A day in the Tuscan countryside

 

Sorry I have gotten behind on the posting but we have not had a connection for the past several days! Really tough in the hills in Tuscany for internet.  All up and running now so stay tuned....

On our first big day out in the country, we traveled the Chiantigiana (SR222).  It is said to be one of the most charming and scenic routes in Italy.  Its runs directly south from Florence to Sienna cutting through the heart of the Chianti Classico wine zone. The Chianti area has been one of the most important wine producing regions in Italy for over two centuries. It was the family of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Lopold I that began cultivating grapes during the 18th and 19th centuries in the region that would become modern Chianti. We passed through villages and small towns and cautht the smell of fermenting grapes all over the valley. 
We visited a few of the villages such as Greve, Panzano and Impruneta but lingered in Castellina for a nice little lunch of fresh porcini pasta. It is porcini season after all!
It was a slow day for the Apee sightings.  Only spotted 17.