WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.399 The topics and opinions expressed on the following show are 2 00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:04.320 solely those of the hosts and their guests, and not 3 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:07.240 those of W four WN Radio It's employees or affiliates. 4 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:10.960 We make no recommendations or endorsements for radio show programs, services, 5 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:14.080 or products mentioned on air or on our web. No liability, 6 00:00:14.199 --> 00:00:17.039 explicit or implied shall be extended to W four WN 7 00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:20.199 Radio It's employees or affiliates. Any questions or common should 8 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:21.519 be directed to those show hosts. 9 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:42.439 Thank you for choosing W four WN Radio. 10 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:48.399 Hello, and welcome to Fearless Fabulous You. I am your host, 11 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:52.240 Melanie Young, and I have had just the most amazing 12 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:55.399 past three weeks of my life, which I'm going to 13 00:00:55.399 --> 00:00:58.079 be sharing with you today. I mean, I truly believe 14 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:00.600 that when you get to a certain age, we'll just 15 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:03.520 live life to the fullest because you don't know how 16 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:05.480 many years you have left, so we just got to 17 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:06.879 add more life to those years. 18 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:07.200 Right. 19 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:11.799 In fact, one of my favorite muses, I call her amuse, 20 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:15.560 Patricia Schultz, who wrote the book A Thousand Places to 21 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:18.319 Go Before You Die, one of my favorite books of 22 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:24.239 all time. She posted something that I reposted on my 23 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:28.599 social media feed and it is. I'm going to pop 24 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:30.640 it up and let you see it. She's a prolific poster, 25 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:34.879 so I've got to like find it. But basically, it 26 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:38.799 basically says, you figure you only have, you know, on average, 27 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:44.200 eighty years of your life left and on average, so 28 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:48.000 you want to make the most of all of it right. 29 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:50.640 So that means you know, you may not like what's 30 00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:54.519 going on in the world, or in politics, or in 31 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:59.920 your personal life or anything. But as she writes, the 32 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:03.480 problem is you think you have time. On average, we 33 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:07.400 get eighty summers if we're lucky. Don't put off the trip, 34 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:12.479 stop waiting for life to begin, Stay up late with friends, 35 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:17.439 get up early to watch the sunrise, catch every sunset, 36 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:21.360 book the trip, go on that hike, go to the beach, 37 00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:24.080 Spend time with those you love and tell them how 38 00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:29.639 you feel, and make sure that you feel great. And 39 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:32.919 thank you Patricia Schultz. Let me give her a wonderful plug. 40 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:35.719 A Thousand Places to Go before You're Bye Die. A 41 00:02:35.800 --> 00:02:38.280 Thousand Places to Go Before You Die, best selling book 42 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:39.840 and one of my all time favorites. 43 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:41.280 When I book my trips. 44 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:45.319 I just finished three weeks where I said yes to everything. 45 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:47.120 I said yes to everything. 46 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:51.199 That included yes to going on an almost two week 47 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:54.520 trip to Tuscany to taste wine poor meat. But as 48 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:57.199 many of you know, part of my life is embedded 49 00:02:57.199 --> 00:02:59.319 in the wine and food business. And I have another 50 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:02.879 show called The Connected Table Live where you can learn 51 00:03:02.919 --> 00:03:06.280 about all that. And then I came back and went 52 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:11.360 right into Deep Gras. That's Marty Gras's final week, and 53 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:15.560 we lived it up because as they say, New Orleans 54 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:18.039 live life to the fullest. They sometimes call the New 55 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:20.439 Orleans the city that care for goot. I sometimes call 56 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:23.680 it the city that forgot to care. But basically, Marti 57 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:30.719 Gras is. Between January sixth, three Kings Day and that Tuesday, 58 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:35.159 Marty Gras not to the city's French roots, it's a 59 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:39.800 time of celebration and parties and parades and living life 60 00:03:39.800 --> 00:03:43.840 to the fullest. Because Ash Wednesday, which happens to be 61 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:47.840 today March fifth, is begins a forty day time of 62 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:54.560 reflection and solemnity in the being solemn and spiritual in 63 00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:59.280 many religious calendars, including Catholicism and Louisiana, and particular New 64 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:03.240 Orleans is very heigh embedded in Catholicism. It's a beautiful time, 65 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:08.039 and today is quiet. Yesterday was absolutely insane. There were parties. 