Friday October 2, 2015
Niccone Valley, Italy
Stormy
Today (Tuesday September 29) was an easy day where we drove to one of the famous Antinori wineries. It was an adventure getting there as we first went to the wrong place and had to get directions to get to the right place. Once we got there Mariana our wonderful guide explained that Antinori family started with Chianti in the 1300s but grew it to a major wine empire where they bought many boutique botegas to create the best wines of Italy. The botega we went to is called La Braccesca. The Antinori family bought the property in the 1990s from a monastery and planted international varietals in the Cortona zone of the property (like Syrah) and Sangiovese in the Montepulciano area. I learned something new during this tour that the Sangiovese grape is strong that the wines are aged in big oak barrels and not the smaller oak barrels as the wine makers want the grape to shine with minimal influence from the oak.
After a thorough tour of the bodega, it was time for our tasting while eating lunch and it was fantastic. We started with appetizers and had our first taste of a Syrah which was DOC (table wine) grade wine. I liked it. It was followed by another DOC wine which was a blend on sangiovese with syrah and merlot (didn’t like it so much). Our fabulous pasta dish came out next (very interesting pasta dish) with the Montepulciano DOCG (aged wine – sangiovese) which was fantastic. Then a T-bone steak (from a local cow) was served with their DOCG grade Syrah which was good but I liked the Montepluciano better. And then dessert (Italian cheesecake) served with a dessert wine. We had to roll out of there as the glasses of wine were very generous an the food delicious! Fortunately for us, Stu and Jane were designated drivers so we got safely home. But I bought a bottle of the DOCG Syrah and 2 bottles of the DOCG Sangiovese for us to enjoy tonite, especially the designated drivers who did not have a chance to enjoy the wines we had.
Once we got back, it was time for a nap before making a very light dinner of ravioli with the black truffle sauce from Gabrielas. Another great day in Italia!
La Brassesca Winery
The Wines
T-bone steak from a local cow which are beautiful white cows.
First course a traditional pasta dish. Meat sauce without the tomato!