Monday, September 29, 2008

Chianti Excursion to Villa Vignamaggio

The stunning Villa Vignamaggio, located in the heart of the famed Chianti region and rumoured to have once been the home of Lisa Gherardini (the woman depicted in Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa) served as the backdrop for the first school-wide trip of the semester. A mere hour long bus ride from Florence took the students deep into the rolling greenery and sprawling vineyards that are characteristic of this region. With the start of the grape harvest only two weeks away, the students were rewarded with a glimpse of Chianti during its peak season.

The day began with a tour of the Villa grounds and gardens. Our friendly host Sandro briefly explained the rich history of the site, which dates back to the 14th century at which time the main house of the Villa was built as a residence for the Gherardini family. The estate has expanded over the centuries and currently occupies 140 acres of land; today Vignamaggio functions as an upscale Agriturismo Hotel and a medium-sized producer of wine. Sandro then led us to the wine fermentation area and the storage cellars, where he explained the basic steps that transform a grape into a glass of Chianti Classico.

After our tour we sat down to a simple tasting of two red wines – a rich Chianti Classico from Tuscany and a lighter Shiraz from Puglia. The wine served as the perfect accompaniment to our lunch, which featured a selection of typical Tuscan dishes: bruschetta with mixed toppings, pappa al pomodoro (a Tuscan bread, tomato and basil soup) and a cold pasta salad with vegetables. An afternoon stroll through the Villa’s vineyards helped us work off a bit of our lunch and provided us with ample photo-ops before we boarded the bus to return to Florence. All in all - a perfect start to what will surely prove to be a memorable semester!