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| Montalcino |
You probably think I’m crazy to wake up earlier on a Saturday than I do during the week for class, but it was totally worth it. I went on a day trip Saturday to the small medieval city Montalcino, also known as the home of the red wine Brunello. I also whipped out the big guns camera finally, so these pictures are much better quality. (Thanks Justin)
On Saturdays, there are only 2 buses that leave from Siena to Montalcino, one at 7ish and one at 2, with only the option to return home at either 1:30 or 7:30. So, of course everyone decides to take the morning option – which ended up being the best decision ever; we essentially had the small town to ourselves, it was wonderful.
So we arrive around 8;30 and proceed to wander around the little city, stopping to take lots of pictures the whole time. Around 9, we head over to the Fortezza, the large fort castle. We climb up to the top walls, providing the perfect panoramic view of Montalcino – just beautiful, looking out into the Tuscan countryside and all the Brunello vineyards. Definitely worth those 4 euro.
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| walking around the Fortezza |
A quick little history on Montalcino: it is about 564 metres above seal level between the valleys of the river Ombrone, river Asso, and river Orcia. This created an interesting set up for the long lasting sieges between the 13th and 16th centuries fought by the Republics of Siena and Florence. During the latter half of the 19th century, many local wine producers abandoned the traditional Tuscan wine methods and focused solely on Sangiovese wine. After much technical experimentation, this led to today’s Brunello wine of Montalcino.
At about 10, we find ourselves at an Enoteca for wine tasting – the main event, of course. The enoteca is set up so you are given a little card, and whenever you want to try a glass of a wine, you insert your card and then press the button above the wine and it dispense in your glass (obviously this is my first wine tasting every – and what better place for a first time than in Tuscany!). We all end up sharing tastes of our glasses, trying to find our favorites. I definitely lean toward the sweeter and smoother ones.
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| the Enoteca - this was only one of the wine tasting "stations" |
Yes, I know, a little early to be drinking several glass of wine. Don’t worry, I ate prior and I was perfectly fine Mom.
Discovering my favorites, I of course take advantage of the prices and ship some bottles back to the US. Then they didn’t make me pay for all the wine I drank and tasted. I’d say it was a win-win situation.
After spending a good hour and a half tasting all the different kinds of Brunello, we walk over to another Cantina. One of my friends in our group, Nate, his host mom is friends with one of the vineyard owners and hooked us up with a tour! Her friend’s brother owns the vineyard, and they both drive us out of the city to the vineyard just outside the walls, more in the valley beneath the hill that Montalcino sits on. She shows us around the rooms and vineyard and explains the processing of making the wine. I felt like I was receiving the Tuscan Brunello VIP treatment. After the tour, we taste both the family vineyard Lazzaretti Rosso and Brunello.  |
| a huge barrel of Brunello! |
Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino must, of course, be produced in the communal area of Montalcino. Rosso must age in the oak barrels for 6 months, while Brunello must age in the oak barrels for 30 months. Brunello must then be aged in the bottles for 4 months, but 6 months for the Reserve. While you should only hold onto a Rosso before drinking it at a max of 5 years, you could hold on to a Brunello for at least 50. A little insight into Brunello, which is considered Tuscany’s nicest wine and should be reserved for special occasions: if you by a 50 euro 2004 bottle of Brunello, it will be worth maybe 5 times that in 5 years.
So, we continue to spend the remainder of our time enjoying the beauty of the quaint medieval city and the incredible views before catching our bus back to Siena.
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| the view of Montalcino from the vineyard in the valley |
This mini trip was the perfect little day trip for me – stress free, early on with the day still ahead of you afterward, making you feel very accomplished. Also, so relaxing, just admiring Tuscany and drinking delicious red wine. Is this real life? I’d call it a perfect Saturday.
Did I mention that after this wonderful morning, I then spent the rest of the afternoon in the Piazza del Campo at the chocolate festival????? Just keeps getting better and better.
