Tomorrow my husband and I leave for a long overdue vacation. We are heading to Italy. It will be my second trip to Italy and his first. Knowing I could spend all of our time in Italy immersed in wineries and wine, he has reminded me many times this trip is a vacation! However, my husband is also a wine lover and really who can travel all the way to Italy without visiting any wineries? Therefore, we have struck a deal, 3 days in Rome on the “Rick Steves how to see Rome in three days” self-guided tour; two day in southern Tuscany focusing completely on wineries but taking it easy since it is a vacation, we are actually staying at Terralsole…HEAVEN, then three days in northern Tuscany, with our home base in Radda we will visit San Gimignano, Florence and Sienna. I want to share with you a link, statement and picture of the six wineries we will be visiting. Furthermore, I want to give a shot out to all my winos for helping me plan this part of our vacation with special mention to John Fodera of Tuscan Vines for all his recommendations and guidance.

Here are the wineries we are visiting, if you never hear from me again know I am lost in eternal bliss in Tuscany!

Avignonesi: “We strive to create a natural tie between the grapevine and its habitat, putting the vine in the condition to yield grapes that draw force from the living soil.”

Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano:  “We respect and maximize the expression of our different soils and clones, recognizing they are distinctive and unique. These principles constitute our philosophical beliefs applied to oenology.”

Terralsole: “Our guiding principal here at Terralsole is: Great wine is made in the vineyards, not the Cantina.  With this in mind, Sangiovese Grosso was planted in 1996 on specifically chosen clonal selections and rootstocks dedicated to the soil types and vigor levels of our different terroirs, their aspect, and average diurnal temperatures.”

Poggio Antico: “Poggio Antico: a combination of people, love for nature and passion for winemaking in the beautiful landscape of Tuscany.  Brunello, Brunello Riserva, Altero, Madre, Lemartine and Rosso di  Montalcino are the result  of our great  care and  dedication.”

Il Palazzone: Crafting perennially award winning Brunellos along with outstanding Super Tuscan, Montalcino Rosso and Olive oil, with the 2010 Brunello presenting itself to be “one of the greatest vintages in their 20 year history.”

Felsina: “An enterprise the size and diversity of Fèlsina holds a profound responsibility not only to the vineyards it runs, but to preserve the ecosystem and natural environment, keeping the human and technological impact in check. Vine cultivation is used to obtain the best, mature grapes from a morphological and physiological point of view, and then transform them into wines that express the Fèlsina style.”

On October 17 I will publish new article with my fellow French Winophile friends featuring the Rhone Valley so please read and share. Beginning October 19 I am re-publishing three of your favorite articles. Please read or re-read and share on any or all of the social media icons below to help me keep Rockin Red Blog going strong while I am away. After October 17 new articles will begin again on October 26. Thank you for reading this article and thank you for your support and understanding while I am away with my husband being in the moment for 10 days!

My Song Selection:

Plan your own Italy vacation and let me know what song you pair with it. Cheers!