Quarantine got me reminiscing: A virtual visual escape
Under a Tuscan sun
These past few months have been a blur. I looked up one day and realized that I’d taken an unintentional hiatus from writing (although definitely not from drinking). After almost 40 days of “shelter-in-place,” I found myself drifting back to the trip that Blake and I took to Italy in October. We have been very lucky to visit Italy almost every other year since we became engaged and Blake went to get his Masters just north of Venice. Thanks to not only our love of all of the fruits of this country but also the amazing people we became friends with (more like family) and have kept in touch with over the years, the country almost feels like home. They’ve been our “travel-to” and “travel-with” buddies; and, as I sit looking out of my bedroom window and the trees still yet to bud, I am anxious to be back with them. Who knows what the future will hold and how any of our ability to travel will be affected in the future, but if you can and definitely if you have not yet—please put Italy on the top of your list. Their economy stands on tourism and now, more than ever, they will need our help to rise again. If nothing else—dive into our most recent travels and be inspired to put it in your must-dos and maybe even order a bottle or a case of wine to hold you over.
I’ll use future posts to go through the wines as we open them here at home, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the vistas, wine inspiration and food porn.
***Not all captions may show up on mobile devices. Check out this post on an iPad or home computer for even more details on the photos below.
First, we drank wine. . .and ate.
Our first stop was for lunch and a tasting at the most beautiful estate turned winery and ristorante, Castello di Albola, in Radda-in-Chianti. We also learned that the Zonin family lives here part of the time and so besides the cases of wine we took away, I have an additional goal to become the friends they invite to come and stay. Heck, they should just ask us to move in.
The part where I “fan-girled” Dario Cecchini
And we ate a lot of meat! I have long been a fan of Netflix’s Chef’s Table and one episode in particular caught me by the heart-strings and the stomach. Dario Cecchini is an eighth-generation butcher whose warm “come-sit-at-table” persona was not only matched in person but magnified. Sitting in Highland Park on my sofa, during this past year, I fell in love with this man and how he reminded me of my father and grandfather and every wonderful person I have met in Italy. It’s about passion and the seemingly cultural foundation to share with others and I could go on and on. Dario’s butcher shop and restaurant upstairs Antica Macelleria Cecchini is just down a small street off of a windy pass-through Panzano, but the red and white striped facade is hard to miss. Sure enough, he’s right there working behind the counter during the day and passing out little glasses of wine as it turns to the dinner hour. There are two seatings at both lunch and dinner where you sit side by side with friends new and old in a family-style extension of what feels like Dario’s home kitchen. You will find yourself feasting on all things carne and an almost comical side of raw veggies to dip in what is referred to as Chianti Butter (lardo mixed with fennel pollen, garlic, pepper and rosemary). Wine is BYO, full bellies come free, the wheelbarrow to roll you home does not.
A morning in Siena
And an afternoon in Montalcino
In search of fantastic Brunellos, we made our way to the town of Montalcino. The vineyards surrounding the town not too far from Siena produce this big daddy of a wine—can sit for a bit and still pack a full-bodied punch. We had to make a stop at one of Blake’s favorites, Casanova di Neri. I was so engrossed in our tasting that I only managed a photo of the exterior on our way in and the beautiful bathrooms on our way out! If you make your way into town, I highly recommend a stop at Enoteca Di Piazza for a pay as you go wine flight on a “wine card.” The owners know their Brunellos and its a great way to try all that the region has to offer (plus it’s an easy place to ship home mixed cases of the ones you love).
In search of the great IGTs
The third day of our adventure was all about making our way to Bolgheri—the heart of the Super Tuscans/IGTs. I posted late last year on the grandaddy of them all, Sassicaia, and this was the same trip where we saw the storied tree-lined roads and saw it’s famed winery from the outside (private tastings on but crossing my fingers for next time). This is also where we trekked to see and undoubtedly fell in love with Ornellaia.
Enjoying Florence
Our home base for most of the week was in Florence, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my favorite city in Italy. It’s small enough to be easily navigable, full of architecture and history (hello Uffizi!), and the food, oh the food!
When in Chianti, you Chianti
Several years ago, on my first trip to Florence with Blake, we found the most amazing tour guides. I feel weird even calling Christian and Azzura tour guides, they quickly became friends who just wanted to show us what they love. They own Viaggi D’Ambra and truly tailor your visit. In their wine tasting offering, I would expect to see small, family-owned operations, like Altiero, where you are treated like you belong, have meaningful conversation with the winemakers and are afforded the opportunity to appreciate what makes Tuscany so special. I’ve introduced them to several friends back in the States who have arranged and personally guided them on trips all across Italy, all whom have returned with a love of the country that you can only find if you are taken by the hand and shown by a local. They are in the process of putting up pre-planned trip options on Viator, but you can always reach out to them directly via website to set up a personalized experience.
As we look forward with uncertainty in the coming months, add these places and people to your bucket list. If we’ve learned anything, the cliche saying “Carpe Diem” is hitting home for a lot of us. So, when you are given the chance to go somewhere new and experience something you’ve always dreamed about, taste all of the wine, truffles and olive oil that you can. Seize the day and savor it!
Quick Links
Travel Guides, CHRISTIAN AND AZZURA @ Viaggi D’Ambra OR EMAIL
Chianti
Brunello
IGT
Restaurants, places to eat& drink