Lee's Tuscan Odyssey: 131. Centovini at the Certosa

In 2001 I came to live in Italy. I had some fun, wrote a journal and this is the blog of my story...

"Tuscany is a state of grace. The countryside is so lovingly designed that the eye sweeps the mountains and valleys without stumbling over a single stone. The lilt of the rolling green hills, the upsurging cypresses, the terraces sculptured by generations that have handled the rocks with skillful tenderness, the fields geometrically juxtaposed as though drawn by a draughtsman for beauty as well as productivity; the battlements of castles on the hills, their tall towers standing grey-blue and golden tan among the forest of trees, the air of such clarity that every sod of earth stands out in such dazzling detail. The fields ripening with barley and oats, beans and beets. The grape-heavy vines espaliered between the horizontal branches of silver-green olive trees, composing orchards of webbed design, rich in intimation of wine, olive oil and lacy-leaf poetry. Tuscany untied the knots in a man's intestines, wiped out the ills of the world. Italy is the garden of Europe, Tuscany is the garden of Italy, Florence is the flower of Tuscany." Irving Stone from my favourite book " The Agony and the Ecstacy" A fictional biography of Michelangelo

Saturday afternoon and it's my first wine festival of the year. Centovini or 100 wines is a festival being held by Vinoteca al Chianti and they are celebrating only their second edition of a festival celebrating Italian wines made from only indigenous grapes... so no Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Chardonnay then!

It's being held on the very pretty terrace of the Relais Certosa hotel in Galluzo to the south of Florence. There are actually 129 wines including a special top 20 selection. There are also cheeses also coldcuts on hand to compliment the Sparkling, white, red and dessert wines.