United kingdom Daily news: Wine tasting holidays, Italy: Chianti, the scenic Tuscan escape that's in a glass of its own

Jumat, 01 Juni 2012

Wine tasting holidays, Italy: Chianti, the scenic Tuscan escape that's in a glass of its own

Wine tasting holidays, Italy: Chianti, the scenic Tuscan escape that's in a glass of its own

By Sarah Stanbury

PUBLISHED: 12:43 EST, 1 June 2012 | UPDATED: 12:43 EST, 1 June 2012

Everyone's a wine expert in Tuscany. Or so it seems when I embark on a tasting holiday in this famously lugubrious part of Italy.

We are staying in Borgo Santo Pietro, a restored 13th-century villa. In the wine cellar, the bottles are lined up, from small non-commercial Tuscan wineries with specialist labels.

And what a setting in which to indulge. From here, itâ€™s a 50-minute drive to the hilly area between Florence and Siena (the original Chianti Classico zone) to Brolio Castle, a wine-making empire encompassing 240 hectares of vineyards.

A vine romance: Chianti Classico vineyards in Tuscany, although the reputation of the region has varied throughout time

This is home to the oldest winery in Italy. Known for its bulbous-bottomed bottle encased in a straw basket, Chianti hasnâ€™t always enjoyed the best reputation. Our guide tells us that it has moved on.

In the Seventies, the focus switched from quantity back to quality. After a trawl around theÂ fermentation room, the barriccaia (where barrels of ageing wine are piled upon one another), we arrive at the holy grail â€" the tasting room.

We study the clarity, sniff the nose, swirl and sip some of the new label wines alongside some of the well established.

Young woman holding a glass of red wine in a vineyard

Raise a glass: Italy provides the perfect backdrop for a wine tasting holiday

Then itâ€™s off to Siena, where we head straight for Piazza del Campo, the main square â€" home to the Palio, the cityâ€™s fast and furious bare-backed horse race. We start our climb of the imposing bell tower.

After 399 steps, I wish we hadnâ€™t, but one more step rewards us with fabulous views across the city.

After the descent, we stroll the network of narrow streets, taking in the dramatic black and white marbled, Gothic cathedral or Duomo, and enjoy the last rays of sunshine as they spill through the gaps in the high-sided buildings.

On our last night at Borgo Santo Pietro, we are poured two glasses of wine from unmarked bottles and have to identify a 2007 vintage (renowned to be a good year thanks to the hot sunshine) from a 2005.

I donâ€™t guess correctly, but that doesnâ€™t matter one bit.

Travel Facts

Double rooms at Borgo Santo Pietro start at Â£302 BB. Special packages are available at certain times (0039 0577 751 222, www.borgosantopietro.com). easyJet flies from Gatwick to Pisa from Â£54 return (www.easyJet.com)