to know that Serafino brings joy to others, not just to us at home. He really is a little star in our lives, and it means a lot to see others enjoy his personality too." One user, Playemily, said: "He's a singer" while Carmelocooper87 added: "You have a little voice that always brings out so much joy! " The 5-year-old kitty was adopted by the poster in October of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, after she spotted a Facebook post saying he'd been found inside the hood of a car. "Contrary to what people often say on the internet," Sonia said, "I truly believe Serafino is one of the few who actually knows his name and doesn't ignore his owner when called. He always comes when I call him. "Another adorable thing about him is that when he wants to play, he brings his toy to me, just like a little dog would," she added. Indeed, cats are highly intelligent creatures, capable of learning incredible things with the right training. Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, senior veterinarian and director of pet health information at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, previously told Newsweek that while dogs had to learn how to understand human language out of necessity, cats still appear to understand us despite not needing to. Most dogs were originally bred to work alongside humans, training for tasks such as hunting, herding, and search and rescue, and learning our language made them better at performing these tasks. On the other hand, cats domesticated themselves in order to prey on rodents attracted to our scraps. Yet they still decided to learn how to communicate with us, and according to Hohenhaus, they know between 10 and 20 words on average. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
I've traveled to 77 wine regions across the world. Here are the 5 that everyone should visit at least once.
I write about wine for my job and have been to 77 wine regions around the world. Some of my favorite regions are Breede River Valley, Napa Valley, Tuscany, and McLaren Vale. In my opinion, these regions define the peak of the wine-making and consumption experience. I travel to wine regions across the world for my work as a freelance wine writer. As part of my "research duties," I've hunted for truffles in Barolo, touched down at the only winery in the US with its own airport, and even explored a prison island in Italy that utilizes viticulture to rehabilitate inmates and teach them new skills while also producing world-class wine. Although I've been to 77 wine regions, not every single one is worth revisiting. There are just five I'd return to tomorrow if given the chance. undefinedundefinedundefined McLaren Vale is a gem in Australia. Australia is vast, with 65 different wine regions crushing over a million tons of grapes a year. However, one of the country's most definitive and stunning regions is also one of its most accessible: McLaren Vale. Just 45 minutes south of Adelaide, the 168-square-mile region is fairly laid-back and situated between pristine beaches on the Gulf St. Vincent coast and Mount Lofty Ranges. One of the best ways to visit wine country in McLaren Vale is on two wheels. Consider biking the Shiraz Trail, which passes iconic wineries like Hugh Hamilton, Serafino, and Oxenberry. Don't miss this winery: If you're in McLaren Vale, visit D'Arenberg. The historic winery produces an incredible range of quirkily named bottles with names like Dead Arm and Low Life. However, the real draw for visitors is the mind-bending five-story Cube on the property. The building's highlight is a tasting room at the top with panoramic views of McLaren Vale, the Willunga Hills, and the Gulf St. Vincent. Bordeaux is a must-visit wine region in France. There are thousands of wineries and more than 270,000 acres of grapes under vine in Bordeaux. The wider region consists famously of the Left Bank and Right Bank regions, situated on either side of the Gironde River. Traditionally, Bordeaux wines are blends — Left Bank wines are typically dominated by cabernet sauvignon, and Right Bank wines are ruled by merlot. Beyond wine, the city offers impressive museums, stunning neoclassical buildings, gorgeous river walks, and many farm-to-table bistros and wine bars. I've spent days just strolling around Bordeaux, running into architectural masterpieces and hole-in-the-wall wine shops with hundreds of coveted, impossible-to-buy-elsewhere bottles. Plus, it's just a two-hour train ride from Paris, making it an excellent stop if you want to experience local wine culture during a trip to the City of Lights. Don't miss this winery: If you're just swooping into Bordeaux for a brief trip, head to Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Visits are by reservation only, and include tours of the winery's own Museum of Wine in Art with exceptional rarities and original artworks created by contemporary painters for Mouton Rothschild's famous, unique labels for each vintage. South Africa's Breede River Valley is stunning. South Africa offers some of the world's most stunning and progressive wine regions, with hundreds of thousands of acres of grapes under vine. I suggest visiting the Breede River Valley, one of the largest wine production areas in the Western Cape. Almost encircled by mountain ranges, the 80-mile-long valley hosts a range of boutique operations producing premium wines and sprawling co-ops cranking out value-priced wines on a large scale. Don't miss this winery: One of the best places to experience authentic South African charm is the Graham Beck Estate. The winery produces a range of entry-level to long-aged bottles and collectible Cap Classiques (made in the Champagne method). Plus, the sprawling estate is home to a variety of rare animals, including Cape leopards and zebras. Tuscany feels like a picture-perfect slice of Italy. Tuscany is one of those rare places that actually looks, feels, and tastes even better than it does in the movies. It's the spiritual home of Italian wine, complete with unvarnished views of rolling hills populated by olive trees, vineyards, charming farmhouses, sunflowers, medieval castles, and enchanting towns. While tasting delectable wines (the area's known for its reds), you can also treat your palate to fresh olive oil, shaved truffles, and homemade pasta. Don't miss this winery: Castello Banfi was founded in 1978 by the Long Island-based Mariani family, but the history of the Banfi Castle dates back to the medieval era. Today, it's an almost cartoonishly perfect setting for an Italian wine adventure. Swing in for a day and tour the winery, vineyards, and portions of the castle. Stay for longer and dine at the Michelin-starred La Sala dei Grappoli, which serves elevated Puglian and Tuscan cuisine perfectly paired with Castello Banfi's Brunello wines. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
12-07-2025
- Business Insider
I've traveled to 77 wine regions across the world. Here are the 5 that everyone should visit at least once.
