A sunny afternoon in Chianti, Italy

The first time you meet Signor Maurizio, you get an instant sense of a man who has lived his passion for many decades, and our introduction was no different. He displays the rose-tinted complexion of Bacchus, the Roman God of Wine, a consequence either of the blazing Tuscan sun or decades of practising his labour of love (or both). Guests are greeted with a bellowing welcome which simply oozes Italian flair, and very quickly one realises that this man is the personification of this lifestyle and this particular corner of rural Italy. His story is as you would expect in an industry so defined by quality and provenance; skills have been honed over generations, passed down from father to son in faithful pursuit of the perfection of their craft. In Maurizio’s case, he is a third-generation winemaker, having grown up working on the family vineyards, and some years back he decided that his story was one worth telling, and so his Wine Tasting Experience was born. 

Whilst we waited for the remaining group members to arrive, we enjoyed a cool drink overlooking the stunning scenery surrounding us in every direction. The call of the cicale hung in the air, providing an audible accompaniment to the visual beauty of the rolling Tuscan hills and the earthy aroma of the ubiquitous Cypress trees. Maurizio joined us soon after and happily proceeded to explain (in both English and Italian) the history of this vineyard and of winemaking in the wider Chianti region. Fun fact – there are actually a number of “grades” of Chianti depending on the length of time spent in the barrel, and today it was Classico, Riserva and Gran Riserva on the menu.

We were soon invited back to the winery and given a quick lesson on the process of producing Chianti, before taking our seats around the wooden tables immediately adjacent to the building, which promisingly had now been set with 5 empty glasses per person. Maurizio and an accomplice briefly slipped away before swooping back into action, this time armed with several wines and some selected local cured meats and cheeses which had been adjudged to complement each other perfectly. Whilst we merrily sipped each wine, we were advised of the notes and characteristics to look for, as well as which of the accompaniments paired best. A particular highlight was Maurizio’s selection of olive-oil based products, including an olive-based chocolate spread which had to be tasted to be believed. We had earlier been sent into an almost euphoric state when we were allowed to hover over a vat of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and inhale its decadent aroma.

When the time came to begrudgingly say our goodbyes, we thanked our hosts and made our way out of the property. With starry eyes we took a gentle stroll up the hill on which the winery sits, for no apparent reason other than to soak up just a little more of this beautiful place, now appearing almost mythical in the fading light. We stopped in a clearing and watched the Sun set over the same distant horizon as those who once worshipped Bacchus, and with a location this magical it is no wonder they did.

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