Uploads from B℮n, tagged chianti

My best of Tuscany

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:56:00 -0700

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We drive on the glorious wine roads of Tuscany. Grapes and olives require similar climatic and soil conditions and share coinciding harvest times, making them a natural pair in the fields. Long-term agricultural biodiversity appeals to vineyard owners, who realize that economic and seasonal variables, as well as consumer taste, make production of more than one quality product a proactive approach. Additionally, olive groves protect vineyards against strong winds, acting as windbreaks. We visit the farms and cellars and ofcourse taste the great Chianti wine. Discover the most celebrated region of Tuscany. The vineyards of this area produce one of the best wines in the world: Chianti Classico. This Wine represents a major source of wealth for the Chianti area, no wonder then that this product has been particularly looked after and protected, in order to distinguish its quality from other wine productions. I hope you like my collection of Tuscant. Thanks for all comments and faves.

1. center Tuscan house harmoniously set on the vineyards of Casale, 2. top left Travel through the Tuscany landscape of cypress-dotted hills, 3. The lush grapevines under the Tuscan Sun, 4. The warm colors of the Tuscany sunset, 5. Sunlight and air enriches the Chianti grapes grown on textured terriors, 6. Tuscany where olives and grapes meet, 7. 1000 years of history at The Abbey of the Good Harvest, 8. Sangiovese grapes for Tuscane Chianti wine, 9. Encircled city wall of San Gimignano at dusk, 10. On our way to wine estate Casale Dello Sparviero, 11. Truly magical atmosphere in San Gimignano by night, 12. Unforgettable skyline of San Gimignano, 13. Sunset in the heart of Tuscany.

Denk je aan Toscana, dan zie je stadjes op heuveltoppen, wijngaarden omzoomd door cipressen zover het oog reikt. Liefhebbers weten dat je overal tussen die landerijen. wijnhuizen kunt vinden waar je ook nog eens kunt proeven... het idee alleen al doet je toch bijna het water in de mond lopen. Ook als je weer thuis bent en je neemt een slok van je meegebrachte wijn, ben je er in je gedachten weer helemaal: op dat zonovergoten terras in Castellina in Chianti of bij dat fantastische restaurant met die truffelgerechten in Monteriggioni. Zeg je wijn in Toscana, dan zeg je Chianti, een wijn die zich in de laatste 30 jaar tot Classico heeft ontwikkeld. Chianti is de bekendste en populairste van alle Italiaanse wijnen. De wijn wordt gemaakt van de alom aanwezige Sangiovese-druif. Ik hoop dat m'n foto's je inspireren om deze prachtige provincie een keer te gaan bezoeken. Bedankt voor alle opmerkingen en favorieten.

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Dining in the warm and cosy atmosphere of San Gimignano

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 06:00:00 -0700

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'San Gimignano delle belle Torri' is in Tuscany, 56 km south of Florence. It served as an important relay point for pilgrims travelling to or from Rome on the Via Francigena. The patrician families who controlled the town built around 72 tower-houses (some as high as 50 m) as symbols of their wealth and power. Although only 14 have survived. Visible from the bends of the highway, San Gimignano announces itself from above with its famous towers. Truly a little gem, it is so precious that UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. So strategic for controlling the valley and offering defense against its enemies, was already inhabited in ancient times. Walking through the Old City means plunging into the Middle Ages and getting a taste of what the city must have been like more than seven hundred years ago. San Gimignano was founded as a small village in the 3rd century BC by the Etruscans. Historical records begin in the 10th century. Within the walls, the well-preserved buildings include notable examples of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

it is worth spending the evening at San Gimignano, the night colors the city with a magical atmosphere. To visit the city of the towers by night is a show that brings unique sensations. You can walk through the alleys lit by ancient lampposts that give out a yellow light such as the lanterns of a bygone era, you will be enchanted in Piazza della Cisterna under the starry sky framed by the high towers.

