“A white island of wine in a sea of red,” some describe the Vernaccia white wine of San Gimignano, surrounded as it is by red Chianti vineyards. When young, it’s fresh, floral and pleasant – a cool kiss on a warm summer’s day. When older, its mineral notes mature and become more complex without losing…
Slender cypress trees, finely combed vineyards and fortified hilltowns, sitting enthroned on rolling hills, are the images that come to mind, when we picture Tuscany. Dating back to Medieval and even Etruscan times, these charming villages make history come alive with their rich heritage and generous architecture. Tuscany is an open-air museum, and hilltowns are…
In the rustic hinterland of San Miniato in Tuscany, oak trees, willows and hazels cultivate among their roots the finest mushroom that can be found: The White Truffle of San Miniato. In latin known as Tuber Magnatum Pico, this much-coveted “diamond of the kitchen” is one of the most expensive truffles in the world. A chilly November morning we…
To enjoy a wine tour on your own, bring along a lot of time and a little sense of adventure. In a world full of deadlines and schedules, enjoy the freedom of not having an itinerary. Now and then, take some small diversions from the main road to some minor ones. Just do what you…
What a cathedral is for the religious, so is the library for the cultivated. A place where you can find peace, quiet and insights into earthly and otherworldly questions. The accumulated knowledge of millions of people through thousands of years are lined on the bookshelves, ready to enlighten you on whatever subject you pick down…
If you’re like me, pasta is something you boil into an edible state from its natural, dry state. But perhaps, when tossing the plastic-wrapped spaghetti into your cart in the grey gleam of the supermarket strip light, you have daydreamed about another possibility. To stand around a wooden table, music in the background, laughing among…
Degustazione is the word to watch for on the winery signposts along the various wine routes in Tuscany. This means that you can taste the wine produced at that vineyard and if you like it, you can buy a few bottles. You might also want to keep your eyes open for an enoteca – this is an establishment, usually in a town, where you can sample wines from a wide variety of local wine estates. Here’s our take on what is the best way to discover Montepulciano and how to go wine touring.