Lee's Tuscan Odyssey: vino al vino

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

Showing posts with label vino al vino. Show all posts

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!

101. Vino al Vino - Panzano-in-Chianti

Now this is how it's done!

Panzano is starting its own wine festival and the organization is about 100 times better than at Greve. There are eighteen small booths snuggled around Panzano's small main square. You buy one ticket allowing you to taste whatever you wish! No ridiculous hole punching system here! The estate owners are presenting their own wines and are on hand to tell you all about their products and as it's their wine they each seem to have many cases on hand, ensuring there is no shortage...

Again I come on the Friday and Annette joins me on the Saturday. Everyone is in happy mood and we meet some fellow Brits living in Bologna and have a whale of a time.

This area of Chianti is a bit special with some cult wines being made in the 'conca d'oro' or golden shell, which is a south facing hill that gets more than its fair share of sun.

I get to taste Castello dei Rampolla's 105 euro 'vigna d'Alceo' which is a Cabernet Sauvignon/Franc blend. La Massa's 'Giorgio Primo', the legendary 'Anfiteatro' and Villa Caffaggio's all Cabernet 'Cortaccio'.

Well done Panzano! See you next year!