Montalcino & Montepulciano
Siena: Today was our last day in
Siena, so we decided to visit yet more quaint hill-top wine-producing towns.
First, we had a tour of the wine room where our landlords produce their
Chianti. The family harvested all the grapes in three days and everything is
already in huge stainless steel tanks - fermenting away.
Making wine on the estate
The "showroom" where they sell their wine and olive oil (mjb)
Giovanni opens the vat of olive oil - the smell was incredible!
We consumed a few bottles during our stay!
After our tour - I'm sure we could all make wine now (!) -
we piled into the van and DT drove us out into the countryside to the town
of Montalcino. Here we visited The Fortress and walked around the
picturesque streets and enjoyed the views out over Tuscany.
Montalcino Fortress tower (dt)
Inside the fortress
Steps to the tower walls
Inside the fortress is an open courtyard, a wine bar and a
wine shop. We paid three Euros to climb a very scary series of stairs to
reach the walkway on top of the perimeter wall - but this view was our
reward:
Montalcino from the fortress
Montalcino street scenes
Painted tile on a wall in Montalcino
A study of Montalcino doors
Our next stop was Montepulciano - one of the more famous
(again, hill-top) towns in Tuscany. Montepulciano is one of DT's favorite
wines, so we found a nice - though touristy - restaurant, deep down in a
cellar below the streets and ordered a carafe and luncheon.
Lunch in a cave (mjb)
The table service was inside the paper envelope, on top of our attractive
placemat.
I ordered a salad with cannellini beans
The food at the restaurant was outstanding. We had the best
Tuscan bruschetta so-far on the trip and our meals were loaded with lots of
healthy garlic. After lunch, we continued walking through Montepulciano,
stopping in cheese shops, wine shops and many pottery shops. Mary knew of a
wine shop with tastings and a tour of the cellars.
Contucci
Vineyards did have an impressive operation with a made-famous-by-Rick-Steves
sommelier - who pinched all three of our (the ladies) rear ends. Though it
is his shtick - I was offended and think he needs to be slapped.
Contucci cellars (dt)
Montepulciano town square
Town square clock: this guy bangs the bell
with his spear every 30 minutes (dt)
We were getting tired, so DT drove us back to our villa. We
finished up the rest of our food - Woody deep-fried ravioli - and played 21
until the wine was finished.
Pedometer: a lowly 8,000 steps. Gelato of the Day: No one had gelato today.
We will make up for it though, don't worry!