Wine tips for Tuscany

I will be heading to Tuscany soon. We visit two wineries (Castello Banfi is one.) Usually at the lunches and dinners we have a white and a red wine poured without extra charge (meals and wine included in the overall trip package) and so don't really choose the wines. But if I have a chance to explore wines by the glass outside the meals, what should I seek?

Banfi is the half-ton gorilla of Montalcino, and the winery many others love to hate... . Which is the other winery, and where are you going to be/how much time do you have? There are literally hundreds of fine producers and thousands of labels of potential interest in Toscana, so difficult to pull recommendations out of a hat without any inkling of your itinerary...

On second thoughts, one easy strategy is to take along a list of the latest tre bicchieri awards of the Gambero Rosso, and take it with you. If you see any of the names on a wine list, or other wines from those wineries, 'tis a safe bet that they are worth trying.

There is a lot of information on the web about the Gambero Rosso and their tre bicchieri awards - see for example http://www.chevsky.com/2011/02/gambero- ... -2011.html

A couple of the latest "tre bicchieri" lists for Toscana -

2010 listings: http://www.gamberorosso.it/index.php?op ... 7&Itemid=1

2011 listings: http://www.intravino.com/primo-piano/vi ... -e-veneto/

well, this time of year, i'd be looking to drink as much 2010 Vernaccia di San Gimignano as i could.

Plenty to interest, but oddly Tuscany seemed to lack the numbers of enoteche (with tasting, rather than simply wine shops) that we've found elsewhere. The Enoteca Nazionale in Siena was a serious disappointment, seemingly passing the days on life support, with the friends & relatives barely visiting anymore. Maybe we were just unlucky... two nights in a row.

For such limited tasting opportunities beyond the schedule, I'd suggest trying a local artisan beer or perhaps the local tourist favourite (but which does actually work) of Vin Santo & cantucci biscuit.

But if wine is it, then you may as well go for something fancy, be that Soldera, Ornellaia, Cepparello, Bucerchiale or another star of the region.

regards

Ian

[James Roscoe]

Enjoy yourself JC!!! My daughter is finally getting her trip to Tuscany with Constellation next month.

I would make a point not to be tempted by the "local" wine. You will quickly appreciate the DOCG and IGT wines. The local wines will be served usually in a carafe, but from my experience, you will want the labeled wines, most of which you can get back home for not much more that you will pay over there. Hope you have as much fun as we did a few years ago.

Plenty to interest, but oddly Tuscany seemed to lack the numbers of enoteche (with tasting, rather than simply wine shops) that we've found elsewhere. The Enoteca Nazionale in Siena was a serious disappointment, seemingly passing the days on life support, with the friends & relatives barely visiting anymore. Maybe we were just unlucky... two nights in a row.

Hi Ian and all,

The Enoteca Italiana in Siena can give good or bad experiences, but there are better options for tastings in other places in Toscana, e.g.:

Greve - Le Cantine - http://www.lecantine.it/cantineUtente/i ... bialang=en - tastings here are from automated dispensers - quite a variety available.

San Gimigniano - the "Museo del Vernaccia" offers a number of tasting options, and a view that is hard to beat - http://www.comune.sangimignano.si.it/pa ... naccia.asp

Montalcino - the Enoteca de la Fortezza likewise offers a number of tasting options for both regular and Riserva Brunellos - http://www.enotecalafortezza.com/english/index.php

I misread the itinerary. We have a wine tasting (and olive oil tasting) in the wine cellar of L'Andana in Castiglione della Pescaia in Maremma. We are staying in San Gimignano so the Museo del Vernachhia is a real possibility. Our breakfasts and dinners will be at the hotel in San Gimignano and we will take a luxury bus to other destinations for sightseeing and lunch (Pisa, Florence, Siena, Perugia, etc.) I hope I will have a chance to have some Ornellaia or Tignanello or possibly other wine from Antinori. Will report back on the trip when I get home.

JC,

If staying in San Gimignano, another fine option for a wine bar/shop with plenty of tasting options is Enoteca Gustavo, Via San Matteo 29, San Gimignano, Phone 0577-940057.

In Florence, two GREAT wine bars for tastings and for a casual lunch -

In the center, a great option to seek out is the Le Volpi e l'Uva, Piazza dei Rossi, 1R. Tel: 055 2398132. Specializing in lesser known wineries, sourced directly by the owner. They speak English, and it is a great place to relax with seating outside at small tables in a nice little square. Website at http://www.levolpieluva.com

In the marketplace area go to the Casa del Vino, Via del Ariento 16(red). They have a web site at http://www.casadelvino.it . The place is hidden behind the market stalls that line the Via del Ariento, hence the clientele is mainly locals or people who purposely search for it. Gianni is the owner, his father Bruno still makes sandwiches and helps customers to selects wine, and two kind ladies do their best to help cope with the lunchtime crowd. About 10-15 wines available by the glass, and all your eating and drinking is done standing by the bar. Around 13:00 it gets very crowded with the locals, many of whom seem to be regulars, and its a lot of fun to see. The shop is well stocked with Italian wines, and prices are more than fair. Gianni has a large stock of older vintages and interesting wines downstairs in the temperature controlled cellar. Italian spoken very well, English less so, but anyhow very nice people and highly recommended.

Antinori does have fine wines, but you can get them anywhere. Do yourself a favor and allow the staff at any of the above to lead you on a tasting tour of other exquisite Italian wines.

enjoy,

Mike

Thanks for the additional tips, Mike.

On second thoughts, one easy strategy is to take along a list of the latest tre bicchieri awards of the Gambero Rosso, and take it with you. If you see any of the names on a wine list, or other wines from those wineries, 'tis a safe bet that they are worth trying.

There is a lot of information on the web about the Gambero Rosso and their tre bicchieri awards - see for example http://www.chevsky.com/2011/02/gambero- ... -2011.html

A couple of the latest "tre bicchieri" lists for Toscana -

2010 listings: http://www.gamberorosso.it/index.php?op ... 7&Itemid=1

2011 listings: http://www.intravino.com/primo-piano/vi ... -e-veneto/

This is a good idea as long as you are generally a fan of more modern/international style wines, not so good if you like more traditionally made wines.

Umm, not sure about that Oliver. Earlier this month I had an opportunity to taste the Chianti Classico riservas from Poggio al Sole and from Corzano e Paterno while visiting the wineries, and they are both very fine and authentic examples of the genre - nothing internationalized about them at all. The point I was trying to make is that if one has limited time and no homework done, aiming for wineries that have received a tre bicchiere accolade from Gambero Rosso (not necessarily the same wine that received the prize) is a reasonable strategy to pick some good stuff out of a list that might otherwise be indecipherable.

Mike,

the Gambero Rosso guide has a general tendency to like wines that are somewhat international in style. Not in every case, though, so their list includes some very good wines. But I wouldn't use it as a guide generally unless you like that style.

The Gambero Rosso and Slow Food movements have split and each now produces their own guide; I haven't read 'Slow Wine' but that might be a useful resource as it's claimed to be getting back to more of an emphasis on terroir. We shall see.

I haven't looked at GR in years, but 6-8 years ago the bias towards the modernistas seemed extreme. Oh, there'd be a token Soldera, Mascarello or Pepe on there, but mostly it looked like de Grazia Central. I thought amusing that Slow Food co-sponsored the US tour. I have heard GR widened their horizons a bit.

(edited to replace stupid homophonic mistake)

Duemilavini (Italian language only) is a good general annual guide.

For something more stylish, then Nicholas Belfrage: Brunello to Zibibbo for good words, or his more recent book under the auspices of "World of Fine Wine" for a more pictorially accented book.