I’m just back in Rome after spending 2 weeks in the Chianti region’s rolling hills!  Unfortunately I was doing very little wine tasting because I was working with Italian children at a Summer Camp but I did manage drink in the scenery (and a couple of bottles here and there) for 14 warm summer days!

I was located in the small area of Castelfiorentino, which is in the Chianti region between Florence and Siena.  I stayed at an agriturismo (=farmhouse and hotel) called Il Grande Prato. Nearby was a winery called Castello di Oliveto which makes a handful of different and tasty wines ranging from Chianti Riservas, to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends to Grappa and Sparkling Spumante!

Also nearby Castelfiorentino are 14 important “Wine Roads” including:

• Strada del Vino Chianti Colli Fiorentini which includes Montelupo Fiorentino
• Strada del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano which includes the celebrated white wine Vernaccia di San Gimignano and the red Chianti DOCG Colli Senesi.
• Strada del Vino di Montespertoli where they produce Chianti DOCG di Montespertoli, Chianti Colli, and the DOC reds, rose’s, and white wines of the Colli dell’Etruria Centrale.

For museum-goers, there’s also a Museum of Wine and Oenology in Montespertoli (via Lucardese, 74).

In short, this area is practically a Theme Park for wine-lovers.  I plan to return soon this summer, when I have some time off for tasting and exploring!

Aubrie Talarico