San Gimignano is een middeleeuws stadje in de provincie Siena van de Italiaanse regio Toscane. San Gimignano is bekend om zijn dertien torens die het silhouet van de stad domineren. Deze zijn in de 12de en 13e eeuw door rivaliserende rijke families opgetrokken. De torens deden dienst als woning en versterking, maar vooral als prestigeobject. Op haar hoogtepunt had de stad zo'n 70 torens. In de late middeleeuwen was deze stad erg welvarend omwille van diens ligging aan de pelgrimsroute naar Rome. In 1990 is het historische centrum van San Gimignano opgenomen in de lijst van werelderfgoederen van UNESCO. Heerlijke wijn proeven met uitzicht op de glooiende heuvels rondom. Het landschap is fantastisch mooi en de omgeving is er lekker rustig./i

Encircled city wall of San Gimignano at dusk

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:00:00 -0700

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Visible from the bends of the highway, San Gimignano announces itself from above with its famous towers. Truly a little gem, it is so precious that UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. So strategic for controlling the valley and offering defense against its enemies, was already inhabited in ancient times. Walking through the Old City means plunging into the Middle Ages and getting a taste of what the city must have been like more than seven hundred years ago. San Gimignano was founded as a small village in the 3rd century BC by the Etruscans. Historical records begin in the 10th century. Within the walls, the well-preserved buildings include notable examples of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

'San Gimignano delle belle Torri' is in Tuscany, 56 km south of Florence. It served as an important relay point for pilgrims travelling to or from Rome on the Via Francigena. The patrician families who controlled the town built around 72 tower-houses (some as high as 50 m) as symbols of their wealth and power. Although only 14 have survived, San Gimignano has retained its ancient atmosphere and appearance here on the encircled city walls at the end of the day.

San Gimignano is een middeleeuws stadje in de provincie Siena van de Italiaanse regio Toscane. San Gimignano is bekend om zijn dertien torens die het silhouet van de stad domineren. Deze zijn in de 12de en 13e eeuw door rivaliserende rijke families opgetrokken. De torens deden dienst als woning en versterking, maar vooral als prestigeobject. Op haar hoogtepunt had de stad zo'n 70 torens. In de late middeleeuwen was deze stad erg welvarend omwille van diens ligging aan de pelgrimsroute naar Rome. In 1990 is het historische centrum van San Gimignano opgenomen in de lijst van werelderfgoederen van UNESCO. Heerlijke wijn proeven met uitzicht op de glooiende heuvels rondom. Het landschap is fantastisch mooi en de omgeving is er lekker rustig.

Passing the main entrance gate of San Gimignano

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:30:00 -0700

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Truly magical atmosphere in San Gimignano by night

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 07:00:00 -0700

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San Gimignano has retained its ancient atmosphere and appearance

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 02:36:00 -0700

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Visible from the bends of the highway, San Gimignano announces itself from above with its famous towers. Truly a little gem, it is so precious that UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. So strategic for controlling the valley and offering defense against its enemies, was already inhabited in ancient times. Walking through the Old City means plunging into the Middle Ages and getting a taste of what the city must have been like more than seven hundred years ago. San Gimignano was founded as a small village in the 3rd century BC by the Etruscans. Historical records begin in the 10th century. Within the walls, the well-preserved buildings include notable examples of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

'San Gimignano delle belle Torri' is in Tuscany, 56 km south of Florence. It served as an important relay point for pilgrims travelling to or from Rome on the Via Francigena. The patrician families who controlled the town built around 72 tower-houses (some as high as 50 m) as symbols of their wealth and power. Although only 14 have survived, San Gimignano has retained its ancient atmosphere and appearance here at Piazza della Cisterna at the of the day.

