We decided to take a break from our hiking plans due to rain. The paths we’ve been hiking would be incredibly slippery in any kind of wet conditions. Instead, we spent the morning relaxing (ok I was stressing about my presentation in Rome and Dale snoozed). We decided wine tasting was in order.
The first stop was the I Selvatica vineyard in Montevarchi, Arezzo in Sienna where the third generation owner gave us our introduction to their wine. We were able to get squeezed in at the last moment because he went to elementary school with the tour company owner. Our host was a character. He spends 6 months of the year in the US skiing and schmoozing the rich and famous. Karen asked about the potential for a forth generation of winemaker but we learned that the next generation has not arrived yet.
We tasted incredible wine including a full body white, a classic Chianti, then a super Tuscan and finally a wine made from dried grapes. The super Tuscan sells for $179/bottle in the US. You can tell it was worth it considering we’ve been drinking great wines at €7-15/bottle and we bought 2 bottles @€35/bottle. The dessert wine was amazing. They usually get 65 bottles from 100 kg of grapes for the wine. They get 6 bottles/100kgs of grapes for the dessert wine. Needless to say, it was smooth and not sweet.There was one bottle of a dessert wine the grandfather cellared in 1958 that our host bottled in 1998 and recently sold a half bottle to Kenny Chesny last year for $1800US. Our taste of the dessert wine is sold exclusively at the Ritz Carlton for $65/glass.
Our second stop was back in Chianti proper at the Castello Monterinaldi. As we entered we noticed an important sign.
We were on the right track. We were told about the difference between wine that meets the Chianti official status (DGOC, i.e., minimum 80% Sangiovese grape, grown in the Chianti region, aged minimum 2 years and 56 other rules) and independent local wines. They do much of their aging in concrete vats. The rose was deliciously and the Classico reserva was smooth.
We really enjoyed the taste of balsamic vinegar offered at the end. They also gave us bread and olive oil to cleanse our palate between tastings. This vintner has 2000 trees for olives. It takes 1 tree worth of olives to make 1 litre of cold press oil.
The third stop of our adventure took us to the Casa Emma vineyard. this was an organic vineyard that uses this form of Organic fertilizers. Our view of the Emma Estate started with a view of their vines. The new vines in front of us were planted this year and will take 8 years to mature. There are no grapes produced in the 1st 4 years.
our host was passionate about his work and led a lively tour🤓. He described that olives were picked and pressed the same day. White trebbiano grapes were boiled for 10 hours and aged 7 years in 2 different barrels, the first 4 years in cherry then in chestnut barrels. It was delicious on the pecorino cheese he served us.
He introduced us to the Chianti Classico. He gave us a much more detailed perspective on the rules. For example, You have to keep every aspect of production in region. Central part of Chianti. They can blend Canaiolo, Malvasia Nero and Sangiovese grapes.
We also learned that the term “Super Tuscan” is a nick name for any wine from regional grapes outside made in a non-DOGC tradition- free expression & no rules. We had so much fun on this adventure and are now back in Radda getting ready to transfer to Sienna.
So, if there are any grammatical or typographical errors in today’s blog, please blame it on Chianti wine 😋