Just wondering, is wine tasting like here in Napa or is it more like in France--by appointment, not a drop in and belly up to the bar. Thanks

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

Stephanie- Take a look at two threads in the FAQ section below(Tuscan Wine; Winery List).

And Amy wrote some Travel Notes about wineries from last year's trip:
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/notes/amy_wineries_list.htm

There is a great place to taste wine in Greve - it is not a winery but a sort of wine discovery center. They have all these round kiosks with bottles of wine around. You buy a card, stick it in one of the kiosks, and press the button of the wine you want to try. Not really a winery experience, but a really great way to taste a lot of different wines. I can't remember the name but it is right off the main road to the left.

For a great free map send these people http://www.monterinaldi.it/en/cartina.htm a post card of where you live and in return they will send you a wonderful map with all phone numbers and address of all the vineyards in the Chianti Classico area.

Salute!

As you are driving in Italy, you will see signs for family wineries with free tastings, but most bigger places you must make reservations to TOUR.
The Cantina in Greve is on my web site, listed in the Greve listing I really enjoy it because it has so many wines in one place to taste.

But where are you planning on visiting?

We will be staying @ LeTori, west of the Chainti area, so tasting will be with in an easy drive of there. Thanks for the info and we leave tomorrow!!

you will be staying in a large wine making area..there is almost always a festival in Montepertoli on weekends..and now is the season for the Sagra's in all of Italy it is hard not to bump into a festival!

You will see lots of signs in the area you are staying in..but it is considered polite if you stop to taste..to buy since you will probably be in someone's house..also they will usually sell their olive oil to.
I bring oil home, not wine! 5 litre tins!!! then rebottle and give to friends.

As Italian wine gains in international prestige, various regional marketing agencies are getting savvier about promoting their product. Producers in the Franciacorta DOCG have opened three "cantine" in the north of Italy -- if you are near any of them I strongly suggest you stop by and experience what they have to offer. They always have several bottles of wine open for tasting, and the stores are beautifully appointed, offering not only wine but regional foods and very nice wine-related paraphenalia.

"Le Cantine di Franciacorte." One is located in Erbusco off the Rovato exit of the A4. A second is located in Paladina, again off the A4 at the Dalmine exit. The newest is in Castelnuovo Magra, off the A15 exit for Sarzana. We bought several bottles at the store in Castelnuovo last summer, and met the delightful manager, Daniella LaPorta, who kindly invited us to a wine tasting dinner at a hotel in Lerici. We went -- the only Americans there -- and had a most memorable time.

Cantine di Franciacorta web site

Morellino di Scansano: excellent wine !

http://www.villalacornovaglia.com/tour.htm

Dear Cloud:

Thanks for that link. I had some Morellino last summer and, frankly, I wasn't impressed -- the particular bottle we had didn't compare with Chianti, Carmignani, Brunelli, etc, that we'd had. I think what we had might have been from the producer Banti. But now I'd be very curious to have some of the Fattoria Le Pupille. It sounds like interesting things are happening wine-wise in the Maremma. I'll keep an eye open for it. Thanks.

David-

Is there a wine producer "Banti" as well as the one I'm familiar with, "Banfi", or was that a typo? Just curious.

Maureen

Maureen:

Yup. Erik Banti is a producer in the Maremma who makes Morellino di Scansano and other wines. Here is a link to a mention that he got in an article I found when I googled him. The mention is about 3 or 4 paragraphs into the article. My first impression of Morellino, granted a limited one since I've only tasted one -- his -- concurs with one remark in that article -- that there was some good fruit but that it wasn't particularly complex. Quite inexpensive, though. So far, in my experience, for a non-Chianti, non-Brunello, non-Vino Nobile tuscan wine that's not expensive, I'd perhaps look at Carmignano first. That Tenuta di Capezzana we had was delish -- probably more expensive than a Morellino, though.

At the recent Banfi tasting at Zachy's in NY, they had a 1998 Val di Rose Morellino di Scansano Riserva (I guess its distributed by Banfi.) It was quite good and we bought a couple of bottles, but I can't remember what we paid for it. I'm sure it wasn't much, somewhere around $20. Reasonable for a full-bodied and very tasty wine. Reviews of it here