Nine Wines—Fine Times

We are properly in Tuscany now, safely ensconced in a wonderful hotel called La Capucina just outside the historic town of San Gimignano. One of the very successful businessmen in Italy lives on a fabulous estate near San Gimignano. He owns several of the farms and vineyards nearby. He also owns two helicopters that fly VIP guests here from Rome and Venice. His parents were also successful, as were his grandparents, and great grandparents. In fact the Giachi family have successfully run this enterprise since 1720.

In medieval times, while most of the nobility built out, limited space on top of these cliffs forced the nobility of San Gimignano to build up. Each family attempted to out-do their competitors by building a taller tower. Half a dozen of these towers have survived battles and earthquakes. Today the tallest tower still standing belongs to the Giachi family.

Tonight we went to a wine tasting and dinner at the Giachi estate called Tenuta Torciano. We strode across the palatial grounds among statues of gods and goddesses to enter a festive dining room that could have been decorated for royalty. Nine wines, paired with the various courses of our meal ranged from a sparkling white wine, to a beefy Brunello di Montalcino. Each one was delicious. Each of the recipes Cousin Lilo served us was made from a recipe handed down from his great grandmother. The lasagna was especially good, consisting of flat noodles covered not with tomato sauce, but rather with a white bechamel. It took a great deal of discipline to avoid eating or drinking too much, and I must confess that none of us, except for Glenda, was successful.

We returned to our hotel around 9:30 pm more than satisfied, contented by the nine wines and ready for a good night’s sleep.

For more information visit:

https://www.torciano.com/en/

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