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



241. Benvenuto Brunello







Book 9 

'In the whole wide world, wherever the vault of heaven turns. there is no land so well adorned with all that wins natures crown, as Italy. With her men, her women, her pre-eminence in arts and crafts and her wealth of talent.'

Pliny - from Natural History





241. Benvenuto Brunello



'And then we opened another bottle of Brunello...' 8or 42!!!)



Well who would have believed it! Here I am in book nine. Four years and four months later and what better to start my 9th journal than a Sunday trip to the beautiful town of Montalcino. My good pal, Stefano Chioccioli with the son of the president of the 'Consorzio del Brunello', Filippo Fanti and a couple of faxes later and I have two invitations to my first ever 'Benvenuto Brunello' preview presentations. (You didn't think I wouldn't get Annette a ticket!) This event is stictly trade only... no general public here! There are going to be 150 producers showcasing 500 wines, not yet available in the shops or reviewed in any magazines or books. It kind of makes you feel a bit priveleged. After a two-hour drive and a fourty minute wait in the queue, we're in! 



It is being held in the Fortezza and is absolutely packed. We are somewhat spoilt for choice and manage an impressive 42 different Brunellos! Annette comes away singing in the streets of Montalcino! I've taken some tasting notes and have earmarked my favourite ten for possible future purchases... 



(Original journal entry 26/2/06)


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