|
10:48 pm – Italy – Day 6 – Monsanto
 Gary graciously arranged for us to drive to the
Monsanto Vineyard in the Chianti Classico region for a tasting and luncheon, so off
the eight of us sped with Charles leading the way accompanied by Elizabeth,
Sue and Brian. I was following as closely behind as safety allowed with Beth,
Lesly and Gary hanging on through the hills,
valleys and curves. We made a stop
about three quarters of the way there as the twisting roadway made for a
dizzying ride for the more sensitive stomachs of some passengers. We pulled over in front of someone's house,
whereupon a truck pulled up behind us and collected a plastic bag from behind
the shutters, leaving behind two others.
Lesly and I now have a playfully running
disagreement on whether the gentleman exchanged shoes or bread. Think about it for a while and decide which
makes more sense to you.
 Making only one
brief turnaround, we found the impressive gates of the Monsanto Vineyard and
were buzzed in. As we had no idea of
how long it would take us to get there, we arrived quite a bit early and they
weren't quite ready for us. So we went
for stroll down the hilly back street into the village of Monsanto. Gorgeous views abounded and I think we each
dreamed that someday we might own one of the villas looking out over the rolling
vista. We stopped and took posed
photos before the incredible Tuscan backdrop.
These views, I believe, are how we will remember each other till we
meet again.
 Accompanying our
group was a large white dog that we found out later belonged to our hostess
Laura Bianchi. A beautiful Abruzzi,
Chuck the dog became an easygoing companion for us not only on our walk, but
for our later luncheon and wine tasting.
This walk sealed a bond between the eight of us… I think we'll always
remember this stroll - the little girl behind the iron fence, the Tuscan
apartments, the view, the turtles, the worm trails… worm trails??? Yes, we got a quick paleontology lesson
from Charles on the ancient trails left in the rock of the stone walls along
the path left by long ago worms trapped there for a near eternity. I treasure it all.
 Along with four
other guests, our guide Laura escorted us through the underground labyrinth
that was originally built by her father on land purchased by her grandfather
to accommodate the wine that we were later to sample. Six men, over a number of years, used stone
dug out from the property to laboriously build this maze of rooms and tunnels
where Monsanto's wines are stored. I
wasn't always in hearing distance of her description of all that happened,
but caught enough to know that the property was ingrained in her blood… by
blood. Laura had apparently gone off
to study and become a lawyer – and actually practiced for a year in
Sienna. But this was not to be her
life. She returned to her roots in
Monsanto and today tells us the story of her family, the winery and her
return to this way of life for many Tuscans.
When you pass by the stores of wine commemorating the births of
Monsanto family members, you understand how difficult it would be to
leave. A griffon crest adorns one of
the underground walls telling symbolically the story of this family place.
Emerging into the sunlight, we are ushered through the dining area
(Lesley and Beth stopping to pose with a bust of David - look out Igor) to an outside area bathed in the
sunlight. A beautiful pond and grounds
were there for us to stroll while awaiting our first taste of the local
vintage. We sat down and we're treated to a kind of hot brioche that was
heavily salted and soon were served our first Monsanto wine - a lovely
Chardonnay and their only white.
Next we were escorted into the indoor atrium and treated to a sumptuous
luncheon starting with olives peas and anchovies, and on to a lovely fritto misto,
(fried vegetables) with an unusual fried sage leaf in the mix. Each of these dishes was accompanied by one
of Monsanto's prize reds – a simple Nemo sangiovese (lion's crested label), Montesano's 2000 Il Poggio
Chianti Classico and the 2001 Chianti Classico Riserva. Three lovely and beautifully labeled wines.
 After dinner, each
couple ordered some wine to take back to our respective homes. How Beth and I will get all that we have
bought on this trip back to the United States, I'm still not
sure. But I have faith in my wife's
packing ability, though not as much in my lifting facility. We'll see how it all works on the train to Venice when I have to
hoist up our baggage to the upper rack.
On the way out we again passed the lovely lemon and orange (or perhaps
kumquat??) trees in the garden area and headed back to the villa. All in all, a lovely day thanks to Gary and his
connections in the restaurant and food business.
 On our drive back,
we stopped at the Greve co-op with its validated
parking (not an inconsiderable plus in these towns) to pick up a few staples
for tonight's dinner. This is the last
full meal we'll be sharing with Sue and Brian as they leave tomorrow morning
for Pisa (and that big slanted climb up the
tower) before returning to Florence and then
their Calgary
home.
 After munching on
our leftovers (a gourmet meal for any but this group of foodies),
we sat around and got to know each other better - lightly laughing at
our individual foibles and howling at some of our shared experiences. It's what you do, you know, with former
acquaintances that you can now firmly call friends. It saddens me to know tomorrow is our last
full day in the villa, but I am heartened by getting to know these three
other couples in such a cherished way.
As some of the individuals work together, I realize they will stay in
touch - but there is only a pleasant ache left in knowing that it will be
some time before we will again share the bond we have formed in this last,
all too short, week.
Tomorrow: perhaps a day of
rest? Nah, we'll be out and around
somewhere.
|