A Luxurious Day Out At Tenuta Torciano Winery On Vacation In Tuscany

Posted in: Day Trips Food and Wine Localities Must See Attractions San Gimignano Wineries & Breweries

If you have found a luxury villa in San Gimignano and are planning on enjoying the best of the best and the most luxurious experience of a vacation in Tuscany then you might be thinking of organising a trip to a winery to spend a leisurely day sipping on some excellent Tuscan vintages. There are endless brilliant wineries in Tuscany to do just that but in this scenario, if you’re looking for the plushest, most elegant, most luxurious winery experience then we highly recommend setting aside some time to visit Tenuta Torciano. This family-run gem is truly picture-perfect, boasts some amazing wines, and offers some unique and uniquely sophisticated and exclusive wine-related experiences on their stunning estate. So, if you’re a wine-lover and foodie who wants to go all out with their winery visit while enjoying a Tuscany villa, then take note...


Located just outside the famously beautiful medieval town of San Gimignano, in a perfect spot between Siena and Florence that would make it easy to visit also if you have found a luxury villa in Florence or a luxury villa in Siena, Tenuta Torciano has been run by 13 generations of wine-makers and their wines are infused with both all of this tradition and the latest technologies. Handed down through the generations for 300 years, this iconic brand is highly celebrated for the excellence of their products with an array of wonderful reds, whites, and a Vin Santo to choose from. However, at this gorgeous venue, it is not just about the undoubtedly high-quality wines but very much also about the experiences of tasting and enjoying them that recommends the winery to visitors. 

—    Colette Fitzpatrick

Cosimo Maria Masini Wines & Orange Wine On Vacation In Tuscany

Posted in: Food and Wine Localities Must See Attractions Pisa Pretty Views Tourist Attractions Wineries & Breweries

You may have noticed a type of wine increasingly in stores and restaurants in the last few years, in particular, that seems new and strange to you: orange wine. These wines are actually part of a very old tradition of wine-making that has been revitalised in recent years and basically involves the macerating of white wines with their skins and the treating of white grapes as one would red ones. While white wine is usually made by pressing the grapes, separating the juice from the skins, and then fermenting this juice, orange wine (or, sometimes, called amber, ramato, macerated, or skin-contact wines) is made by allowing both the skins and juice to ferment together.


Ranging from a golden hue to a richer, redder colour, orange wines have the complex flavour profile and tannins of a red wine but are similarly refreshing to white wine. It is a type of flavour that some find strange at first but it is worth familiarising oneself with as it is a perfect summer drink to enjoy while visiting a vineyard or to pair with a wide variety of meals and foods while dining in the region. And, while the region is not the first that comes to mind in Italy when thinking of orange wine, those who have found a villa with pool in Tuscany or a Tuscany villa will find that many wineries throughout Tuscany are producing wonderful orange wines. 

—    Colette Fitzpatrick

Visit The Picturesque Montecalvi Winery On Vacation In Chianti

Posted in: Chianti Food and Wine Localities Pretty Views Tourist Attractions Wineries & Breweries
Wine-lovers planning a trip to Tuscany will find themselves truly spoiled for choice when it comes to ideal destinations for sampling and shopping different wines and for visiting wineries. However, if you’re interested in the big hitters in life and seeing if they live up to the hype, then you’ll likely be interested in visiting the famous Chianti wine region of Tuscany. In particular, a villa with pool in Greve in Chianti makes for a perfect base for wine fans who want to learn more about wine, try some excellent vintages, enjoy incredibly scenic surroundings, and be able to discover other nearby famous destinations and attractions in Tuscany.

The utterly picturesque and wonderfully historic town of Greve in Chianti is considered to be a doorway into Chianti and is located right along the SR222 provincial road that is known by locals as the Chiantigiana road, just 30km south of Florence and 40km north of Siena, making it very easy to plan day trips to either of those famous and beloved cities while on holiday in the area. It is also perfectly located to begin delving into the many incredible wineries of the region. One such nearby winery that is well-worth mentioning and definitely worth visiting is Montecalvi Winery...
—    Colette Fitzpatrick
Coffee
27
Oct
2021

Visit This Incredible Coffee Hub On Vacation In Fiesole

Posted in: Food and Wine Museums & Galleries Must See Attractions Restaurants & Cafés Tourist Attractions
Coffee-lovers will already consider Italy and Tuscany, in particular, to be essential destinations for enjoying excellent coffee while on holiday and/or as key destinations in the globe to tick off if you are out to properly explore and experience all of the most important coffees and coffee cultures of the world. However, if you’re really serious about your coffee and want to dedicate a whole day to learning more about Italian coffee and coffee culture and tasting some excellent blends and you have found yourself a luxury villa in Florence or a vacation rental in Fiesole then you should definitely pencil in a visit to the Accademia del Caffè Espresso. A truly unique foodie experience for coffee fans, in particular, it is just one more delicious reason to plan a visit to this truly beautiful part of the world.

The Accademia del Caffè Espresso is located on the outskirts of Florence, near the town of Fiesole, and is a, “cultural “hub” focused on espresso coffee,” where, through analyses, research and communications, they build new relationships and insights into espresso coffee culture. Based in what was once the old factory space of La Marzocco, the famous high-end coffee machine company, from 1960 to 2009, the Accademia is now a place for research, innovation and outreach. Basically, it’s an incredible hub for the most dedicated coffee-lovers and nerds out there to unite and learn more about coffee and enjoy some incredible blends!
—    Colette Fitzpatrick
Chestnuts
13
Sep
2021

Chestnut Dishes To Try On Vacation In Tuscany This Fall

Posted in: Food and Wine Products & Specialities Slow Food
A vacation in Tuscany in fall means taking in the famously beautiful landscapes of the region made even more stunning by the autumnal colours that take over, means bargains as off-season prices kick in after the summer, means smaller queues and fewer crowds, and it means less intensely hot weather. However, one of the best things about travelling in the region through fall is that it is harvest season, which means that there are all sorts of hearty regional dishes to try and all sorts of perfectly fresh and delicious foods and produce to sample. While truffles, apples, and other fruits and vegetables are important to the autumnal cuisine of Tuscany, one of the key ingredients that you will find in all sorts of delicious dishes and desserts come fall is the chestnut.

At their best in October, chestnuts are prepared in quite a wide variety of different ways from roasting to boiling to mashing to being used to make a flour and then turned into various kinds of confections. Grown at an elevation, they are found mostly in mountainous regions such as along the Apuan Alps and the Apennines and in areas such as Lunigiana, Garfagnana, Pistoia, the Casentino, around Marradi, and in the Mugello. However, as big cities such as Florence and Siena are nearby, you'll find chestnut-based goods all over Tuscany in the fall. If you are fond of chestnuts, in particular, or if you just happen to be planning on finding a villa in Tuscany and exploring the foodie delights of the region this autumn then here are some of the must-try chestnut-based dishes that you should add to your culinary bucket list...
—    Colette Fitzpatrick