I write about wine for my job and have been to 77 wine regions around the world. Some of my favorite regions are Breede River Valley, Napa Valley, Tuscany, and McLaren Vale. In my opinion, these regions define the peak of the wine-making and consumption experience. I travel to wine regions across the world for my work as a freelance wine writer. As part of my "research duties," I've hunted for truffles in Barolo, touched down at the only winery in the US with its own airport, and even explored a prison island in Italy that utilizes viticulture to rehabilitate inmates and teach them new skills while also producing world-class wine. Although I've been to 77 wine regions, not every single one is worth revisiting. There are just five I'd return to tomorrow if given the chance. Napa Valley is like Disneyland for adults who love wine. There's nothing like California's Napa Valley region, which is complete with a stunning 47-mile bike trail through wine country and, of course, incredible wine. Part of the area's charm is the small size, coupled with the incredible diversity found within. It's compact enough to be drivable in less than an hour. Even so, I truly believe you could spend a lifetime exploring Napa, without getting thirsty or bored. It's got more than 400 wineries and dozens of urban tasting rooms to choose from, plus some of the most critically acclaimed cabernet sauvignons in the world. Some of the local wine experiences are also pretty unique, including the Napa Valley Wine Train, with hourslong curated experiences that include gourmet food pairings. Don't miss this winery: If there's one winery you have to visit in Napa, it's Domaine Carneros. Set in the rolling hills of Carneros and celebrated for its méthode traditionelle sparkling wine, it is a must-visit for tasting experiences. McLaren Vale is a gem in Australia. Australia is vast, with 65 different wine regions crushing over a million tons of grapes a year. However, one of the country's most definitive and stunning regions is also one of its most accessible: McLaren Vale. Just 45 minutes south of Adelaide, the 168-square-mile region is fairly laid-back and situated between pristine beaches on the Gulf St. Vincent coast and Mount Lofty Ranges. One of the best ways to visit wine country in McLaren Vale is on two wheels. Consider biking the Shiraz Trail, which passes iconic wineries like Hugh Hamilton, Serafino, and Oxenberry. Don't miss this winery: If you're in McLaren Vale, visit D'Arenberg. The historic winery produces an incredible range of quirkily named bottles with names like Dead Arm and Low Life. However, the real draw for visitors is the mind-bending five-story Cube on the property. The building's highlight is a tasting room at the top with panoramic views of McLaren Vale, the Willunga Hills, and the Gulf St. Vincent. Bordeaux is a must-visit wine region in France. There are thousands of wineries and more than 270,000 acres of grapes under vine in Bordeaux. The wider region consists famously of the Left Bank and Right Bank regions, situated on either side of the Gironde River. Traditionally, Bordeaux wines are blends — Left Bank wines are typically dominated by cabernet sauvignon, and Right Bank wines are ruled by merlot. Beyond wine, the city offers impressive museums, stunning neoclassical buildings, gorgeous river walks, and many farm-to-table bistros and wine bars. I've spent days just strolling around Bordeaux, running into architectural masterpieces and hole-in-the-wall wine shops with hundreds of coveted, impossible-to-buy-elsewhere bottles. Plus, it's just a two-hour train ride from Paris, making it an excellent stop if you want to experience local wine culture during a trip to the City of Lights. Don't miss this winery: If you're just swooping into Bordeaux for a brief trip, head to Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Visits are by reservation only, and include tours of the winery's own Museum of Wine in Art with exceptional rarities and original artworks created by contemporary painters for Mouton Rothschild's famous, unique labels for each vintage. South Africa's Breede River Valley is stunning. South Africa offers some of the world's most stunning and progressive wine regions, with hundreds of thousands of acres of grapes under vine. I suggest visiting the Breede River Valley, one of the largest wine production areas in the Western Cape. Almost encircled by mountain ranges, the 80-mile-long valley hosts a range of boutique operations producing premium wines and sprawling co-ops cranking out value-priced wines on a large scale. Don't miss this winery: One of the best places to experience authentic South African charm is the Graham Beck Estate. The winery produces a range of entry-level to long-aged bottles and collectible Cap Classiques (made in the Champagne method). Plus, the sprawling estate is home to a variety of rare animals, including Cape leopards and zebras. Tuscany feels like a picture-perfect slice of Italy. Tuscany is one of those rare places that actually looks, feels, and tastes even better than it does in the movies. It's the spiritual home of Italian wine, complete with unvarnished views of rolling hills populated by olive trees, vineyards, charming farmhouses, sunflowers, medieval castles, and enchanting towns. While tasting delectable wines (the area's known for its reds), you can also treat your palate to fresh olive oil, shaved truffles, and homemade pasta. Don't miss this winery: Castello Banfi was founded in 1978 by the Long Island-based Mariani family, but the history of the Banfi Castle dates back to the medieval era. Today, it's an almost cartoonishly perfect setting for an Italian wine adventure. Swing in for a day and tour the winery, vineyards, and portions of the castle. Stay for longer and dine at the Michelin-starred La Sala dei Grappoli, which serves elevated Puglian and Tuscan cuisine perfectly paired with Castello Banfi's Brunello wines.
