In Vino Veritas: Wine Tasting Under The Tuscan Sun

Day 2 in Tuscany: I enjoyed a nice breakfast at the hotel, then decided to check out the Basilica of Santa Maria Nouvella, the cathedral right next to my hotel. 

It’s old, like really old. Construction of the church began back in 1276, and took around 80 years to complete. There is a litany of art from the stained glass windows to the sculptures and frescoes from many Gothic and early Renaissance masters. Of course the basilica has been remodeled and updated over the last 700 years or so, but it's an amazing thing to see with so much art, history, and opulence. 

I had booked a wine tasting tour for the afternoon, and figured I had better eat some lunch to make a base layer for the wine that was soon to be consumed. I grabbed a table at Trattoria I Due G, a cute little spot near the train station. I was in a little bit of a hurry as I didn’t want to be late for the wine tour, so a quick and easy plate of lasagna was ordered, eaten, enjoyed, and paid for rather quickly. The server, sensing I was in a rush when I asked for the bill as soon as the food came, told me that he hoped I would come back and be able to relax and enjoy more when I’m not in a rush. The lasagna was very good though, top 5 I’ve ever had I’m sure. 

After a brisk 9 minute walk from the trattoria, I reached the check-in location for my wine tour, checked in, and got loaded onto a bus headed for the hills of Tuscany, about a 45 minute drive out of the city.

The rolling, verdant hills of Tuscany are truly gorgeous. When one imagines drinking wine in Italy, Tuscany is what one envisions. The vineyards, the hills, the views, the Tuscan sun that Diane Lane fell in love under, all of it is exactly as enchanting as you dream it is, albeit the delicious wine naturally aids in the enchantment. 

Our first stop on the tour was Fattoria Montecchio in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. We had a nice tour of the cellar, learned a little bit about the history of the winery and their winemaking process, and were eventually led into the tasting room. Each table was set up with glasses for tasting, along with bread and estate made olive oils and balsamic vinegars to sample as well. The wines were nice, and the olive oil was wonderful as well. We were allotted some free time to roam the grounds and snap some pictures amid the vines and vistas.

Our next stop was Casa Emma, just a short drive down the road. The winery had a quaint, intimate tasting room, and served a really nice sparkling rose, one white wine and a few red wines. In addition to the wine there was some antipasto with a variety of flavored olive oils, including one of the best white truffle oils I have ever tasted. I kind of regret not buying any truffle oil.

Vineyards at Casa Emma

After some more wine, photo ops, and time to socialize, it was back on the bus to return to Florence. That evening I decided to visit Cantinetta Antinori, a restaurant owned by the famed winemaking Antinori family. I went mainly to try a glass of their famed Super Tuscan wine, Tignanello. It was one of the first wines in Tuscany produced with non-indigenous grapes like Cabernet, thus launching a whole new style of Italian wines. It’s a bit pricey at around $150 a bottle, and very few places sell it by the glass. It was delicious, incredibly smooth and luxurious. Paired with a potato ravioli with duck ragu, it was sublime. 

Although I thoroughly enjoyed wine tasting in Tuscany, it made me realize how fortunate and spoiled we are in California. With places like Napa, Sonoma, and the Central Coast, California truly has some of the best wineries and wines anywhere in the world. While the knowledge and history of the old world regions like Tuscany certainly informed and laid a foundation for California wine, the creative spirit and license of the new world has allowed California to craft amazing wines without as many of the restrictions or traditions of the old world. 

But if you get the chance to taste wine at a vineyard in Tuscany, do it. You won’t regret it.