Vaga-Blog - Volume I - Castle Wine Tour (June 7)

THAT'S WHY MEN LIKE GRAPES

Another Giulio field trip! Today he and his nine sits take us to a castle that was built in 1300. The tower was actually built in the year 1000 as a watch point for battles between Siena and Florence, and the rest of the castle came a short 300 years later. The original owners started making wine in 1596 and they owned it until 1983. The same family for almost a century. That’s just incomprehensible to me.

Frederico, our tour guide, is a trained sommelier. He walks us through their winemaking process and teaches us about Super Tuscan wines. They use only French oak barrels, which are resold to makers of scotch and whiskey after a few years. Our lunch is a “peasant stew” of white beans and local vegetables. Sam and Denise make us look good by each ordering a case of wine to be shipped to their homes, which they’re probably enjoying right now.

On the grounds of the castle are several lovely statues. One is of a naked woman, clutching a bunch of grapes. As we’re walking by it, I hear Xavier say under his breath to no one in particular, “That’s why men like grapes.”

For our last night, we have dinner together in San Gimignano. We have a private room to ourselves, which is convenient – after a week together, we are like family. A loud, boisterous, family whose love of food and travel brought us together. I’ll be sad to see our guests go tomorrow as my first Vagabond week comes to an end.

Days in a row Denise had Vinsanto with almond biscotti for dessert after lunch: 3
Times Sam said Pecorino at lunch: 5
Days we’ve been unable to fill the tanks due to the Italian gas workers strike: 2.5



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