66 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:11.639 Everybody's in costumes. I've never seen so many crazy costumes 67 00:04:11.639 --> 00:04:13.879 in my life, and I think it was probably one 68 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:15.840 of the funnest days of my life. I enjoyed it 69 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:17.920 with my husband David. I was with family, I was 70 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:21.759 with friends. We got up early before dawn to go 71 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:24.560 watch the parades, which had been moved up because there 72 00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:28.839 was a thread of tornado wind tornado level winds, which 73 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:31.240 more simfully didn't show up until later in the night. 74 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:34.879 We watched these beautiful barraides under a sunny, beautiful day, 75 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:38.360 and then went down to the French Quarter where there 76 00:04:38.360 --> 00:04:42.720 were so many revelers and costumes, practically some not wearing anything, 77 00:04:43.160 --> 00:04:45.639 and everybody was just having a great spirit. And I 78 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:49.240 ended the night with friends having Thay food, because why 79 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:51.759 not when you're in New Orleans, sometimes you just want 80 00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:55.360 something different. And so we had a beautiful time. We 81 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:59.519 just had a really beautiful time, and I think it 82 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.160 in by living life to the fullest. 83 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:03.199 It really did. 84 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:08.279 I'm gonna sell you a favorite, a favorite thing that 85 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:09.000 they say in. 86 00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:12.199 New Orleans on Marti Gras everywhere else. 87 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:16.920 It's just Tuesday, but in Marti Gras it's Fat Tuesday. 88 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:20.000 And I gotta say, I'm so proud to be a 89 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:26.360 New Orleanian now really really really really really really happy 90 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:29.560 to be a New Orlinian. So you know what we 91 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:31.439 talk about the day am I talk about Tuscany because 92 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:36.879 I just got back, and Tuscany evokes amazing images of 93 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:45.199 beautiful rolling hills, golden hued sunsets, rose and rose, and 94 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:49.519 rows of vineyards, these tall cypress trees, it stretched to 95 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:53.959 the bluest sky. That's Tuscany. Tuscany is also a very 96 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:57.319 large area. Many people think of Tuscany and they think 97 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.160 of Florence, which is certainly the center of crust scan 98 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:04.240 There's also Sienna and Luca, where I'll be going soon, 99 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:09.839 and Cortona, where Francis Mays, author of Under the Tuscan Son, 100 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:15.519 lives and she probably wrote the pivotal book Under the 101 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:19.920 Tuscan Sun, which brought many people to Tuscany. What brought 102 00:06:19.959 --> 00:06:22.399 me to Tuscany this year and every year is an 103 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:27.040 event called Onteprima Tuscana. And David, my husband, and are 104 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:33.360 honored guests at Entreprina Tuscana as journalists to taste and 105 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:38.319 learn about the new releases of Tuscan wines from throughout 106 00:06:38.360 --> 00:06:42.360 all the regions of Tuscany. As I said, Tuscany is 107 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:46.399 a large area. It's not just Florence, it's not just Krtona. 108 00:06:47.160 --> 00:06:51.000 There's a lot of regions. It stretches from look at 109 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:56.279 the picture the coast where there's beautiful beaches in Maremma, 110 00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:01.839 the Tuscan Coast, over to Umbria and Arezzo, which is 111 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:07.720 in the center the heart of Italy. To the north 112 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:14.040 of Tuscany is Bologna and Luguria on the coast, and 113 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:16.759 to the south is Lazio, where Rome is located. So 114 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:21.959 Tuscany is this beautiful area in central Italy, bordered by 115 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:26.560 the Apennine Mountains to the east and the Terranean Sea 116 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:30.480 to the west. I have been blessed to go to 117 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:32.879 many of these regions, and we'll be going back because 118 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:38.399 there's endless things to discover about Tuscany. What I'm going 119 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:39.839 to talk to you about, because that was what the 120 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:42.399 trip was about, is Tuscan wine. So you can become 121 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:46.600 well versed in Tuscan wine. It's pretty easy to know 122 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:52.560 about Tuscan wines. It is mainly Tuscany is mainly a 123 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:59.439 red wine production area. Only one other Italian region, Calabria, 124 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.480 and that's to the south, is more intently focused on 125 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:09.160 red wines. Almost ninety percent of Tuscany is want red wine. 126 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:12.920 And the one grape you must know it is the 127 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:17.199 king of Tuscan wines is san Giovese. Say it again, 128 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:19.000 san Giovese. 