2008 Third Alumni Wine trip - the Chianti region

After the successful experiences of 2006 with our first wine trip to the Barolo region in Piemonte and of last year tasting in Beaune in Bourgogne, we have targeted Tuscany and the Chianti region. All participants have gathered on the evening of Friday October 17th at the azienda agricola Il Masseto located in the middle of the Chianti region. A traditional dinner was served with tartine con fegatini, zuppa di fagioli and cacciagione, all duly combined with wines from the area.

The day of Saturday has been dedicated to the visit of two winemakers in the area.

In the morning, after a relaxing drive through the Chianti hills we reached the azienda agricola San Fabiano in Calcinaia south of Poggibonsi. The visit to the spectacular cellar and the old restored country-houses has prepared ourselves for the wine-tasting session. The producer Guido Serio has presented the entire selection of his wines. Worth mentioning the traditional Chianti Cellole Riserva (2 stars Veronelli) 95% sangiovese, the interesting Cerviolo Bianco and the flagship of the producer Cerviolo Rosso (3 stars Veronelli) a blended Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. All wines that helped us during lunch.

The afternoon of Saturday we moved back to Castellina in Chianti to pay a visit to the fattoria Nittardi. The offices and the tasting cellar are hosted in a medieval tower that belonged to the Buonarroti family and where Michelangelo is believed having lived for a while. The owners PeterFemfert and Stefania Canali are world-knowm for their art galleries and a small collection of sculptures contributes to give the fattoria a special touch. The agronomo sig. Spurio lead us in the vineyard and in the cellar for an instructive and interesting introduction to wine-making. The visit closed with an extensive tasting of the entire Nittardi offering. Chianti Classico Riserva Nittardi coming from vineyards in the area and the new Nectar Dei from the new vineyards in Maremma (both 3 stars Veronelli) left us a wonderful memory!

The day came to a conclusion with a superb dinner in Castellina in Chianti at the restaurant Albergaccio di Castellina, traditional tastes combined with a modern touch that preserved the meals in the original spirit.

Sunday we moved at the extreme North-West border of the Chianti region, entering Pisa province in San Miniato. The short trip was fully worth. The visit to the villa and vineyards of the tenuta Cosimo Maria Masini will remain for long time in our mind. The villa, once belonging to the Bonaparte family, dominates the Arno valley and with its Italian garden, vineyards and olive trees plantation is an unforgettable location. We tasted the three wines of the tenuta Annick Bianco Toscana chardonnay and sauvignon, Nicole Toscana Rosso sangiovese and cabernet and Nicolo' Toscana Rosso cabernet. All wines produced in accordance to the principle of biodynamics. A theory that aims at preserving the links with the terroir by minimising all human interventions in the vineyard and during the wine making phase. In the afternoon a long walk in the vineyards has completed our short full immersion in Tuscany the land of wine-