Can you recommend wine stores in Florence?
At this point I doubt whether I will drive out of town,so i need a place with good selection and prices right in town.RR

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

Robert,

There is a cool wine shop/wine bar across the street from the Pitti Palace. Here is the info:

Pitti Gola e Cantina
Piazza Pitti 16

they ship!

Shannon
www.chowbellabooks.com

Robert:

I know several. Some ship, some don't. There are two really good ones in the Central Market, (one of which I work at part time) and one I adore, though small, near Ponte Vecchio called the Le Volpi e l'uva.

Would be happy to point them out to you.

~passerotto~

Not all who wander are lost. JRR Tolkein

Good to hear about these wine shops. I shall be spending three weeks in the Oltrarno in May and shall put them on my list!

Marian

I am not interested in shipping. I suppose i will use my wine suitcase that I custom made for last trip,it holds 18 bottles.Unless shipping is a lot cheaper than what I priced before $150-200/case.
I would take more as I am about to recieve a new 210 bottle wine storage unit.
Is anyone interested in a get together Friday May 28th? I am running the Passatore the next day.So far I havn't hooked up with local runners.Do any of the locals know anyone running on Saturday 29th? RR.

Would love a get together, but am leaving Wednesday May 26th. Will be in Florence from May 6th on.

Good luck in the race! M

Robert:

Carrying is by far the best way for twelve bottles and under (If you have the strength to carry them....I usually didnt. Once you go above that mark though the price for shipping doesn't change that much between the 13th and the 36th bottle if you use a good wine forwarder like Fracassi and are willing to pick your vino up at the airport. They also insure it against breakage which was is a biggy for me. If you do decide to go this route, you might want to talk with your local beverage commission as some states have really harsh rules on wine imports (as does Canada) and you could be subject to heafty import fees on top of the delivery to pick your stuff up.(Canada too tends to gig you when you bring in large quantities of wine).

~passerotto~

Not all who wander are lost. JRR Tolkein

My 18 bottle luggage/wine container has wheels,so
wheel to wine shop,load,wheel home(or taxi if too long),wheel to airport.I have never paid any duty on wine,even though I had 21 bottles last trip.
What would be the charge to ship 3 cases through Fracassi? I am guessing over $300.RR

My local wineshop is Casa del Vino, on via del ariento.. if you go with me ,Gianni may go downstairs for you!!!
I am entitled to some of the biggies.. which I never buy!

Cooking in Florence
www.divinacucina.com

Diva,Biggies as in large format bottles? or
older more expensive wines? Actually i would be interested in either.One large format bottle,3 Liters or so(Party!),and several Brunellos and
Piedmont wines.Even though those bottles may be "expensive" they were about 30-40 % cheaper than in wine shops here as of my last trip.
Example-In LA,Several brunellos are 60-90 dollars,Borolos and barbarescos 80-100 plus.
So, see you in a few months? RR

I actually mean it both ways.
Some shops won't sell you the famous wines unless you buy others.. or overcharge for the one bottle!

anyway. come prepared.. know your prices, the dollar has slipped to $1,22 for the Euro... sothat really affects the savings!

what are your dates here?

Cooking in Florence
www.divinacucina.com

I will arrive on May 23 leave the 31st.I will be running on may 29th and 30th(hope to finish by 7am on sunday).
So I have 24,25,26,27,28 and the morning of the 29th, as we don't start until 3pm.Euro was 1.18 last trip so only 3-4% worse for me.
Still would be significant savings,Can you believe that some Chianti classico riservas go
for $40 here?! RR

Robert,

I share your love and passion for good wine. My wife and I and another couple will be in Tuscany May 22nd-29th. We will be hitting several winery's and tasting lots of Brunello, Barolos, etc.. Lets us know if you want to join us for some vino tasting-buying.

I am no longer a runner. At 43, my knees can't take the pounding anymore. I did run the San Diego marathon in 1990.

Lived in So Cal (San Marino) for 33 years and now live in Roswell, Ga

Brad

Brad and group, Are you coming to florence at all? Maybe we could go to the wine shop with Diva and have lunch or dinner.I have been to florence before but 10 years ago.I have done extensive research and have a list of restaurants that I want to go to.I also have a little art background as my mother is an artist and am interested in a whole group of museums.So that is a possibility also.
Accademia,Uffizi,Borgello,Medici chapels as well as the Duomo,Baptistry and tower,also St. Trinita Church as well as 4-5 other museums/churches.
Running-So far 20 marathons and 10 ultras,the 62 mile passatore will be the longest.May 28th Friday would be a good possibility for dinner(as far as i know there is no Passatore pasta party)
the race starts the 29th from piazza Signoria
At 3pm.
When will you be in Florence?,where are you staying? RR

Enoteca Bonatti (Via Bonatti 66/68) is a fantastic wine shop. We were there in the summer of 2001 and bought several bottles. The clerk was extremely helpful. When we got to the cash, he looked at whatwe had picked and suggested better ones (at the same price!)

Christian

Robert,

We are staying outside San Gim for a week in a farm house. We will be taking day trips to Florence twice that week. I'll ask the group, the 28th would be great. Are you sure you won't be carbo loading at a race sponsors dinner ??

We would also enjoy hitting the museums and chapels as well.

Lets chat as it gets closer.

Ciao,

Brad

Hello Brad,as far as I know there is no race sponsored pasta party.Some of the worst pasta I have ever had in italy was at the Venice Marathon pasta party.It was sponsored by Barilla(Also took place at one of their plants outside of Venice).Friday may be a good day to do the wine shopping in town as well as having lunch or dinner.I won't have to go to bed super early Friday as the race starts at 3pm on saturday.
Saturday I will not do much just have an early lunch then maybe hang out at the Cafe Riviore which is near the start at Piazza Signoria(Sp.?)
I also will be in town all the week before,I will be posting my itinerary soon.RR
RR

Robert,

Sounds good. Looking forward to a meal and some Vino together.

Brad