THE WINES OF TUSCANY
A day trip from Castel Monastero
A gourmet holiday in Tuscany.
A dream for lovers of Italian cuisine and the richness of its wines, which you can discover in a series of itineraries taking in breathtaking scenery, Romanesque pieve churches, Renaissance cities and extraordinary wine cellars. T
Tuscan wines, from Chianti to Brunello di Montalcino and Vernaccia di San Gimignano, are veritable works of art.
THE HILLS OF SIENA
Theme: Chianti wine tasting.
Location: one of the most spectacular, untouched landscapes in Italy: the Crete Senesi.
We leave from Siena and the Enoteca Italiana within the Fortezza Medicea, in June the setting for a famous “Wine week”.
We then stop off at Rapolano Terme, a small medieval village set in the hills amongst rows of cypress trees and small country churches. We continue to Monteroni d’Arbia, then Murlo with its fascinating Museo Etrusco.
The last stops are Sovicille and Colle Val d’Elsa. Returning to Castel Monastero, we make an obligatory stop at Monteriggioni, a magnificent example of a fortified medieval citadel.
A wonder to the north of Siena, in the most noble area of Chianti production and tasting. The first stop is at Panzano in Chianti, in the Conca d’Oro of Panzano, a small paradise of prestigious grapes and harvests.
We stop at Greve in Chianti, where every Saturday the famous “Mercatale” is held, one of the oldest markets in Italy, dating from the 12th century. On the road again, we proceed towards San Casciano di Val di Pesa, where Machiavelli stayed during his exile. He wrote “The Prince” here. Today, this beautiful residence is the headquarters of the Consorzio di Tutela del Chianti Classico (Consortium for the Protection of Chianti Classico.) Heading homewards, we stop at Tavernelle Val di Pesa, then at Barberino Val di Pesa, arriving at Gaggiano in the province of Poggibonsi, home to the Melini wine cellars, the oldest wine house in the entire Chianti area, founded in 1705, and the first to adopt the traditional flask.
The last stop is at Radda in Chianti, the historic headquarters of the Lega del Chianti founded in 1384 by the Florentine Republic to resolve disputes with Siena. In the climate of eternal conflict between Florence and Siena, the legend of the black cockerel on a gold background, the symbol of Chianti, was born. You have only to come here to discover it.
55 km from Castel Monastero
An Italian legend. A triumph of flavour and traditions to crown your gourmet holiday in Tuscany. First and foremost is the magnificent landscape between the valleys of Orcia, Ombrone and Arbia, a few kilometres from Castel Monastero.
Having arrived and immersed ourselves in tasting wines from the best cellars, we take a walk to the 14th century Rocca and a look around the Museo Civico e Diocesano to admire, among the various masterpieces, a magnificent Cross painted in the 12th century, one of the oldest works in the territory of Siena. Next is Brunello, a prince among Italian wines. We have our first tasting at the Centro Esposizioni Vini in the city centre, then make an obligatory stop at the Caffè Fiaschetteria Italiana, a historic establishment founded in 1888 by Ferruccio Biondi Santi, the “inventor” of Brunello. Here begins our itinerary, taking in hills and vineyards, to discover the best producers.
Let us not forget that Montalcino is also famous for its production of honey. The famous “Honey week” in September, an event of reference for Italian beekeeping, is not to be missed.