DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Day one - Introduction to Tuscany
British Airways flight departs London Gatwick at 11.35 , landing Pisa at 14.45 . Your wine tour manager , Cindy-Marie Harvey , is waiting to greet you at Pisa airport for the private mini coach transfer to our hotel located in the very heart of Chianti , in Radda-in-Chianti . After checking into our hotel on the main winding road of this delightful hilltop village , we dine together at the hotel ’ s restaurant , where a Tuscan menu will be paired with a selection of regional wines as your introduction to the many styles of wine that the Sangiovese grape can produce .
Day two - Chianti Classico day
After breakfast , we head to our first visit in the Chianti Classico classification , Isole e Olena . Widely revered as one of the best wine makers in Italy , Paolo de Marchi hails originally from Piemonte , but moved to Tuscany many vintages ago . His passion for attention to detail in the vineyards and in the cellar is reflected in his iconic wines including the ground breaking Cepparello . We taste a selection of these seductive wines at the cellar surrounded by his immaculately tended vines . Our lunchtime appointment is at the nearby estate , Castello di Monsanto , where the Bianchi family are producing lovely , appealing Chianti wines with a great ability to age . The family bought the Villa and grounds in the 1960s , ( having fallen in love with the property when visiting it for a wedding !) and today have 56 hectares of Sangiovese , but also some plantings of Chardonnay and Cabernet . We taste their wines over lunch at their beautiful estate . After our leisurely lunch , we return to Raddain-Chianti , where there is free time for the rest of the afternoon to explore this peaceful village . The main street , unsurprisingly , has several wine shops , but also a couple of leather shops with soft Italian leather bags and shoes to tempt ! Or simply , relax with a glass of wine and a book , enjoying the views of the rolling Tuscan countryside . This evening , we are invited to the hilltop hamlet of Castello di Volpaia , which dates from the 11th century and is one of the best preserved mediaeval villages in Tuscany . The Stianti family continue to produce both wine and olive oil using an ingenuous system of production hidden away so not to disturb the beauty of the village . We will be welcomed by the charming owner , Giovanella Stianti , into her private residence for dinner , where we will taste her wines paired with a Tuscan menu .
Day three - Brunello di Montalcino day
Breakfast first and then this morning , we head south from the Chianti classification towards Montalcino . After the dense Chianti forests ,
Tuscan landscape
the land opens out south of Siena to the wide , rolling hills of the Crete Senesi . As we draw closer , the skyline is dominated by Monte Amiata , a dormant volcano which rises to almost 2000 metres . Our visit is to the estate of Col d ’ Orcia , which belongs to the Count Francesco Marone , of a noble family originally from Piemonte , but who own this estate in Tuscany and also one in Chile . The estate is named after the Orcia river which runs along the south west side of the appellation . They have been instrumental in the experimentation taking place in the region and their attention to detail shines through in the purity and elegance of their wines , which we taste over lunch at the estate . Much of the produce on the menu is grown on the property . After lunch , we call in to the mediaeval small town of Montalcino , dominated by its clock tower and fortress , and which remains barely untouched since the Middle Ages . The flagstones of the narrow streets invite a postprandial stroll passing numerous wine shops or perhaps simply relax in the beautiful Libertystyle Café with an affogato . From here it ’ s about an hour and a half bck to the hotel , with time to freshen up before our evening tasting . This evening , our visit is to an estate located a short distance of just 15 minutes from the town walls of where we are staying in Radda . Fattoria Poggerino is a boutique , familyrun winery , following organic principals of viticulture . The owner and winemaker , Piero Lanza , is passionate about allowing the fruit flavours of his vines to show through in the
wine without the over dominance of oak . We taste their wines this evening at the cellar , with a simple supper of local cheeses and hams . We return to the hotel after supper .
Day four - More Chianti
After breakfast , we visit the Castello di Brolio , a dramatic castle featuring mediaeval , romanesque and neo-gothic architecture . It is on the border between the ancient states of Florence and Siena and featured in many of the on-going battles for territory between these warring neighbouring cities . The wine estate is one of , if not the , oldest in Italy dating back to 1141 , but it was in 1872 that the Baron Ricasoli wrote down the original blend of Chianti . After a visit to the Castle , we taste a selection of their attractive wines in their modern cellars . Just 35 minutes later , we reach the awardwinning estate of Felsina Berardegna on the southern side of Chianti Classico , where the terroir gives a rounded , deep style of Chianti , with rich plum and dark chocolate notes . They also produce single varietal olive oils from four varieties made in the Veronelli style . Following a visit to the historical cellar , we taste their alluring wines and oils over lunch at the property . Returning to Radda late afternoon , there will be some time to relax before we saunter through the old mediaeval gallery to a local wine bar for a tasting of wines from other Tuscan classifications such as the crisp white Vermentino from the Tuscan Coast through to non-Sangiovese based red wines , such as Syrah or Merlot followed by a rustic Tuscan
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