I've been reading Isabella Dusi's Vanilla Beans And Brodo after seeing the many recommendations on this board by Slow Travelers. Before sleeping I read chapter nine: Alternative Tea And Jonquils plus chapter eight: A Little Bit of Silence while the Bishop Speaks! then had a magnificent dream of meeting the Ilcinesi at the Grappola Blu. We will be staying near Pienza the first week of May and I cannot wait to dine at the Grappola Blu and stroll the streets of Montalcino. Isabella Dusi is a treasure. Can anyone tell me which flowers will be blooming in the first week of May?
As you may know, she has a new book coming out this spring--probably in the UK and Canada before in the USA. It will be named BEL VIN We had the pleasure of spending a Sunday morning with Isabella last Oct. in Montalcino. She is as charming as her writing indicates.
Sally, I was hoping for poppies!! I have this thing for poppies since the Wizard of Oz. Bob, I will look for the new book. Do you think I can purchase it in time to read it before April 27?
And rape plants will have all their little yeallow flowers!
I am always amazed at nature in spring!
Whitethorn is all of a sudden in bloom and all the bushes at the same time! And fruit trees, all with flowers and still no leaves! Spring is a great season!
Lisapizza: April 28th is about the date of the publishing of Bel Vin - apparently the British portion of Amazon has it. If you get to Montalcino around that date I am sure you will be able to find it in the stores. I asked Isabella to hold us a copy for our visit May 1.
Dan, Athens, Georgia
Posts: 202 | Location: Athens, GA | Registered: 14 April 2002
As much as I like Grappolo Blu, I would go to Il Re de Macchia for a meal in Montalcino over Grappolo if I only had one meal in town. Be sure to go for a glass of wine at Osticcio and a caffe at Bar alle Logge. Better yet go to Bar alle Logge at 7pm and have an Aperol or Prosecco at the bar and nibble on the free food they put out. The Museo d'Arte Sacre is wonderful as well.
Love the photo and appreciate the lowdown on the spring flowers' blooming schedule. Dean, my little note book is full of your wine and dining suggestions. This will be my third trip to Tuscany and Rome but this time I feel better prepared due to this super website. I've used it to plan every aspect of this trip...airline tickets, accommodations, car rental,fun things to do, etc..
I am also printing out some of Dean's recommendations for my next trip. Mille Grazie, Dean.
As for flowers in May, you should be able to find some of the smaller wild orchids. We spotted many on our walk from Ripa d'Orcia to Bagno Vignoni in late May.
Jeanne (165 days and counting)
Posts: 420 | Location: Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: 07 March 2003
Another flower that is glorious in late May/early June is Scotch broom, or ginestra as it's called in Italian. It grows to be a tall shrub, about 4 to 7 ft. tall. The foliage is spiky green/black, as dark as the cypresses. The flowers are deep yellow spires.
I was taken aback when I first saw them. They grow on Nantucket Island but they are about half the size there.
I have not updated my restaurant list to reflect our discoveries the last trip:
Bosco della Spina. Lupompesi which is north west of Vescovado di Murlo. Lupompesi is a good test of your map. WOnderful food, great wine list with lots of bargains in the older vintages like Brunello Silvio Nardi Vigneto Manachiara 95. Great mixed grill and homemae pasta.
Conte Matto in Trequanda. SUperb more traditional menu, great wine list. Nice view. Duck and stuffed piccione were great.
Il Re di Macchia in Montalcino and al Vecchio Forno in San Quirico d'Orcia are both traditional and very good, basic food. Both have good wines available. Il Re di Macchia offered very good wines by the glass.
Unfortunately Osteria alla Piazza di Padella in Montalcino closed. We liked it but the locals whought it was to expensive. A new restaurant is being built in the space.
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