We were warned that we would find many Australians holidaying in these Tuscan towns and we did.
Our first port of call was a town called Greve in Chianti where the most wonderful butcher's shop sold salamis, sausages and other deli style meats.
Which is the wild boar?
Wild boar salami!
Lovely Pecorino cheeses in cellar (Don appears to have already eaten a couple).
We stocked up for our extra days in Florence.
Our last stop for this tour was at a winery in the Chianti region -- Castello di Verrazzano. Classic Tuscan views, with olives, grapes, nut trees ... Also apparently wild boar, but we missed them.
Our guide Gino explained his philosophies of wine and Italian life, only spitting occasionally when he mentioned 'the French'. In between he outlined how from sangiovese grapes they made rosé as well as Chianti classico and the riserva, and the lengths of time the Chianti needs to rest in oak barrels before bottling.
Racks for drying grapes for making vino santo, the sherry-like hospitality wine.
We had a four course meal with 6 different wines for us to taste, including the extra reserve and the post-coffee grappa.
One of the waiters took a fancy to Jo and Judy and Elaine took a fancy to him.
Jo coping quite well ...
Everyone was very happy and full after the meal.
Marilyn and Bruce
Julie and Brenda
Tanya, Judy and John
Don, Jo, and Tanya
In our bus home we looked at the countryside and sang along with Paverotti and the Three Tenors.
Dinner? Who had room for dinner? Perhaps just a salad, or bruschetta fagiolini, oh, and a beer too ...
- Posted in our day off
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