Taste of Tuscany

Despite the floods occurring in northern Italy, we took a day trip to Tuscany for a wine tasting. The first stop of our trip was a tour of Citta Sotterranea, an authentic wine cellar in Montepulciano. Citta Sotterranea's wine is made from Sangiovese grapes that are grown in Siena. Interestingly enough, the wine cellar was previously used as a torture chamber during the war between Florence and Siena in the 1500’s. Rusty iron weapons are eerily on display throughout the hallways and create a haunting atmosphere. After the tour we tasted some of their famous wines, cheeses, salami, and olive oil. My favorite wine was their Chianti, which also happened to have the lowest price (i.e. I am a cheap date). I purchased a small bottle as a souvenir, along with another for my family when they visit, and a bag of the olive oil herb mix, which rivaled Bertucci’s. The next stop was Montalcino.

​In Montalcino we visited the Altesino vineyard, which is world renowned and specializes in Brunello wine. This vineyard looked like it popped straight out of a movie because the pale-orange brick buildings were secluded on a hilltop and had the Tuscan hills surrounding it. The winery was recently renovated, but it still produces the same amount of wine it did when it first opened in the 1970’s. We toured the impressive winery and then tasted all but their most expensive wine, the aged Brunello. The young Brunello (aged for one year instead of three) was delicious, but obviously I am no wine connoisseur. I actually preferred the cheaper one (seriously, how cheap am I?), which was called Palazzo Altesi.

​​I personally thought Citta Sotterranea in Montepulciano was more interesting to visit because of its unique history. Although, Altensino in Montalcino was far more beautiful. Even though it was essentially down pouring, the rain created a picturesque fog throughout the hills. In the future, I want to visit before their harvest and experience the vast array of colors Tuscany has to offer.