San Gimignano

After a lazy Saturday morning at the hotel, we check out around 11AM and Stefano was waiting to take us on a day tour to Chianti before dropping us off back at the airport this afternoon. Less than 30 minutes later, we were in beautiful Chianti wine country.

Our destination this morning was the medieval town on San Gimignano, which was a seat of power nearly a 1,000 years ago. Today 13 towers remain of the 72 towers of the fourteenth century, when every well off family built a tower to show its economical power. Stefano claimed that it was the "Manhattan of Italy" back then.

Yet another yummy cappuccino.

More Chianti wine country on our way to lunch...

..at nearby Tenuta Torciano, where we were met by the personable 3rd generation owner Pierluigi who was our host today for a wonderful over the top 10 wine, olive and truffle oil tasting.

We were invited to share lunch with a lovely couple from Baton Rouge. They were celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary.  
With the wine flowing, we made new BFFs and promised to meet next for home cooked Cajun food in Louisiana. 

Pieruigi working the crowd. 

OK, it's a little corny and contrived, but the wine was excellent and Pierluigi has this gig down to a science.  
He has a warehouse in Chicago which stocks and ships his wines to anywhere in the US, except Utah.  

He also takes his "show" on the road all over the world in the winter and will do a wine tasting meal at your home anywhere. He charges nothing but clearly with all your friends and guests pretty much sauced, he makes a profit on every tasting by successfully pitching and selling his wine. Did I mention that he has a warehouse in Chicago? His Tenuta Torciano blog has more info.