San Gimignano is een middeleeuws stadje in de provincie Siena van de Italiaanse regio Toscane. San Gimignano is bekend om zijn dertien torens die het silhouet van de stad domineren. Deze zijn in de 12de en 13e eeuw door rivaliserende rijke families opgetrokken. De torens deden dienst als woning en versterking, maar vooral als prestigeobject. Op haar hoogtepunt had de stad zo'n 70 torens. In de late middeleeuwen was deze stad erg welvarend omwille van diens ligging aan de pelgrimsroute naar Rome. In 1990 is het historische centrum van San Gimignano opgenomen in de lijst van werelderfgoederen van UNESCO. Heerlijke wijn proeven met uitzicht op de glooiende heuvels rondom. Het landschap is fantastisch mooi en de omgeving is er lekker rustig.

Explore the beautiful late sunlight on Piazza Duomo

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 06:59:00 -0700

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Visible from the bends of the highway, San Gimignano announces itself from above with its famous towers. Truly a little gem, it is so precious that UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. So strategic for controlling the valley and offering defense against its enemies, was already inhabited in ancient times. Walking through the Old City means plunging into the Middle Ages and getting a taste of what the city must have been like more than seven hundred years ago. San Gimignano was founded as a small village in the 3rd century BC by the Etruscans. Historical records begin in the 10th century. Within the walls, the well-preserved buildings include notable examples of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

'San Gimignano delle belle Torri' is in Tuscany, 56 km south of Florence. It served as an important relay point for pilgrims travelling to or from Rome on the Via Francigena. The patrician families who controlled the town built around 72 tower-houses (some as high as 50 m) as symbols of their wealth and power. Although only 14 have survived, San Gimignano has retained its ancient atmosphere and appearance. We visit San Gimignano at the end of the day when the last ray of sunlight beamed on the famous high towers.

San Gimignano is een middeleeuws stadje in de provincie Siena van de Italiaanse regio Toscane. San Gimignano is bekend om zijn dertien torens die het silhouet van de stad domineren. Deze zijn in de 12de en 13e eeuw door rivaliserende rijke families opgetrokken. De torens deden dienst als woning en versterking, maar vooral als prestigeobject. Op haar hoogtepunt had de stad zo'n 70 torens. In de late middeleeuwen was deze stad erg welvarend omwille van diens ligging aan de pelgrimsroute naar Rome. In 1990 is het historische centrum van San Gimignano opgenomen in de lijst van werelderfgoederen van UNESCO. Heerlijke wijn proeven met uitzicht op de glooiende heuvels rondom. Het landschap is fantastisch mooi en de omgeving is er lekker rustig.

Unforgettable skyline of San Gimignano

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 05:55:00 -0700

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Visible from the bends of the highway, San Gimignano announces itself from above with its famous towers. Truly a little gem, it is so precious that UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. So strategic for controlling the valley and offering defense against its enemies, was already inhabited in ancient times. Walking through the Old City means plunging into the Middle Ages and getting a taste of what the city must have been like more than seven hundred years ago. San Gimignano was founded as a small village in the 3rd century BC by the Etruscans. Historical records begin in the 10th century. Within the walls, the well-preserved buildings include notable examples of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

'San Gimignano delle belle Torri' is in Tuscany, 56 km south of Florence. It served as an important relay point for pilgrims travelling to or from Rome on the Via Francigena. The patrician families who controlled the town built around 72 tower-houses (some as high as 50 m) as symbols of their wealth and power. Although only 14 have survived, San Gimignano has retained its ancient atmosphere and appearance. We visit San Gimignano at the end of the day when the last ray of sunlight beamed on the famous high towers.

San Gimignano is een middeleeuws stadje in de provincie Siena van de Italiaanse regio Toscane. San Gimignano is bekend om zijn dertien torens die het silhouet van de stad domineren. Deze zijn in de 12de en 13e eeuw door rivaliserende rijke families opgetrokken. De torens deden dienst als woning en versterking, maar vooral als prestigeobject. Op haar hoogtepunt had de stad zo'n 70 torens. In de late middeleeuwen was deze stad erg welvarend omwille van diens ligging aan de pelgrimsroute naar Rome. In 1990 is het historische centrum van San Gimignano opgenomen in de lijst van werelderfgoederen van UNESCO. Heerlijke wijn proeven met uitzicht op de glooiende heuvels rondom. Het landschap is fantastisch mooi en de omgeving is er lekker rustig.

