Archive for 'Localities'

If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are planning on exploring the region, you can't forget to thoroughly discover the culinary landscape. Food and wine are integral to the Tuscan experience and we have discussed wines and vineyards and wine shops on this blog on several occasions. However, we thought that it was only fitting to finally put together a guide to the wines of Tuscany; the ones you won't want to miss and where to find them. Here is our guide to more of the Tuscan wines that you need to try!

5. Bolgheri

Bolgheri is a wine area located in the Province of Livorno that has become internationally known since 1974, when, in an event organised by Decanter, a 6-year-old Sassicaia won over an assortment of Bordeaux wines.

Those who have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are planning a trip to the region, are probably expecting to eat a lot of great food but they should also be excited for all of the wines that they will be able to try. I've heard many say that the Italians keep the best of their wines for themselves and travelling in Italy allows you to tap into that precious supply for yourself and see what you've been missing out on.

We have discussed wines and vineyards and wine shops on this blog on several occasions and thought it only fitting to put together a guide to the wines of Tuscany; the ones you won't want to miss and where to find them.

3. Vin Santo

Vin Santo is made in many parts of Italy, but the best comes from Tuscany. There are three recognized DOC’s in Tuscany for Vin Santo: Vin Santo del Chianti (created in 1997), Vin Santo del Chianti Classico (1995) and Vin Santo di Montepulciano (1996).

The cuisine of the region is reason enough to find a vacation rental in Tuscany and plan a trip. However, in addition to the rich tradition in delicious food, there is also a wonderful wine culture in Tuscany that makes people want to visit. We have previously discussed where you can find the best vineyards to visit and wine shops to frequent, on numerous occasions, but have never really talked about the wines of Tuscany in a general sense. So, here is your guide to the wines of Tuscany, the ones you won't want to miss and where to find them.

1. Brunello di Montalcino

One of the most famous Tuscan reds, Brunello di Montalcino is wine produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino. Awarded the first Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) designation in 1980, the wine actually dates back as far as the early 14th century.

Marina di Alberese is the most famous beach of the Maremma Natural Park in Tuscany. It is located in a protected natural area, which has ensured that it has remained an uncompromised and uncontaminated beach.

Access is somewhat limited in order to maintain the fine white sandy beach and clear blue waters and there are just a few points of access to this four-mile stretch of the Tuscan coast, which is undoubtedly one of the wildest and most beautiful beaches on the entire Italian mainland. Just find a villa in the Maremma area and then make sure to set aside some time to unwind on her most beautiful beach.

Characterised by stark, pale white driftwood trunks lying on the snowy sand and lapped by a sparkling clear blue sea, the beach is also framed by the lush Mediterranean greenery of the Monti dell'Uccellina nature reserve. The whole effect is picture perfect and utterly serene.

If you have found a luxury villa in Florence, you are probably planning to track down and visit as many of the city's important tourist attractions and cultural gems as possible and that's busy work that will be sure to work up an appetite! Tuscany and Florence, in particular, are wonderful places to be hungry as there is a wealth of incredible dishes and a staggering amount of restaurants and eateries to choose from. If you are planning your visit for March, then you're really in luck as that is when Taste, the biggest foodie festival in the city, takes place!

Now in its 13th edition, Taste is an annual hybrid fair for both traders and the general public that began in 2006 and is an exploration and celebration of food, beverages, hospitality and restaurants in Italy. Planned as a collaboration between Pitti Immagine Srl and Davide Paolini, the fair will take place at Stazione Leopolda from March 10th to 12th this year.