Our days in wine country were coming to an end. We spent a glorious day in Montepulciano visiting Avignonesi and Boscerelli. Then spend a day and night in Montalcino visiting Pogio Antico and Terralsole. However, before we jumped back on the tourist track and headed to San Gimignano we could not conclude our Tuscan wine tasting without enjoying Chianti.

Fèlsina provided a perfect stop to tour and enjoy some of Tuscany’s best Chianti. When we arrived we were first taken on a tour of the property and the cellars. Domenico Poggiali Fèlsina bought the estate in 1966. Finally, my husband was able to tour an old wine cellar! It was beautiful!

As we left the cellars we came across the Metodo Classico Spumante Brut Millesimato, aging patiently for 32 months until it is ready to be disgorged, topped with a liqueur d’expédition, aged a minimum of three more months, then released.

Next we went upstairs to the second story loft to see two men filling the barriques with Vin Santo. The windows are open, the sun is shining through and the Vin Santo is preparing to rest quietly in sealed 100 liter oak barrels that contain the “mother,” thick substance remained from previous vintages. After 7 years in the “vinsantaia” loft area, the wine is bottle aged for a minimum of 6 months.

Fèlsina is a wonderfully hospitable winery.

Come and experience the magic that nature offers: the vineyards, olive trees, the woods. Discover the fascination of the old cellar and its striking barrel room, enter the places where our wines age and are prepared for bottling.

Our tour was educational and informative, but the best was yet to come. Fèlsina had more than just a typical tasting in mind for us. Instead, they treated us to a wonderful lunch crafted by chef Antonella. The four course meal consisted of ingredients grown and hunted on the extensive Fèlsina estate. The food and wine pairings were perfect!

Like I always say, “What grows together, goes together.”

NV Spumante Brut: touch of pears, apples, floral notes and toast; nice mousse mouth-feel; round acidity; light and pleasing.

I Sistri IGT 2013: 100% Chardonnay; golden yellow; orchard fruit, tropical fruit, citrus, spice notes; smooth creamy texture with light acidity and clean finish

Berardenga Chianti Classico DOC 2012: 100% Sangioves; garnet; cherries, plums, earthy mushrooms, spice notes; round acidity, soft tannins, lingering finish; easy to drink and enjoy

Rancia Classico Riserva DOCG 2009: 100% Sangiovese; deep garnet; dried red fruit, spice, very earthy and smooth; velvet mouth-feel, round acidity with integrated tannins

Fontalloro IGT 2009: 100% Sangiovese; garnet; cherries, plums, cranberries, spice notes, savory herbs, tobacco, licorice, pepper; rich structure, elegant and round acidity, dusty tannins, long finish

Vin Santo 2005: golden orange; orange blossoms, apricots, dried fig, orange peel, honey and caramel, rich and round on the palate, syrup like texture, long, mouth-coating finish

Fèlsina is located on the southeast edge of the Chianti Classico appellation, between the last spurs of the Chianti hills and the beginning of the Ombrone valley. The entire Fèlsina estate covers 600 hectares, of which 95 is planted with vines. From a geological viewpoint, Fèlsina is a “frontier land” nestled between the Chianti Classico and Crete Senesi areas, in the direction of Montalcino. The rocky calcareous soil with laminated marl play an important role in the Sangiovese that grows on the Fèlsina estate. Fèlsina holds the marriage of grape variety and terroir of the upmost importance. Fèlsina is dedicated each day to the moral responsibility of the land that began when the Romans established Fèlsina as a post station, a place to rest and refresh while traveling on an important road. This same spirit remains today with great wine, food and hospitality.

I encourage you to visit the Fèlsina web site to learn more about the winery, view their entire portfolio of wines, order wine for yourself, and plan your visit!

My Song Selection: I encourage you to visit Fèlsina. Here are directions:

Get your own bottles of Fèlsina wines and let me know what song you pair with them. Cheers!