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Fortezza di Montalcino

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    • TravelerL’Italia, Il Mio Cuore - 2022
      Day 9

      Montalcino

      September 12, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

      Checking out the amazing scenery of Tuscany made us a bit peckish (any excuse for an Italian meal) so we stopped at the small hill town of Montalcino. Settled since the Etruscan times, this town boasts amazing views of the valleys of Tuscany with the rustic small-town vibe.

      We found a fabulous restaurant with seating in the lush gardens, perfect for a pit stop. I had the best ravioli I have ever had, ravioli with pecorino cheese and pine nuts, and Brad enjoyed tagliatelle with asparagus tips and prosciutto. Accompanied with a very delicious bruschetta and a beer for Brad and a fishbowl of Prosecco for me, it was a wonderful experience.

      Once we refuelled, we were ready to hit the road again, towards our next location.      Read more

    • Diane and DarrylAmsterdam and Italy
      Day 23

      Montalcino and Brunello Wine Tasting

      April 22, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

      For our last full day in Montepulciano, we explored the lower part of the town and then set off in the car to do the Brunello Wine driving tour in Rick Steves’ book, and to visit the village of Montalcino. The region surrounding the village is the center of activity for Brunello wine production. A tasting room is located in the old fort of the city. We were able to climb a tower and get panoramic views from up on the walls.

      After climbing down, we received a nicely curated wine tasting (with local pecorino cheese and bread sticks) and learned a lot. The wine is produced in very small batches, and for the wines we tasted, the grapes are hand picked—grape by grape. There are all kinds of rules about whether a wine can be called Brunello, resulting in a 15-year period before you can sell your first bottle. No wonder the wines we tasted cost 90 euros and up for a bottle.

      Later in our countryside drive, we visited a winery and olive oil tasting/producing estate and heard a great story. The estate has origins that date back to the 17th century when it was founded by a local abbot, mainly for olive oil production. Eventually, in the mid-1800s it was sold to a wealthy land owner, who had one offspring, a daughter (Elda). Elda fell in love with a “poor” count (Alberto Piccolomini), a direct descendent of Pope Pius II. Elda’s family wasn’t happy about the match (because Alberto was older—didn’t look a lot older to us in their wedding photo—and because he was poor). Alberto’s family didn’t like the match because Elda wasn’t from noble birth. So, when Elda died in 1985 (as the last survivor of the couple), she snubbed both families and left the estate to her farm manager, who had no idea! Giuseppe then expanded from primarily olive oil production to wines. The estate is still run by his family.      Read more

    • TravelerBella Italia II
      1
      Day 6

      Montalcino

      June 11, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

      Letzter Punkt der Tour war Montalcino. Ein traumhafter kleiner Ort in den Bergen. Ich bin durch die Gassen geschlendert, habe einen Kaffee getrunken und den Ausblick von der Festungsmauer aus genossen. In der Ferne war ein Gewitter über Grosseto zu sehen und auf der anderen Seite strahlender Sonnenschein, es war einfach nur wunderbar. Zurück in Siena habe ich mich sofort auf den Heimweg gemacht, weil ich unbedingt noch eine Runde im Pool drehen wollte. Dort lag ich dann noch in der Abendsonne und habe mit MaPa telefoniert. Der Tag war einfach perfekt.Read more

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    • TravelerItaly
      Day 18

      Montalcino

      September 29, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

      Today I had the honor of driving with Bernie and Nicole in the standard car. It was highly recommended by Miriam and Jane. They would always come back from the drive in hysterics. Bernie and Nicole had more of a nervous what the fuck just happened laugh, wishing they could just have a nice leisurely drive in the country, enjoying the view. Our trip started after a slow start this morning deciding to go to Montalcino. Directions were placed in Waze and off we went, enjoying a beautiful Tuscan drive. The hills were rolling and freshly plowed. Cypress trees line driveways and property lines. It is a gorgeous day and everything seems to be neatly in place. The Italians take so much pride in keeping their property clean and tidy. Their roads are well-maintained and so many roundabouts that I will be a pro at them when home. Waze gave us the best route but only to here. We ended up riding this one-vehicle gravel road with no way but to go forward and a view so glorious we almost shit our pants. It was a nerve-racking experience but I kept my lips sealed and full trust in Bernie's re-virginated standard driving skills. Montalcino is beautiful high on the hills. All the homes are made of stones from medieval times. Lots of stairs to climb and a view for miles. Lunch was in a restaurant with a view of what romance and dreams are made of. We had a tasty Tuscan vegetable soup, Caprese salad, and of course the wine of the region Brunello. I so enjoyed the soup that I looked it up on Google for a recipe. We entered a few stores and walked around to strengthen our endurance for exercise. Getting out of town was a challenge in itself. Everywhere you turned there was a vehicle or people in the most inconvenient areas. Of course, Waze brought us back to the dirt road that we did not want so we turned around. We all agreed to follow the bus out of town and it got us home safe and sound. No road seemed like the same coming back. I guess that was God's way of saying "You wanted to see Tuscany, you're going to see Tuscany." It's wine time!!! Tonight we sat outside under the Tuscan full moon drinking today's wine and leftovers from our home-cooked meal from two nights ago. It is breezy this evening and I only wish we had an outdoor fire to go with it.Read more

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    Fortezza di Montalcino

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