The beautiful skyline of the Chianti Classico with its vineyards

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 06:00:00 -0700

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Chianti is a red Italian wine produced in Tuscany. The first definition of a wine-area called Chianti was made in 1716. The earliest documentation of a Chianti wine dates back to the thirteenth century when viticulture was known to flourish in the Chianti Mountains around Florence. Discover the most celebrated region of Tuscany. The vineyards of this area produce one of the best wines in the world: Chianti Classico. This Wine represents a major source of wealth for the Chianti area, no wonder then that this product has been particularly looked after and protected, in order to distinguish its quality from other wine productions. This is why a rigid legislation has been introduced to regulate the production of Classic Chianti. The first limit obviously regards the geographical area where the grape must grow. But not only the vineyards must be cultivated in the prescribed area: the whole process of wine-making, storage and bottling must take place inside the protected zone. The grape variety from which Chianti is produced is Sangiovese. The alcoholic strength must not exceed 12 %. In addition to this, there are other requirements that must be followed, regarding the average amount of dry product (24 g/l); the acidity rate (4,5 g/l), the colour (intense ruby red), the smell (fruity, with nuances of wildflowers, berries, cherries or plums) and taste (harmonious, dry, strong and with respectable tannin).

We drive on the glorious wine roads of Tuscany. Grapes and olives require similar climatic and soil conditions and share coinciding harvest times, making them a natural pair in the fields.
Long-term agricultural biodiversity appeals to vineyard owners, who realize that economic and seasonal variables, as well as consumer taste, make production of more than one quality product a proactive approach. Additionally, olive groves protect vineyards against strong winds, acting as windbreaks. We visit the farms and cellars and ofcourse taste the great Chianti wine.

Denk je aan Toscana, dan zie je stadjes op heuveltoppen, wijngaarden omzoomd door cipressen zover het oog reikt. Liefhebbers weten dat je overal tussen die landerijen. wijnhuizen kunt vinden waar je ook nog eens kunt proeven... het idee alleen al doet je toch bijna het water in de mond lopen. Ook als je weer thuis bent en je neemt een slok van je meegebrachte wijn, ben je er in je gedachten weer helemaal: op dat zonovergoten terras in Castellina in Chianti of bij dat fantastische restaurant met die truffelgerechten in Monteriggioni. Zeg je wijn in Toscana, dan zeg je Chianti, een wijn die zich in de laatste 30 jaar tot Classico heeft ontwikkeld. Chianti is de bekendste en populairste van alle Italiaanse wijnen. De wijn wordt gemaakt van de alom aanwezige Sangiovese-druif, die graag veel zon heeft en goed bestand is tegen grote temperatuurschommelingen. De belangrijkste Chianti-zones worden gevormd door de streek Chianti Classico gelegen rond Castellina. Zoals met zoveel in Italia, is ook de wijnbouw begonnen in het zuiden, maar hebben de noorderlingen het later overgenomen. Na de Romeinse tijd kwam de zuidelijke wijnbouw in de versukkeling. De oudste ononderbroken wijntraditie. In de Renaissance kwam de productie weer helemaal terug en wel in...Toscana. Rijke handelaars en bankiers zoals de families Frescobaldi en Antinori namen druivenrassen mee uit Frankrijk en legden daarmee de basis voor het feit dat Toscana tegenwoordig de oudste onononderbroken wijntradities van Italië kent.

