Chianti Wine Country

When planning this trip, I was content to let Nate pick out most everything we did, since it was his first trip abroad and I had already been to Italy.  I did say that we had to go on a Chianti wine tour and this was non-negotiable.  As it turns out, Nate loves Italian wine just like me so this wasn't a problem.  We booked a day trip out into Chianti wine country.  Our driver was an Italian guy who knew so much about Tuscan wines and the wine-making process.  He was really great and we both learned a lot.

The first winery we went to was called Corsini (I think...).  There are actually many different wine regions in Italy.  One of the restaurants we ate at had a map with all of the regions labeled, but I didn't keep it.  Google it if you are interested!  Chianti wines only come from the Chianti region in Italy, which is in the province of Tuscany.  Chianti wines that are made in the traditional way have a special pink sticker at the top of the bottle.  If you are looking for something authentic, pay attention for this sticker.  There are several different types of Chianti made in the traditional ways that will have this sticker.  The cost of the wine depends on the amount of time and labor required to make the wine.  Wine that hasn't aged very long would be considered a table wine.  The next step up (in expense, anyway) would be wine that has been aged in a large Italian barrel.  The most expensive wines are those that are aged in smaller French oak barrels.

Nate and I with the massive Italian wine barrels

Small French oak barrels

The winery and grounds were absolutely beautiful.  The tradition of wine-making in Italy is of course world-renowned, as well as protected.  If you want to buy a winery in Chianti, you have to keep the same recipe and adhere to strict rules (I am not sure who enforces these rules; I expect it's some kind of wine police).  While this might sound ridiculous and bad for the prospect of business growth, it makes sense when you are there in the countryside amongst all the traditional wineries.  It is a beautiful, historical, and culturally important part of Italy that they have deemed important enough to protect.

Corsini vineyard gardens

Nate and I at the winery

Some of the vines and another winery 

We did a tasting at the first winery of the three different types of wines and then went to the second place.  On the way, our driver stopped on the side of a road that provided some amazing views of the region.

FINALLY made it to Italian wine country :)

Picturesque

At the second winery, we had another tour with less technical information, followed by lunch.  At this winery, we tried some super-Tuscans (I thought the guide was joking at first, but this is an actual type of wine).  Super Tuscan wines are made with different blends of grapes.  We also had a really amazing dessert wine made from dried grapes, as well as some not so amazing grappa.  Grappa is incredibly strong and disgusting, in my opinion.  Try it if you ever have an opportunity, and you will know what I am talking about.

Mechanism used for drying the grapes for the dessert wine

Delicious and homemade Tuscan lunch

One last picture of the countryside

Even though this was the most expensive tour in Italy, anyone who knows me probably isn't surprised that I coughed up the money to be driven around Chianti countryside and hop around to all of the wineries.  It was an awesome and educational day and totally worth it!