Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Florence has a famously beautiful skyline that we have written about and admired many times before. There are plenty of viewing points from which to enjoy views of the city and we have listed these previously but, lately, we've been imagining enjoying said views from rooftop bars. Combining those amazing views with a well-made cocktail or a great glass of wine sounds like a match made in heaven to us! So, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and want to round off a long day of touristing or want to grab a nice leisurely drink before heading to dinner, then these are the rooftop bars that you should visit in Florence!

There are many great, beautiful, and historic wineries located all around Tuscany that produce incredible wines. If you are a wine-lover that is planning a trip to the region, you will never find yourself in short supply of options for vineyard tours and wine tastings as most areas have wineries located in them and many boast famous and celebrated wineries. However, amongst all of those options that you may have in front of you, few are so lauded and lovely as Avignonesi.

Located in Montepulciano, southern Tuscany, and named for the family that originally founded it, Avignonesi is a truly beautiful wine estate that is one of the region’s most respected producers, making wines that are celebrated worldwide. If you have found a
vacation rental in Montepulciano and are interested in the wine culture of the region, it is one of the undisputed highlights and a key attraction in the area.

The impossibly picturesque, sprawling estate of Avignonesi is made up of 200 hectares of grounds, the majority of which are in the Montepulciano DOCG. While the complex is made up of a few different areas, the main estate of Le Capezzine is comprised of a traditional vinsantaia (a facility in which Vin Santo is made), some cellars, rows upon rows of grapes in the vineyard, and the renowned Vigna Tonda, which is an experimental vineyard known for its distinct landscaping with a section that is planted in a unique circular formation.

In the last post, we discussed the beautiful town of Asciano in the Crete Senesi, one of the most undoubtedly scenic and picturesque parts of Tuscany. If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are looking for somewhere to spend a day, it is an ideal day-trip location. Or, if you want something a bit more relaxed, why not find a vacation rental in Asciano itself and spend your time surrounded by the most picture-perfect scenery imaginable. Then, if you're looking for things to see and do, why not browse our list of five excellent things to do in Asciano, continued from the last post...

2. Visit her Museums

Speaking of the fine exterior of the Civic Archaeological and Sacred Art Museum is attractive, the collections held inside are also appealing. It houses archeological finds dating from antiquity and art dating from the thirteenth to the eighteenth centuries. Everything inside is from the surrounding area but the sacred art section is particularly noteworthy quality, boasting a wooden crucifix by Giovanni Pisano, the Triptych of Rofeno by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, and the great masterpiece that is the Nativity of the Virgin Mary by the “Maestro dell’Osservanza”, among others. In addition to this, there is the Cassioli Museum, which was established in 1991 with an extraordinary bequest of artworks by the family of artist Amos Cassioli. It is the only museum in the province of Siena that is dedicated entirely to Sienese paintings from the fourteenth century and also boasts excellent graphics and sculpture sections.

The Vernaccia is one of the oldest indigenous vine varieties in Italy and also refers to a wine area that is intrinsically tied to the history of San Gimignano. Brought to the area from Liguria in the 1200s by Vieri de' Bardi and with exact origins unknown, it was an incredibly famous and popular wine in the Middle Ages but, so tied to the fate of the city as it was, it declined in prestige and importance as the city itself became less important. That is, however, until the second half of the 20th century when it was rediscovered by local winemakers who breathed new life into the wine and got it to DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) status in 1966. In fact, it was the first Italian wine ever to get this label and then went on to obtain the DOCG quality assurance in 1993.

Today, Vernaccia vineyards cover over 768 hectares, which are tended by 177 winemakers, producing around 4 million litres (or approximately 5 million bottles) of wine per annum. The Strada del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a non-profit association that was founded in 1999 in order to promote the local wine-producing area and are also in charge of managing the Wine Museum in Villa della Rocca and it is precisely this museum that makes a vacation rental in San Gimignano such an excellent holiday destination in Tuscany for wine-lovers. For the most perfect setting to sip, savour and learn, this pretty city is hard to beat and the museum means you have wonderful resources right at your fingertips.

Tuscany is world-famous for her hearty cuisine, which is based on peasant traditions but is now synonymous with being tasty, comforting, and utterly irresistible. There are endless excellent places to eat all over the region if you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany, in fact it often feels like you could stumble into any given eatery and have one of the best meals of your life. However, if you are a more discerning eater or, especially, a foodie, there are some particular restaurants that you should check out: Tuscany's 2019 Michelin-starred and listed restaurants. With one three-star option, four two-star restaurants, and a whopping thirty-three one-star eateries, there is plenty of choice all over the region for foodies looking to taste a slice of the Michelin lifestyle over the course (or multiple courses, as the case may be) of their holiday in Tuscany...