Tuscany Tour Day - A Little Tried and True and a Little New

                  

Tried and True....

A trip to Italy is never complete until we do a wine day and tour Tuscany with our favorite driver Monika and pop in to see our favorite wine maker, Fernando.

The pretty little town of Montefiorelle is one of our favorite stops and is always a must on our list as it is the home to our favorite wine maker Fernando.

The town itself is more like a little hamlet on a hill.  The town is also the home of Amerigo Vespucci.  The picture above of the door is actually the door to the Vespucci home.  The keystone has the family crest of the bee.

During this trip we actually took some time to wonder the streets of Montefiorelle, the flowers and plants each house had on their front landings were some of the biggest and vibrant ones we had seen.

Right outside of Montefiorelle is Fernando's winery.  His front yard looks out over the hillside of grapes and the town.  The view from his property is one of our favorite views while on vacation.

Old Friends.... Good Times

One of the best ways to spend a day in Tuscany is to visit Fernando.  Duane and Tari had never been to Fernando's so we had to make sure they were able to meet him and spend time with him.  They have had to spend the last 6 years listening to us talk about all the good memories, so it was only fair they were able to make their own.

As a thank you to Fernando for all the times he visited with us, Jamie brought him a bottle of Pedestal from Long Shadows.  Fernando really likes Walla Walla wines, although he doesn't really explain why.  Jamie told him that it was robust so he could have it with bisteca and to hold on to it for a few years. Fernando said that he was too old to hold it for a few years.  To thank Jamie, he gave him a magnum or 2011 Reserva Chianti.  We are going to have to find a special occasion to open that bottle!

As the visit wound down, everyone was all smiles.  We could have stayed there all day, but there was more wine to be had!

MY NAME IS CECCHINI ……DARIO CECCHINI.

Close by Greve and Montefiorelle is the little town of Panzano.  The town itself is pretty small and pretty quiet... Until you turn a corner and hear AC/DC blaring from an open door.  Then you know you have hit the jackpot!  You are at Dario's!  

Dario's is known for it's AC/DC music, red and white striped outside walls, and meat, meat, meat.  His butcher shop is the reason to go to Panzano.  It is a Carnivore's dream!  The shop is small, but well stocked.  Dario is often behind the butcher counter and greats everyone.  One could easily eat enough samples here (both food and wine) to make a solid lunch.  Besides meat, he also sells seasonings, oil, the best red pepper jelly and the best lardo... yep that is spreadable fat in a jar.

Waiting patiently for us is our driver Monika

                                           

Outside Dario's shop is a plaque to to honor the Chianina cows that are the reason for the wonderful Bisteca alla Fiorentina.  I finally had enough samples, wine, and AC/DC to wait outside as well. 

The Pretty Tuscany Countryside and the fortified town of Volpaia

The drive through Tuscany is always entertaining, just for the curves of the road alone and the threat of a tour bus meeting you on a curve.  The town of Volpaia is nestled in the hills and fortified by stone walls.  The town dates back to the 1100s.

You know you are close to Volpaia when you see the yellow wild flowers above the rooftops.

The inside of the fortified town is like taking a step back in time.  Walking through the town, you see straw brooms, many Terra Cotta planters and vibrant flowers.  It is hard to remember that people still live here and this is not a planned or staged tourist attraction.

Looking into a random window, this big machine stared back at us.  Monika asked what we thought that machine was for, Duane was the first one to correctly guess Olive Press.  The press was still used on a regular basis to make olive oil.

Who needs a mail box when the rock wall of you home has a slot for Posta?

Making our way through the town, you see things that you just are not used to seeing in the States.  There is a main town well, wooden slat doors, alley ways covered in brick, and Vespas appear to be the main mode of transportation

Sometimes only a Coke will do!

New Friends..... Good Times

Monika always finds a new place to try during our stay.  This year she introduced us to I Balzini.   

I Balzini is a classic example of a Tuscan working farm which has grown from the former country farmhouse around which vineyards and olive groves reside.

The name “Balzini” comes from the Tuscan word for small terraces, the exact site on which the vineyards were planted.  

I Balzini is a newer category of wine called IGP. This winery helped pioneer to have "Super Tuscan" wine recognized as an official wine type in Italy.  The winery itself was beautiful and the setting for a wine tasting was one of the best ever.  We sat on a patio under mulberry trees and dined on various meats, cheeses, and pasta while we sampled the wine.  This is definitely a place to visit again.

Obviously Duane takes his wine tasting very seriously... he pulled out his glasses!

Good Friends, Good Location, Good Food, what more is needed?

Our individual plates of Antipasti

We are all smiles as the wine and food continues.  We sat just outside their outdoor kitchen.

One can never have to much pasta.  This was a simple pasta and red sauce, but the flavors were bright it was hard to believe this was such a simple dish.

 

Beautiful views as we wandered the winery.  The wine maker gave us a great tour of the grounds and explained the wine making process.

One more group picture of us in the Tuscan Countryside

More pretty nature photos and rolling hills of Tuscany.  With as many pretty views, it is not unusual to come home with hundreds of pictures of just the country side.

Monika joined for a small portion of tour.

On the Road Again....

The stop at I Balzini was our last stop in Tuscany before Monika took us to the train station in Florence to head to Venice.  Along the way we were able to stop and watch part of the Italian Road Championship bike race.  Since Duane had wanted to see the Tour de France and was not able to, this was a good compromise for him.

Start the day in Tuscany end in Venice!!!

We took the train from Florence to Venice and arrived just around dinner time.  By the time we took a water taxi to our hotel and got settled it was a good time to find a dinner spot.

We decided to try a Rick Steve's recommended place in the Campo Santa Maria area that had outdoor seating.  After travel for part of the day, a casual place was perfect.  If the water, bridges, and gondolas did not tip anyone off that we were in Venice, dinner definitely should have.  Venice is all about fish and pasta.

Our appetizer - nothing like muscles and langostinos.

 Duane looks happy

My favorite.. clams and linguine

Jamie's favorite dish, shrimp risotto

The inside of the restaurant, it was such a nice night, that no one was eating inside.  The perfect way to end a wonderful day, a toast with Limoncello!

Go to 6/4/15