It is now 3:30 am and we are on our final one and one half hour trip. Everywhere we went was , one and one half hour- give or take.
Stefano, our faithful driver!
What a blast!!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
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| Getting ready to start |
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| Jan's fresco |
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| Carlo critiquing |
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| Stevie's Fresco- suppose to be peaches! |
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| MaryAnn's horse |
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| Julie's Angel- she made her happy instead of sad |
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| Jean- Marie's-- she is really good!! Next we are off to olive milling. This is a mill where they make olive oil from all over the area. It was fascinating. They press the olives, separate the seeds and skins and twigs, , run them through a grinder and bam!! Olive Oil in about 45 minutes to an hour. |
Friday, October 24, 2014
Thursday, the 23rd. This is "I LOVE LUCY" Day!
The Lucy's leaving for the wineries!!
The photos and video will say it all, but we started the day with breakfast of course, then a new driver (Mario-who did not speak a word of English) UGH!! Then the Lucy's went out to Fattoria di Palazzo vecchio "Feste della Vendemmia" for grape stomping, riding in the back of the grape wagon, with the minstrels, followed by 2 black labs, one white mutt, and all the workers in the vineyard playing the guitar and the accordion
Our hostess, Maria Luisa Sbernadori, her helper Frederika and a pot load of staff, to get us ready for the stomp and the ride.
After we stomped and rode around the vineyard it was time for the foot wash. Let me tell you, those grapes were cold and we had hot water buckets and towels!!! HEAVEN!!!!
After a tour of the winery, LUNCH!! OMG- this one was the best. The building was an orphanage, an agriculture school and now the dining room to the winery. It was all done is bricks and stones, stone floors that replaced the dirt, ceilings were raised and doorways heightened.
You will see by the photos just how charming this area was.
Maria Luisa is the daughter of the vintner and she has built a modern wine buying shop that overlooking the valley of Montepulciano. She wanted the countryside to be the photos and did she ever pick a great spot.
Marco is the artist who does the special labels for the wine bottles and we had a chance to meet him.
This whole morning was a fairy tale come true!!
If you are going to stomp grapes it might as well be in Italy!!!
The photos and video will say it all, but we started the day with breakfast of course, then a new driver (Mario-who did not speak a word of English) UGH!! Then the Lucy's went out to Fattoria di Palazzo vecchio "Feste della Vendemmia" for grape stomping, riding in the back of the grape wagon, with the minstrels, followed by 2 black labs, one white mutt, and all the workers in the vineyard playing the guitar and the accordion
Our hostess, Maria Luisa Sbernadori, her helper Frederika and a pot load of staff, to get us ready for the stomp and the ride.
After we stomped and rode around the vineyard it was time for the foot wash. Let me tell you, those grapes were cold and we had hot water buckets and towels!!! HEAVEN!!!!
After a tour of the winery, LUNCH!! OMG- this one was the best. The building was an orphanage, an agriculture school and now the dining room to the winery. It was all done is bricks and stones, stone floors that replaced the dirt, ceilings were raised and doorways heightened.
You will see by the photos just how charming this area was.
Maria Luisa is the daughter of the vintner and she has built a modern wine buying shop that overlooking the valley of Montepulciano. She wanted the countryside to be the photos and did she ever pick a great spot.
Marco is the artist who does the special labels for the wine bottles and we had a chance to meet him.
This whole morning was a fairy tale come true!!
If you are going to stomp grapes it might as well be in Italy!!!
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| THE WINERY FROM AFAR |
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| MORE CHEESE |
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
It is still Wednesday and after breakfast we took off for Brunello de Montalcino. Our first winery was Poggio Antico . The winery was on a hill with fantastic views. This is an ancient hill in Montalcino. The whole property is surrounded by cypress trees, vineyards and olive trees. Today was absolutely beautiful with clear blue skies and we could see all the way to the the ocean and the view of the inactive volcano, Mount Amatia.
Some of us were dressed in heavy coats- I am not sure if MaryAnn and Jan are on the same trip, but they keep showing up every time it is wine time or shopping.
After our tour we went for the wine tasting. We tried one of the reserves and some of the super Tuscans. Not one of my favorite Brunellos. Interesting note, the region of Montalcino is the growing of the San Giovesese grape. Only Brunello's and a mix of the grapes. Very similar to France with their appellations.
This wine became popular in the early 80's and it has taken the town of Montalcino to be off the chart. The town had only 16 wineries to begin, but now they have over 200.
Some of us were dressed in heavy coats- I am not sure if MaryAnn and Jan are on the same trip, but they keep showing up every time it is wine time or shopping.
After our tour we went for the wine tasting. We tried one of the reserves and some of the super Tuscans. Not one of my favorite Brunellos. Interesting note, the region of Montalcino is the growing of the San Giovesese grape. Only Brunello's and a mix of the grapes. Very similar to France with their appellations.
This wine became popular in the early 80's and it has taken the town of Montalcino to be off the chart. The town had only 16 wineries to begin, but now they have over 200.
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| Coats, anyone! |
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| A view of Montalcino |
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| I think this is a chair overlooking the town of Pienza |
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| Another crappy view!!! In the afternoon we went to visit Mastro Janni winery and Andrea was our guide. The best one, quick and then to lunch that he had prepared. We had a traditional dish called, PAPPA. Tomatoes, bread and olive oil. It looked like mush and tasted delicious!!! Cortona for some more shopping, then to the Villa for dinner and more wine and laughter. I have laughed so much my sides hurts: As an example: JAN SAID SHE HAD A WINE GUY THAT WAS BETWEEN THE SHEETS IN CALIFORNIA. MORE LATER |
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Wednesday, the 22nd. I really don't know why I am up early this am, but here I am. Last night after we arrived back at the Villa, Luccia and Francessa showed us how to make homemade egg noodles, meat pasta sauce, creme anglesise, and chicken cacciatore!!
We all had to be properly dressed for the occasion- chef's hat an aprons, and embroidered with our names.
First of all, making the pasta is very time consuming and to do it properly you have to kneed the dough for 40 minutes, then let it rest for about an hour and then roll it out very thin. Once you do all of this, then you cut, cook and serve. It is outstanding to say the least, and if I ever do this I will charge at least a hundred for the spaghetti.
Needless to sat there was a lot of wine drinking going on during the pasta roll out and kneading the dough.
The photos will say it all.!!
Today we go to Montalcino
to visit 2 wineries!! We must drink wine, instead of water.
We all had to be properly dressed for the occasion- chef's hat an aprons, and embroidered with our names.
First of all, making the pasta is very time consuming and to do it properly you have to kneed the dough for 40 minutes, then let it rest for about an hour and then roll it out very thin. Once you do all of this, then you cut, cook and serve. It is outstanding to say the least, and if I ever do this I will charge at least a hundred for the spaghetti.
Needless to sat there was a lot of wine drinking going on during the pasta roll out and kneading the dough.
The photos will say it all.!!
Today we go to Montalcino
I think today is Tuesday in Tuscany!! We blew off the walking tour of Cortona because we have been there for 2 days. So we went to San Gimignano to shop and then to Sienna for lunch and more shopping. This was a fun day and will be explained in photos.
You would have never thought us five had seen a store before!!!
You would have never thought us five had seen a store before!!!
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| JEFFERSON IS A TROJAN! AT USC-MOM GETS IT |
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| WINE! |
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| CORTONA FROM THE ROAD! |
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| SIENNA |
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| ARRIVING BACK HOME!!! |
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