First stop in this medieval town is the lovely coffee shop in the square almost at the top the hill. The castle at the very top of the hill provides a spectacular 360 degree view over Tuscany. Montalcino, which translates into Mountain of the Ilex (an evergreen tree of the holly family), has been settled since Etruscan times.
We enjoy some shopping time here before our lunch stop a little ways down the hill at Boccono di Vino, a traditionally run family restaurant. We are al fresco enjoying great views if the countryside on a gorgeous day. Some of the grapes still hang on the vines as the leaves start to turn a golden yellow.
After a very tasty lunch of typical Tuscan fare we are off to Biondi Santi, our winery of the day. This winery at Villa Greppo has been in the same family for 300 years, producing Sangiovesi, the king of grapes.
Ferruccio Biondi Santi decided in 1870 he wanted to only use 100% Sangiovesi grapes in his wine and thus was born Brunello di Montalcino.
We tasted four different wines, the last a very special Riserva from 1975 costing 980 Euro a bottle which the present owner, Jacopo Biondi Santi who came to talk to us for a while, had suggested we try.
I will spare the details of the aging process here for better descriptions when I have a keyboard on which to embellish my notes.
We move on to the small village of Montesi and a talk from Maurizio Castelli, one of the top winemakers in Italy and the guru of Sangiovesi grapes and Brunellos. We taste another four wines and learn about their complexities.
Maurizio's wife sets a very light supper and treats us to a plate of seven different cheeses which she explains to us - their origins and virtues. A delightful evening yet again and we nod off on route home.
You're all dining al fresco? In the nude?!
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