| Montepulciano, in the south of Tuscany, only a stone's | | | | alternative, though white grapes like Trebbiano and |
| throw from Siena, is famous for wine, scenery, and | | | | Malvasia are no longer used and thus allow wines with |
| cuisine, but this never really hits you until actually | | | | more intensity and a longer shelf life. Mammolo grapes |
| coming upon the town. Anyone who's ever imagined | | | | tend to add a violety scent, and the wines are then |
| medieval surroundings as a child, ancient buildings, rolling | | | | aged for 2 years in oak or chestnut barrels, 3 if it's a |
| countryside of an almost blinding shade of emerald, | | | | "Riserva." |
| and maybe a dragon or a princess was quite possibly | | | | The Rosso di Montepulciano is slightly different, most |
| thinking of here. Fairy tale beauty never summed up a | | | | of it having to do with aging, alcohol content, and the |
| place so succinctly nor was the promise of those | | | | fact that it's not quite as full-bodied as the Nobile. Still, |
| words ever so perfectly realized. | | | | many produced are more widely enjoyed than the |
| Any lover of art, history, or photography will be | | | | Nobile itself. A variety of flavours can often be present |
| completely at home here. With a wealth of things to | | | | here, sometimes even lending hints of chocolatelyness |
| study, experience, and inspire you in your chosen | | | | or pepper. Vin Santo is a popular local dessert wine, |
| medium, the surroundings are nothing short of idyllic and | | | | very good with biscotti, and Vigna Corvino |
| whatever your craft may be, it can only grow. By art | | | | Montepulciano is a lighter wine, coming in a rainbow of |
| of course, I don't meant just the sort tangible with a | | | | reds from rosé to deep. |
| camera lens/canvas/palette and brushes/sketchpad | | | | Though the olive oil is less acidic, regional wines can be |
| notebook, although I dabble a bit in all of the above and | | | | a bit more acidic, and thus perfect partners to dishes |
| Montepulciano was like heaven to me; if your artistic | | | | that are heavier and full flavored. Roasted, spiced |
| savvy expresses itself in kitchen, Tuscany is truly your | | | | meats are exquisite counterparts to a bottle of |
| region. | | | | Montepulciano finery, and the Rosso definitely won't |
| A place I've stayed that really encompasses all these | | | | break the bank. Wonderful cuisine to accompany |
| passions under one roof is the Ardene Agriturismo, a | | | | these wines, or even just to sate a healthy appetite |
| blessedly inexpensive place in the countryside right | | | | would be specialties like pici (a sort of thicker, chewier |
| near Montepulciano. Beauty, peace, and relaxation are | | | | pasta), often served with Cinghiale, which is a kind of |
| available in abundance in this country house dating | | | | gourmet wild boar. Pheasant is also a local favorite, as |
| back to medieval times. Simple, yet truly keeping in | | | | well as delicious lentils, roast meat dishes, array of |
| touch with the atmosphere, the rooms have been | | | | cheeses, and surprisingly delicious honey. |
| recently refurbished with love, care, and attention to | | | | Whether organized by your hotel/Agriturismo/booking |
| the original style. Offering wonderful services like an | | | | agent or not, food and wine tastings are an absolute |
| outdoor pool (May-Sept only), sprawling gardens, and | | | | must when soaking up the area, and though I haven't |
| on the spot dining, it's easy to enjoy nearby towns or | | | | used him personally, I've heard some very very good |
| even just the hilltop breeze here at Ardene. A really | | | | reviews about Giovanni Sirabella through friends and |
| spectacular feature is that here they produce their | | | | tried-and-true channels like TripAdvisor, and I do plan to |
| own special low-acid olive oil. This, and other products | | | | check out his tour one day. Anyway, I was lucky |
| of theirs, as well as local wines and grappa can be | | | | enough to have my very own evening of tastings at |
| experienced upon request as many guests do come | | | | Ardene. |
| here for the tastings as well as the visual experience. | | | | Convenient for day trips to larger places like Firenze |
| As mentioned, Montepulciano is famed for its wine | | | | and Siena, but not absolutely choked and overrun with |
| worldwide, the 2 famous local ones being Nobile di | | | | tourists (or in Firenze's case, American college |
| Montepulciano and Rosso di Montepulciano. There are | | | | students), Montepulciano is a refreshing side of |
| many tales of the origins of Nobile di Montepulciano, but | | | | Tuscany, more like the Tuscany I knew and loved as |
| the one thing all accounts more or less agree upon is | | | | a child, and it's nice to see that while change is |
| that it was the quality of wine produced for nobility. | | | | inevitable, in some corners of the world it does tend to |
| Today the DOCG right outside of town still produces it | | | | take its time just a little bit more. The only drawback to |
| in vast amounts that make it available to far more of | | | | spending a week in a place like this is that a week |
| us. 60-80% sangiovese, 10-20% canaiolo and 20% | | | | soaking up breathtaking scenery and to-die-for cuisine |
| miscellaneous, these superb wines never use more | | | | is never actually enough once you've experienced it, |
| than 10% white grapes. Mammolo is another popular | | | | and always leaves you wanting more. |