Chianti

Chianti Country – Tuscany.

Chianti is a wine and a place. Of course, the wine comes from the place. But it’s also an atmosphere and a reputation. And a look. Those Tuscan landscapes with a row of cypresses drawing the eye through the vineyards to the farmhouse on the ridge — quintessentially Chianti.

My Chianti experience was brief but memorable, possibly helped by the fact that i was reading Frances Mayes’ memoir “Under The Tuscan Sun.” I drove out with a guide named Francesco, who was born and lives in a Tuscan village called Colle di Val d’Elsa. In Francesco’s village they make crystal – interesting, but not interesting enough to draw hordes of tourists, who all head for San Gimignano and the wineries of Chianti. Francesco drove us through the north Tuscan landscape (just south of Florence), Chianti Classico country, pointing out hill top visions on the horizon, and stopping now and then so we could admire a view, or wander for a few minute in small walled towns. One of those was Monteriggioni – you can walk from one picturesque end to the other in five minutes, as pilgrims on the Via Francigena have done for centuries – it’s stopping point.

Colle di Vald’Esla

Francesco and your blogger.

Monteriggioni

Then the winery stop – are yes, what would a visit to Chianti be without a winery stop? Ours was Poggio Amorelli, where we met a winemaker and viewed the paraphernalia of wine-making. My favourite bit on a winery tour (not counting the tasting, of course) is when you enter the cellars where the old barrels sit quietly in their years of rest. It’s always chilly, calm, contemplative – almost religious.

And then the tasting – a whole swathe of delicious wines, accompanied by various antipasti, including Tuscan bruschetta toasted over the wood fire in front of our table. Molto delizioso.

There’s more wine in Tuscany – the Montalcino region is further south – but an afternoon in Chianti is well-spent.