Lee's Tuscan Odyssey: 226. Vin Ar and La Guide de l'Espresso release at the Stazione Leopolda

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

Well, just when I thought I'd seen it all... I find myself at the 'Vin Ar' exhibition at the Stazione Leopolda. It'a a kind of five senses journey into the world of wine. A wine Auction and seminars on the Saturday and Sunday and of course tasting. However the serious action is on the Thursday, when one of the top Italian wine guides, L'Espresso, is being nationally released, with tastings afterwards of the top 127 wines chosen. It's by invite only, but a few phone calls to the Florentine newspaper and the organisers and I'm in!

The place is absolutely packed, I pick up my free guide and settle down for the release. There is an amazing free buffet lunch and afterwards I have about three hours to try some of the finest wines in Italy...

This is the crème della crème, wines that I could not possibly afford to buy! I get to try some very special wines, the memory of which linger well on after this day...

Some highlights include;

Ferrari's 110 euro Riserva della Fondatore Spumante, arguably the best sparkling wine made in Italy.

Avignonesi's 185 euro Vin Santo, very rich and concentrated.

Gaja's Barbaresco retailing for about 250 euro.

Giacomo Conterno's 250 euro Monfortino Barolo.

Tua Rita's 250 euro Redigaffi

Roberto Voerzio's Cerrequio Barolo

Ornellaia's 2002 Masetto

The list is endless... it is one of those unforgettable days!

(23/10/05)

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

226. Vin Ar and La Guide de l'Espresso release at the Stazione Leopolda

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