I love Chianti
One of my favorite places to visit in Italy, is Tuscany. I love driving through the countryside and taking pictures of all the vineyards, or stopping for lunch in a little medieval town. Tuscany is a timewarp, you feel the passion of the people. You sense what it was like before machinery was used for harvesting. There are so many vineyards in Tuscany, it’s like the Who’s who of Italian wine producers.
I remember the first time I drank Chianti with my father, it was in the typical straw bottle. I don’t remember the producer, I remember we were eating provolone and salami. No one else in my family particulary cared for the wine. My dad and I had no problem with not having to share our wine.
The Chianti produced in Tuscany today is so superior to thirty years ago. I don’t even know if you can get a bad bottle of Chianti. We have about two dozen Chianti’s on our list at Varano’s and to be honest, I’d like to add another two dozen. Our list is a representation of Tuscan Chianti’s, consisting of some personal favorites, along with wines I’ve tasted while in Italy and thought they’d be great for our list. I’ve visited so many producers and I never get bored of touring their properties. Even my mother, who really doesn’t drink much wine was fascinated with each tour. You’d think that after the second or third tour, you’d get bored and they’d all be the same. It’s amazing how unique each winery is, and how each Chianti tastes different.
If you drive from Florence, take the SS-222 road, it will wind through Greve and down through Castellina in Chianti. There are many famous wineries along the way. One of my favorites is in Greve, called Verrazzano. Verrazzano is owned by the Cappellini family and offers tours and lunch daily. I would highly recommend this tour and lunch. This is a great opportunity to try some Tuscan fare and see the wine cellar and vin santo room. The owner’s private wine cellar and the wild boar prosciutto cellar are also some of the highlights not to be missed. The man in charge of hospitality is a friend of mine, his name is Gino Rossi. Gino is a very passionate man who loves people. It’s great when you go in the slow season, Gino loves to share his passion with you. Sometimes you can even get him to cook for you. Tell him, Dick Varano sent you.
With the cost of the Euro these days, some people are passing on their trip to Italy. I don’t blame you, I love going there, and I’m hesitating on going over this fall. Fortunately Varano’s features only Italian wines, that pair perfectly with our Italian food. The best part about Varano’s is you can have your Italian experience and save about $1600.00 on airfare.
I remember the first time I drank Chianti with my father, it was in the typical straw bottle. I don’t remember the producer, I remember we were eating provolone and salami. No one else in my family particulary cared for the wine. My dad and I had no problem with not having to share our wine.
The Chianti produced in Tuscany today is so superior to thirty years ago. I don’t even know if you can get a bad bottle of Chianti. We have about two dozen Chianti’s on our list at Varano’s and to be honest, I’d like to add another two dozen. Our list is a representation of Tuscan Chianti’s, consisting of some personal favorites, along with wines I’ve tasted while in Italy and thought they’d be great for our list. I’ve visited so many producers and I never get bored of touring their properties. Even my mother, who really doesn’t drink much wine was fascinated with each tour. You’d think that after the second or third tour, you’d get bored and they’d all be the same. It’s amazing how unique each winery is, and how each Chianti tastes different.
If you drive from Florence, take the SS-222 road, it will wind through Greve and down through Castellina in Chianti. There are many famous wineries along the way. One of my favorites is in Greve, called Verrazzano. Verrazzano is owned by the Cappellini family and offers tours and lunch daily. I would highly recommend this tour and lunch. This is a great opportunity to try some Tuscan fare and see the wine cellar and vin santo room. The owner’s private wine cellar and the wild boar prosciutto cellar are also some of the highlights not to be missed. The man in charge of hospitality is a friend of mine, his name is Gino Rossi. Gino is a very passionate man who loves people. It’s great when you go in the slow season, Gino loves to share his passion with you. Sometimes you can even get him to cook for you. Tell him, Dick Varano sent you.
With the cost of the Euro these days, some people are passing on their trip to Italy. I don’t blame you, I love going there, and I’m hesitating on going over this fall. Fortunately Varano’s features only Italian wines, that pair perfectly with our Italian food. The best part about Varano’s is you can have your Italian experience and save about $1600.00 on airfare.
