Our second Tuscany tour has started with relatively minor turmoil at Pisa airport with the exciting new EES system….
We headed east towards Florence with a stop at Poggiotondo estate in the small village of Ceretto Guidi. This is the family winery of Alberto and Alessandra Antonini. Alberto is a world-renowned consultant oenologist who trained and worked UC Davis in California, Frescobaldi and Antinori before setting up his own business. Alberto consults and makes wine on many continents and we were lucky enough to meet him today.
Our visit started with a great overview of the property by Alessandra. Alberto then delivered a wonderfully concise into his approach to viticulture, the connection between geology and taste profiles in wine, the importance of soil analysis and how they favour an organic approach in the vineyards. It was absolutely fascinating!
We moved inside for a delightful lunch accompanied by five of their wines. Vermentino, folowed by a Sangiovese rosato and then three top class Chiantis. Delicious bruschetta, goats cheese, prosciutto, perfectly cooked pasta prepared by Alberto’s mother and some cantucci biscuits.
A fabulous start to the tour! We checked into our hotel in Siena, to enjoy a pleasant evening at leisure.