It’s no secret…the one thing I will never understand or be able to comprehend is the massive undertaking of wine…whether it is here in Tennessee or in Italy.
I will never be accused of being a “wine snob”..I even get the Wine Magazine thinking at sometime some of the knowledge of this age old process will sink in but I end up just looking at the pretty pictures and the pretty people…I actually met one of the men in one of last summer’s magazine editions this past trip which was cool-I felt like I was meeting a celebrity! But these men take the craft of wine making seriously but at the same time seem so laid back about it all-it is so traditional and easy for them.
I have been to a few wineries now on my travels…that hasn’t really helped either-so many grapes, so many opinions, so many oak barrels, the swirling of the glass, the spitting??? I will say one thing…I love my “Rosso”…I do enjoy a non fruity red wine….that’s all I can say…the whites make my mouth pucker, a blush is too sweet, the clear stuff made from the peeling of the grapes called “grappa” will set you free (and I am too old to be “free”)…but the red is good…it’s what they drank in the old days and it doesn’t make you feel weird or groggy the next day.
A few minutes from our place in the Region of Lucca is a quaint Winery called Fattoria Colle Verde. Located in Castello in the the Lucchesse wine district, it is a smaller place covering 7 hectars (about 18 acres) and produces about 28,000 bottles per year. They sale to the local bars and eateries in Lucca.
The farmhouse and buildings date back to the 17th century and have been restored by long time family member Francesca , who took over the property in 1989. It includes 4 villas plus a farmhouse you can rent…a beautiful outdoor eating area and kitchen for large gatherings or events, and an intimate room for tastings. You may tour the property with the wine master who will show your the grapes, the barrels, and offer you tastings.
In 1997 the extra virgin olive oil was named “Best in Italy”-named Matraja. You may purchase this and the wines in the store on the property as well. After our tour of the winery and the grounds we were invited to the tasting room which of course had a superb view of the property. We tasted the 9 month aged Rosso (Red) made from 100% Sangiovese grape as well as the Bianco (White) made from 100% Trebbiano grape.
You may find out more from the website at www.colleverde.it where you can see the rooms, wines, and more offered. It is a great location to Lucca and the surrounding areas to stay…and I am sure if you are into wines you will understand much more than I did but nevertheless the Red was good enough to buy and we did!
Hearing about the baby vines, that actually came from America..interesting.
That is a teeny tiny little grape bunch….
We visited in July so the vines were very tender and small…
The entire oak barrel aging technique is…bigger than my brain.
The grounds were beautiful, filled with flowers! This was in front manager’s office-check out her view!
The small store…
A view from the tasting room…
The vines….
Although I may not understand it, I respect the making of wine…I hope you will take a moment to enjoy the many wineries in the area-it is a super way to learn and share the culture of Italy. You can go yourself or book a day with Heather from Sapori-e Saperi Tours! I find the wineries very welcoming. Several do not require more than a day’s notice or some are open daily. You can get more information on local wineries by simply doing a google search or go to “information center” when you arrive to your home base town.
“Salute!”
