A picture postcard day...

Today is the day for a Brunello tasting!  I have really been looking forward to this day.  So, we begin our drive starting south of Siena about an hour to the Val d' Orcia (around Pienza).  A very picturesque region of southern Tuscany in my opinion.  It is kind of dreamy like. 

Our first stop of the day is Montepulciano, a renaissance town, and is known for it's wine called Vino Nobile.  It is one of the oldest wines in Italy dating back to 789.  It is primarily made from the Sangiovese grape varietal.

Heading on down the road we soon stop along the side, still heading toward Pienza, to have a little picnic. It looks like someone is holding up a painting for a backdrop.  Just crazy pretty.  Made my little sandwich taste even better!

On to the hilltop town of Montalcino, which has been in existence since the time of the Ancient Etruscans. It is also home to the famed Brunello di Montalcino.  A Brunello "little dark one", is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes.  They are aged for at least 4 years with two of the years in oak barrels and then bottled at least 4 months prior to commercial release.  We stumbled upon this quaint and quirky vineyard Al Paradiso di Frassino and loved it. We had a nice tasting and tour all while Mozart playing 24 hours a day throughout the entire vineyard. They believe in organic farming and the positive effects of sound waves to the vines. www.alparadisodifrassino.ilt

A good day for the Appe.  27!

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.

 

 

 

 

                                         

   

 

Ciao Italia

Italian coastline

 

 

Well, darn.  I'm a couple days behind on posting because I'm having technical difficulties getting wifi in the Tuscan hillside!  We are here in Tuscany and it's just gorgeous but I have to go out to the barn to get a connection.  It's pretty chilly out at night so it's a bit of a problem right now. 

We drove down the coastline from Mougins, France on Monday and stayed the night in Portofino and it was a beautiful drive.  The coastline around Portofino is stunning.  I didn't know the town was in it's own little cove.  A crazy drive to get to it but really worth it.  I could have stayed a couple days in the area but the countryside was calling!

To amuse ourselves, Michael and I have come up with the game of "I spot an Appe" it's a cute little 3 wheeled farmer's truck in all sorts of colors. We spotted 37 on the first day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apee

 

Rapallo

 

Rapallo. The town just before Portofino.

 

Portofino

 

Portofino

 

skinny little road into Portofino

 

Ahhhhh....Tuscany!

Au Revoir Cote d'Azur

 

Villefranche

 

Aperitif

                                   
We are leaving the Cote d'Azur tomorrow and headed for Tuscany, Italy.  We had a great time playing on the Mediterranean and pleasantly surprised with a warm and sunny October.
 I am very happy to have spent my 5 year wedding anniversary in Antibes, France and am looking forward to our next 5!
While packing our bags this evening we are snacking on the last of our pate' de campagne (country style pate') with a Cotes Du Rhone red. Oh my, I'm gonna have to run some hills in Tuscany to make room for the pasta and Chianta Classico's!
We are gonna "try" and get an early start in the morning to make Portofino, Italy for dinner.  We've heard they are famous for their shrimp and don't want to miss it. 

Antibes

 

Pig!

 

street in Antibes

 

Cannes in the back ground

 

yacht's in Monte Carlo

 

Mougins

 

Menton

 

a little dinner

 

  
             

  

 

                                                                                

Hill Towns on the Cote

                                                                            
  We finally pulled ourselves away from the coast and visited several of the medieval hillside villages.  Sure glad we did because they were really amazing.  Most of the villages are only about 8 or so miles inland and a bit cooler because of the elevation. 
On the tour was Bormes les Mimosas, Tourrettes sur Loup (one of the oldest medieval villages in the French Riviera), Saint Paul de Vence and the old city of Mougins.
We ended the day in Villeneuve Loubet to visit the museum honoring Auguste Escoffier.  He was said to be the King of Chefs and the Chef of Kings and was the pre-eminant chef of the 20th century.  Many classical and toady's chefs still rely of his Le Guide Culinaire for culinary wisdom. Michael was thrilled to visit the masters home town and museum.

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Chef making herbs des Provence omelette's with roesti and a green salad.  End to a great day in the hills.