The Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta on the road from Pienza to San Quirico d'Orcia

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



160. Vino al Vino 2 - Panzano -in-Chianti

After the fiasco in Greve we move up the hill to Panzano for our second editition of this year's wine festival and this is how it's done...



A memorable visit here last year is followed by an even beter second year. We come on the Saturday afternoon after work in the morning and enjoy a lovely drive through our beloved Chianti arriving in Panzano by about three o'clock. The tiny square is already packed and the booths are stacked with wine. There is also a four piece jazz band playing and adding to the heady atmosphere.

There are some fabulous wines on offer and we manage to prize some hidden 'specials' from under the counters. The sublime 110 euro D'Alceo from Castello dei Rampolla, Villa Caffaggio's San Martino and Annette's favourite Cortaccio and the wonderful  100 euro Tzingana. We buy some pecorino cheese and prosciutto ham and salami from a local bar to accompany these great wines and have a very enjoyable afternoon... We love Panzano!



In the evening we are at work colleague Jane's for a party and I drink no red wine!
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)