T O S C A N A ... parte uno

Journeying through the hills of Tuscany feels like walking right into a painting. The skies are the bluest of blues, the clouds so puffy and white you want to jump in them, the hills roll around like nature's playground, and the vines are endless....

This was my favorite shot (above) of the 1,000+ I took while roaming the hills of Tuscany for 10 days. Our first stop was Castello Del Trebbio, a castle vineyard in the heart of the Chianti Region. I have to start by saying that wine in Italy has something magical in it. You can drink all day long and never feel sick or hungover. And you simply have to drink all day if you plan to taste even just a small percentage of the wineries here. To say this is Italy's wine country is a huge understatement! Tuscany makes Napa look like a speck on a map, and that's not to say I don't absolutely love Napa ... that blog will come later.
The people here at Trebbio are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The tour was both informative and fun. And the tasting room includes some of their very own olive oils as well. The barrel room (right) was my favorite spot on this tour. The picture can not justify just how huge these barrels are. I just wanted a straw to enjoy what was inside!

I learned a thing or two about Chianti while visiting here. I learned, if you want to know if a Chianti is really from Italy, just check the neck of the bottle. All Chianti's grown in this region have a black rooster seal on the casing. Check out the link to learn more about it. I also learned about the different regions and how only 23 vineyards make Chianti Rufina compared to the 600 or so that make Classico. Of course, I didn't leave Trebbio empty handed, I left with 3 bottles of Chianti Rufina Riserva and 2 bottles of Olio Extra Virgin.

We then made our way through Florence and had a wonderful dinner at Cebrio's Trattoria, where we met our new French friends, Daniel & Brigette. Once again, here, I was reminded of how happiness is the journey, not the destination. Florence, for me, was over-rated, but the 3 hours we spent with a couple who we would have never met had we not made the stop, were priceless. Our first hillside cities were San Gimignano & Siena. I absolutely loved them both. The history, the culture, the wine, the food, all of it was fabulous! We arrived at San G in the morning, the sun was shining a bright orange glow on the city walls. The narrow cobblestone streets are filled with tourists, all wanting to see the most beautiful views of Tuscany which is what San G is known for. I couldn't escape the fact that I felt like I was back in medieval times and there are knights thumping up and down the streets on horses, running to guard the walls as intruders approach them. Okay, yes, my imagination was in high gear here! My imagination only grew once we got to Siena....

This is the entrance to the medieval looking town. I thought the gate almost looked like a chopping block and was a little leary of walking under it. Once inside, I pictured myself as the daughter of Tolomei, one of the primary families that lived here in Siena and yes, there was a rival family of course! I found my way to Tolomei piazza, and indulged in some delicious gelato! I now felt at home inside the walls of one of the most respected towns in Tuscany. It was here, that I learned of the rivalry between Siena and Florence and immediately knew I belonged in the Tolomei family :)
 
The Palio Horse Race (above right) takes place every year on July 2nd in this courtyard in the middle of Siena. The courtyard is surrounded by restaurants, all with outdoor patios overlooking the arena. As night fell in Siena, I left feeling rich both in culture and in history. 

Of course, we had to sleep while in Tuscany and after much research I had done before leaving on our trip, I found this little gem of a resort in a small town called Pari. The Petriola Spa & Resort is unique in many ways. It is one of the top ten healing hotels in the world known for it's thermal pools, aromatherapy showers, and world-renowned Spa treatments. Just walking in the door after a long day made me melt, truly one of the most breathtaking hotels I have ever stayed at!

We spent our first day relaxing at the spa and getting revitalized for our many upcoming wine tours!
In my next post, we will visit the one I was most looking forward to, Carparzo Vineyards....