The lush grapevines under the Tuscan Sun

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 06:59:00 -0700

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Chianti is a red Italian wine produced in Tuscany. The first definition of a wine-area called Chianti was made in 1716. The earliest documentation of a Chianti wine dates back to the thirteenth century when viticulture was known to flourish in the Chianti Mountains around Florence. Discover the most celebrated region of Tuscany. The vineyards of this area produce one of the best wines in the world: Chianti Classico. This Wine represents a major source of wealth for the Chianti area, no wonder then that this product has been particularly looked after and protected, in order to distinguish its quality from other wine productions. This is why a rigid legislation has been introduced to regulate the production of Classic Chianti. The first limit obviously regards the geographical area where the grape must grow. But not only the vineyards must be cultivated in the prescribed area: the whole process of wine-making, storage and bottling must take place inside the protected zone. The grape variety from which Chianti is produced is Sangiovese. The alcoholic strength must not exceed 12 %. In addition to this, there are other requirements that must be followed, regarding the average amount of dry product (24 g/l); the acidity rate (4,5 g/l), the colour (intense ruby red), the smell (fruity, with nuances of wildflowers, berries, cherries or plums) and taste (harmonious, dry, strong and with respectable tannin).

We drive on the glorious wine roads of Tuscany. We visit the farms and cellars and of-course taste the great Chianti wine. Photo of the warm colors of the Tuscany evening sunset taken on the Casale dello Sparviero estate.

Denk je aan Toscana, dan zie je stadjes op heuveltoppen, wijngaarden omzoomd door cipressen zover het oog reikt. Liefhebbers weten dat je overal tussen die landerijen. wijnhuizen kunt vinden waar je ook nog eens kunt proeven... het idee alleen al doet je toch bijna het water in de mond lopen. Ook als je weer thuis bent en je neemt een slok van je meegebrachte wijn, ben je er in je gedachten weer helemaal: op dat zonovergoten terras in Castellina in Chianti of bij dat fantastische restaurant met die truffelgerechten in Monteriggioni. Zeg je wijn in Toscana, dan zeg je Chianti, een wijn die zich in de laatste 30 jaar tot Classico heeft ontwikkeld. Chianti is de bekendste en populairste van alle Italiaanse wijnen. De wijn wordt gemaakt van de alom aanwezige Sangiovese-druif, die graag veel zon heeft en goed bestand is tegen grote temperatuurschommelingen. De belangrijkste Chianti-zones worden gevormd door de streek Chianti Classico gelegen rond Castellina. Zoals met zoveel in Italia, is ook de wijnbouw begonnen in het zuiden, maar hebben de noorderlingen het later overgenomen. Na de Romeinse tijd kwam de zuidelijke wijnbouw in de versukkeling. De oudste ononderbroken wijntraditie. In de Renaissance kwam de productie weer helemaal terug en wel in...Toscana. Rijke handelaars en bankiers zoals de families Frescobaldi en Antinori namen druivenrassen mee uit Frankrijk en legden daarmee de basis voor het feit dat Toscana tegenwoordig de oudste onononderbroken wijntradities van Italië kent.

Travel through the Tuscany landscape of cypress-dotted hills

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 07:36:00 -0700

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Chianti is a red Italian wine produced in Tuscany. The first definition of a wine-area called Chianti was made in 1716. The earliest documentation of a Chianti wine dates back to the thirteenth century when viticulture was known to flourish in the Chianti Mountains around Florence. Discover the most celebrated region of Tuscany. The vineyards of this area produce one of the best wines in the world: Chianti Classico. This Wine represents a major source of wealth for the Chianti area, no wonder then that this product has been particularly looked after and protected, in order to distinguish its quality from other wine productions. This is why a rigid legislation has been introduced to regulate the production of Classic Chianti. The first limit obviously regards the geographical area where the grape must grow. But not only the vineyards must be cultivated in the prescribed area: the whole process of wine-making, storage and bottling must take place inside the protected zone. The grape variety from which Chianti is produced is Sangiovese. The alcoholic strength must not exceed 12 %. In addition to this, there are other requirements that must be followed, regarding the average amount of dry product (24 g/l); the acidity rate (4,5 g/l), the colour (intense ruby red), the smell (fruity, with nuances of wildflowers, berries, cherries or plums) and taste (harmonious, dry, strong and with respectable tannin).

