In mid-July, I finally got a true taste of life here in Tuscany. It was my first full weekend off where I wasn’t travelling, and I was able to explore the area with my roommates. Gabi and Lucas have lived here for over a year, so they were able to make some great suggestions and drive me to places that truly filled my cup.
Our first stop was a winery called Nitardi, where there is a strong German influence combined with an incredible appreciation for art. They have one established wine where they invite a different famous artist every year to create a unique label and bottle design. I will attach some pictures so you can see these amazing art pieces for yourself.
We tasted six wines, and of course, three of them were from the traditional Chianti Classico lineup: Chianti Classico (which must be aged for at least 12 months and contain a minimum of 80% Sangiovese), Chianti Classico Riserva (which must be aged for at least 24 months, made with carefully selected grapes, and contain a minimum of 80% Sangiovese), and Gran Selezione (which must be aged for at least 30 months and made with 100% Sangiovese).
We carry these wines at Casa Sola, where I work, and I always enjoy trying different interpretations of the same classification. However, because of the regulations surrounding Chianti Classico, you can often expect a similar overall style and flavour profile between these wines. Nitardi also produced two wines that would fall under the Super Tuscan category, using international grape varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.
It was such a beautiful experience walking around the winery, taking in the rolling hills of Tuscany alongside the unique architecture and incredible art installations.
The next day, we had another amazing experience tasting wines ranging from fresh and fruity to more complex and structured. We walked into a small wine shop and were able to taste three wines, and the experience felt like we were simply catching up with old friends rather than attending a formal tasting.
I spoke with one of the workers, and we quickly realized we had very similar preferences when it came to white wine. Think less malolactic fermentation and oak influence, like you often find in heavily oaked Chardonnay, and more crisp, dry, acidic wines that are aged in cement or neutral vessels to highlight the true fruit character of the grapes.
He carefully selected a bottle for me, and I wanted to share it. The wine was Cesani Clamys Vernaccia di San Gimignano. We were in San Gimignano for a wine tasting, so it felt especially fitting to try a wine made right there. Vernaccia is the grape variety, and the wine itself was light and crisp but had quite a bit of complexity, with notes of honey and a subtle smokiness. Overall, it was a very good recommendation.
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