Chianti

        On Monday we were treated (ok, we paid for it) to a wine tasting and to motoring around the beautiful Chianti hills. It was a bit overcast in anticipation of coming rain, but this only served to highlight the variety of colors displayed by olive groves, leaf-changing vineyards, dark clouds, and green hills.

        These tastings were far more elaborate than those I've experienced in the U.S. when you just sidle into a tasting room and stand at a bar. Here, you sit at a table graced with several impeccable wine glasses. The sever brings each person a plate of small bites -- cheese, cured ham, chocolate -- that are chosen to pair with the various wines to be tasted. Everyone in Italy has emphasized that wine should always be consumed with food.  They wag a scolding finger at the American habit of swilling wine outside of a meal or apertivo context (guilty 😞).  Each tasting experience lasts at least 45 minutes.

    Both farms we visited are organic.  No pesticides, no added sulfites, and much of the work hand-done. 

 

The following few photos are of Il Bacio (The Kiss) Farmhouse and Winery.

Daniele, one of the owners.  He explained that currently, they do all their grape and olive harvesting by hand (but rued the fact they are having a hard time finding workers. They may have to resort to machine harvesting soon). 

 

The Farmhouse.  I thought they lived here but from the website, it looks like they rent rooms out B&B style.

 

Tasting in progress.

 

     These are from Altiero. I didn't catch our guide's name, but she was passionate about this place and insisted it produces the best wines in all of Chianti.