We drive on the glorious wine roads of Tuscany. We visit the farms and cellars and of-course taste the great Chianti wine. Here we visit Casale dello Sparviero. Harmoniously set in the hills of Castellina in Chianti, in the Siena's Classico area, the estate is spread 380 hectares. The vineyards are set on the altitude of 250 metres and encircled by woods and self vegetation.

Denk je aan Toscana, dan zie je stadjes op heuveltoppen, wijngaarden omzoomd door cipressen zover het oog reikt. Liefhebbers weten dat je overal tussen die landerijen. wijnhuizen kunt vinden waar je ook nog eens kunt proeven... het idee alleen al doet je toch bijna het water in de mond lopen. Ook als je weer thuis bent en je neemt een slok van je meegebrachte wijn, ben je er in je gedachten weer helemaal: op dat zonovergoten terras in Castellina in Chianti of bij dat fantastische restaurant met die truffelgerechten in Monteriggioni. Zeg je wijn in Toscana, dan zeg je Chianti, een wijn die zich in de laatste 30 jaar tot Classico heeft ontwikkeld. Chianti is de bekendste en populairste van alle Italiaanse wijnen. De wijn wordt gemaakt van de alom aanwezige Sangiovese-druif, die graag veel zon heeft en goed bestand is tegen grote temperatuurschommelingen. De belangrijkste Chianti-zones worden gevormd door de streek Chianti Classico gelegen rond Castellina. Zoals met zoveel in Italia, is ook de wijnbouw begonnen in het zuiden, maar hebben de noorderlingen het later overgenomen. Na de Romeinse tijd kwam de zuidelijke wijnbouw in de versukkeling. De oudste ononderbroken wijntraditie. In de Renaissance kwam de productie weer helemaal terug en wel in...Toscana. Rijke handelaars en bankiers zoals de families Frescobaldi en Antinori namen druivenrassen mee uit Frankrijk en legden daarmee de basis voor het feit dat Toscana tegenwoordig de oudste onononderbroken wijntradities van Italië kent.

Sunset in the heart of Tuscany

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 06:32:00 -0700

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One of the things that I remember is sunset in Tuscany. It’s not only about the colors in the sky that can have a mix of pink and orange and it’s simply amazing. It’s also about the panorama. When sun is going down, I look around me and I think about how many famous artists where inspired by this landscape, with its colors, its buildings and architecture. I think how lucky I am to be here on the the high ground of San Gimignano. So strategic for controlling the valley and offering defense against its enemies, was already inhabited in ancient times. This city announces itself from above with its famous towers. Truly a little gem, it is so precious that UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. Walking through the Old City means plunging into the Middle Ages and getting a taste of what the city must have been like more than seven hundred years ago.

San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena. Photo taken from the city wall of San Gimignano in the heart of Tuscany. When sun is going down the colors are great in Tuscany.

San Gimignano biedt vanuit haar hoge positie prachtige vergezichten en mooie zonsondergangen. Rondom laat het landschap zacht glooiende heuvels zien, met olijfbomen en wijngaarden. We zelfs een keer reeën door de boomgaarden zien lopen. San Gimignano is een middeleeuws stadje in de provincie Siena van de Italiaanse regio Toscane. San Gimignano is bekend om zijn dertien torens die het silhouet van de stad domineren. Deze zijn in de 12de en 13e eeuw door rivaliserende rijke families opgetrokken. In de late middeleeuwen was deze stad erg welvarend omwille van diens ligging aan de pelgrimsroute naar Rome. In 1990 is het historische centrum van San Gimignano opgenomen in de lijst van werelderfgoederen van UNESCO. Heerlijke wijn proeven met uitzicht op de glooiende heuvels rondom. Het landschap is fantastisch mooi en de omgeving is er lekker rustig.

