A stop on the tour is the small town of Greve in Chianti. The town square is touristy, so I bring my group around the block, behind some stores and downstairs to La Cantine, a centuries-old restored wine cellar. The tasting room employs a unique system to taste any of their 140 or so wines and olive oils. A credit card sized “Wine Card” can be purchased in any denomination. Put the card in the dispenser and the wine or olive oil is automatically poured. Then, the Wine Card is debited appropriately. I found Super Tuscan wines as expensive as 3.80 euro per pour, and others for as little as .60 euro.
The next destination is Monteriggioni. It is a 13th century village contained within a hilltop castle, protected by perfectly preserved stone walls, and surrounded by olive trees. There are few tourists here and Valerio expertly maneuvers the Mercedes through the hilly streets and narrow archways, onto the main Piazza Roma, sparing us a long walk from the parking lot outside. I walk the ramparts of the outside walls, imagining the residents of long ago, hauling water from the well, happily protected by the thick and strong stone walls.
We stay long enough for Valerio to have a few more cigarettes and a couple of cafés. Then, it is off to the winery. We arrive at Sant’Appiano, tucked into a corner of Chianti. It is small, with 17 hectares (about 42 acres) of vineyards and 11 hectares of olive groves. The owner, Barbara, expertly explains the process of growing grapes and making wine. She welcomes questions and then brings us into the tasting room in the stone cellar. First up is a Toscana Rosati. It is a light rosé, perfect for summer drinking. After a swirl of the glass and a few sips it is followed by a “Super San Sangiovese”. It’s dark, full bodied, with a sweet vanilla smell. We also taste a Syrah and a variety of olive oils. However, the standout of the day is a blended “Super Tuscan”. It is an award-winning wine, spicy with hints of blackberry, aged in French oak.
After the skies have become dark, it becomes time to return to Florence. During the 30-minute trip back to our hotel, some of us doze off while Valerio brags about the superiority of the Italian footballer and Formula race-car driver. In front of our hotel we bid Valerio “arrivederci” and thank him for a wonderful day in Chianti.
Stephen 's Reviews