On our way to wine estate Casale Dello Sparviero

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 01:30:00 -0700

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Chianti is a red Italian wine produced in Tuscany. The first definition of a wine-area called Chianti was made in 1716. The earliest documentation of a Chianti wine dates back to the thirteenth century when viticulture was known to flourish in the Chianti Mountains around Florence. Discover the most celebrated region of Tuscany. The vineyards of this area produce one of the best wines in the world: Chianti Classico. This Wine represents a major source of wealth for the Chianti area, no wonder then that this product has been particularly looked after and protected, in order to distinguish its quality from other wine productions. This is why a rigid legislation has been introduced to regulate the production of Classic Chianti. The first limit obviously regards the geographical area where the grape must grow. But not only the vineyards must be cultivated in the prescribed area: the whole process of wine-making, storage and bottling must take place inside the protected zone. The grape variety from which Chianti is produced is Sangiovese. The alcoholic strength must not exceed 12 %. In addition to this, there are other requirements that must be followed, regarding the average amount of dry product (24 g/l); the acidity rate (4,5 g/l), the colour (intense ruby red), the smell (fruity, with nuances of wildflowers, berries, cherries or plums) and taste (harmonious, dry, strong and with respectable tannin).

We drive on the glorious wine roads of Tuscany. We visit the farms and cellars and of-course taste the great Chianti wine. Here we visit Casale Dello Sparviero. Harmoniously set in the hills of Castellina in Chianti, in the Siena's Classico area, the estate is spread 380 hectares. The vineyards are set on the altitude of 250 metres and encircled by woods and self vegetation. The Casale dated back to XVI century. The building houses the wine cellars, where wine continues its precious evolution in large oak barrels for quality wine.

Denk je aan Toscana, dan zie je stadjes op heuveltoppen, wijngaarden omzoomd door cipressen zover het oog reikt. Liefhebbers weten dat je overal tussen die landerijen. wijnhuizen kunt vinden waar je ook nog eens kunt proeven... het idee alleen al doet je toch bijna het water in de mond lopen. Ook als je weer thuis bent en je neemt een slok van je meegebrachte wijn, ben je er in je gedachten weer helemaal: op dat zonovergoten terras in Castellina in Chianti of bij dat fantastische restaurant met die truffelgerechten in Monteriggioni. Zeg je wijn in Toscana, dan zeg je Chianti, een wijn die zich in de laatste 30 jaar tot Classico heeft ontwikkeld. Chianti is de bekendste en populairste van alle Italiaanse wijnen. De wijn wordt gemaakt van de alom aanwezige Sangiovese-druif, die graag veel zon heeft en goed bestand is tegen grote temperatuurschommelingen. De belangrijkste Chianti-zones worden gevormd door de streek Chianti Classico gelegen rond Castellina. Zoals met zoveel in Italia, is ook de wijnbouw begonnen in het zuiden, maar hebben de noorderlingen het later overgenomen. Na de Romeinse tijd kwam de zuidelijke wijnbouw in de versukkeling. De oudste ononderbroken wijntraditie. In de Renaissance kwam de productie weer helemaal terug en wel in...Toscana. Rijke handelaars en bankiers zoals de families Frescobaldi en Antinori namen druivenrassen mee uit Frankrijk en legden daarmee de basis voor het feit dat Toscana tegenwoordig de oudste onononderbroken wijntradities van Italië kent.

The rolling Sangiovese grapevines of Tuscany

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 06:08:00 -0700

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Chianti antique terraced hillsides covered with grapevines

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 01:59:00 -0700

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The rolling Chianti hills of Tuscany

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:11:00 -0700

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Tuscany Chianti mountains

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 04:02:00 -0700

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Tuscany where olives and grapes meet

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 21:32:00 -0700

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1000 years of history at The Abbey of the Good Harvest

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 02:42:00 -0700

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Badia a Coltibuono is about one thousand years old but its prehistory takes us back to Estrucan times and beyond. As we know it today, Badia a Coltibuono - which means Abbey of the Good Harvest, dates from the middle of the eleventh century. In 1051 the monks of the Vallombrosan Order, a Tuscan reform of the Benedictines, founded the Abbey and also began planting the first vineyards in the Upper Chianti area. Over the centuries they extended their vast land holdings to include many thousands of acres and developed a flourishing wine production and commerce.

Enjoy a visit at Badia a Coltibuono, a 16th century monastry. It feels like you wander through 1000 years of history, it’s cloister, the ancient ageing cellars, magnificent gardens and of-course tasting its wines.

In 1810, when Tuscany was under Napoleonic rule, the monks were forced to leave Coltibuono and the monastery was secularized. The estate was first sold by lottery and then in 1846, Coltibuono was bought by Guido Giuntini, a Florentine banker and great grandfather of Piero Stucchi-Prinetti, the present owner. Under the guidance of Piero Stucchi Prinetti, the estate grew and built a solid reputation in Italy and abroad through the high quality of its products. Nowadays, his children continue the activities embarked upon by their ancestors.

The warm colors of the Tuscany sunset

nobody@flickr.com (B℮n) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 08:22:00 -0700

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Chianti is a red Italian wine produced in Tuscany. The first definition of a wine-area called Chianti was made in 1716. The earliest documentation of a Chianti wine dates back to the thirteenth century when viticulture was known to flourish in the Chianti Mountains around Florence. Discover the most celebrated region of Tuscany. The vineyards of this area produce one of the best wines in the world: Chianti Classico. This Wine represents a major source of wealth for the Chianti area, no wonder then that this product has been particularly looked after and protected, in order to distinguish its quality from other wine productions. This is why a rigid legislation has been introduced to regulate the production of Classic Chianti. The first limit obviously regards the geographical area where the grape must grow. But not only the vineyards must be cultivated in the prescribed area: the whole process of wine-making, storage and bottling must take place inside the protected zone. The grape variety from which Chianti is produced is Sangiovese. The alcoholic strength must not exceed 12 %. In addition to this, there are other requirements that must be followed, regarding the average amount of dry product (24 g/l); the acidity rate (4,5 g/l), the colour (intense ruby red), the smell (fruity, with nuances of wildflowers, berries, cherries or plums) and taste (harmonious, dry, strong and with respectable tannin).

We drive on the glorious wine roads of Tuscany. We visit the farms and cellars and of-course taste the great Chianti wine. Photo of the warm colors of the Tuscany evening sunset taken on the Casale dello Sparviero estate.

Denk je aan Toscana, dan zie je stadjes op heuveltoppen, wijngaarden omzoomd door cipressen zover het oog reikt. Liefhebbers weten dat je overal tussen die landerijen. wijnhuizen kunt vinden waar je ook nog eens kunt proeven... het idee alleen al doet je toch bijna het water in de mond lopen. Ook als je weer thuis bent en je neemt een slok van je meegebrachte wijn, ben je er in je gedachten weer helemaal: op dat zonovergoten terras in Castellina in Chianti of bij dat fantastische restaurant met die truffelgerechten in Monteriggioni. Zeg je wijn in Toscana, dan zeg je Chianti, een wijn die zich in de laatste 30 jaar tot Classico heeft ontwikkeld. Chianti is de bekendste en populairste van alle Italiaanse wijnen. De wijn wordt gemaakt van de alom aanwezige Sangiovese-druif, die graag veel zon heeft en goed bestand is tegen grote temperatuurschommelingen. De belangrijkste Chianti-zones worden gevormd door de streek Chianti Classico gelegen rond Castellina. Zoals met zoveel in Italia, is ook de wijnbouw begonnen in het zuiden, maar hebben de noorderlingen het later overgenomen. Na de Romeinse tijd kwam de zuidelijke wijnbouw in de versukkeling. De oudste ononderbroken wijntraditie. In de Renaissance kwam de productie weer helemaal terug en wel in...Toscana. Rijke handelaars en bankiers zoals de families Frescobaldi en Antinori namen druivenrassen mee uit Frankrijk en legden daarmee de basis voor het feit dat Toscana tegenwoordig de oudste onononderbroken wijntradities van Italië kent.