129 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:21.639 These are red. 130 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:24.839 Wines with highest city which is ads that zip and 131 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:28.399 Christmas to a wine, red berry aromas and flavors. Most 132 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:33.279 of Tuscan wines, many of them are one hundred percent sangiovesei, 133 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:40.159 most notably Brunello di Montulcino. Those are the wines made 134 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:44.960 in the hilltop of Montulcino. They are doc G wines. 135 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:51.480 Denomination origin contrada controlata guaranteeta the highest level. There is 136 00:08:51.559 --> 00:08:57.080 also in Chianti Classico wines called grand Seleccioni. Most of 137 00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:59.799 those are one hundred percent San Giovesi. They can allow 138 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:05.679 us very small amount of other local grapes. And then 139 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:10.840 we also tasted wines in an area just in the 140 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:15.039 same area, a little south of Florence called Nobly de Montepulciano. 141 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:19.759 Those wines are mainly a blend there they call the 142 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:25.960 San Giovesi, Prunello, Gantile and Noble Demntepulciano is blended with 143 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:32.440 other local varieties, notably Colorino and Caniolo. But they just 144 00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:36.279 launched a new level called Pieve piaves are much like 145 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:42.279 grand Seleccioni, the highest level of wines from noblely de Monteplciano, 146 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:44.159 and those are going to be mainly one hundred percent 147 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:49.000 San Giovesi. That may seem confusing to you, so I'm 148 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:53.639 just gonna make it very easy. San Giovesi. You can 149 00:09:53.639 --> 00:09:57.639 also find san Giovasi in other areas of Italy, notably 150 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:03.480 parts of Umbria. Umbria borders Tuscany to the east. It 151 00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:06.919 makes sense these wines tend to be a lot of 152 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:11.360 deep cherry notes, bal balsamic notes based on how much 153 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:15.799 wood there is, licorice, tomato leave, violets, and herbal. 154 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:17.639 Notes. 155 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:21.120 They are long, aging wines and they are beautiful wines 156 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:21.720 that you can. 157 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:24.360 Enjoy with a variety of foods. 158 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:29.639 Mainly if you go to Tuscany, you're going to be 159 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:31.639 eating a lot of meat, which is very hard for 160 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:35.159 me as a vegetarian because I don't eat meat. But 161 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:40.480 that is what really goes beautifully with san Giovani, san 162 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:46.879 Giavesi wines. It's a noble grape Italy and one that 163 00:10:46.919 --> 00:10:52.600 you will enjoy and savor with beautiful chescan cheeses. I 164 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:58.320 particularly liked the cheeses of Pianza, your noblely de Monte Placiano. 165 00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:03.879 They're sheeps milk cheeses. There are some dish called ribolita, 166 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:07.720 which is a bread soup made with vegetables. 167 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:09.080 Goes beautifully with that. 168 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:13.000 The main regions of Tuscany where you're gonna want to 169 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:18.879 know is well. Obviously I mentioned Brunello to Montucino. The 170 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:23.679 other big area is Kianti Classico. Kante Classico is the 171 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:26.559 historic heart of Kanty, dating back to the Middle Ages. 172 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:32.399 There are kiyanties, and there's Kyanti Classico, there's Kyanti Docg, 173 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:35.519 and there's Kyanti do z and boy does they get confusing. 174 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:41.039 Here's what you want to know. Kyanti Classico is a docg. 175 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:44.279 It's a very large area. Inside of it are different 176 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:50.639 subregions where grapes are harvested called ugga, different regions much 177 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:51.080 like they do. 178 00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:53.080 And think about Napa and Napa. 179 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:55.639 You've got big Napa Valley and then there's sub avas 180 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:59.600 with a napa that's kind of like Kanti Classico. Kanti 181 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:02.840 Classic is between eighty percent and one hundred percent San 182 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:08.200 Giovesi reds, and there is a County Classico Reservo, which 183 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:12.960 requires longer aging. And there is, as I said, gran Seleccioni, 184 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:16.120 which is the top level of county Classico wines. These 185 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:22.879 are beautiful wines, many are affordable, and I highly recommend them. 186 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:26.600 The other wine which I just references, Vino Noble de Montepulciano, 187 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:32.279 also a docg based with Sangiovesi, but seventy percent, so 188 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:34.039 you can add in some other wines. 189 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:35.679 Other grapes. 190 00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:42.200 Usually it's a grape called canola nero or colorino. Those 191 00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:47.519 are both Italian native varieties. Occasionally you may have Merlo 192 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:50.480 Cabernet franc or Caberne sauvignon. But the best ones, in 193 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:56.720 my personal opinion, are just one hundred percent Sangiovesi. They'll 194 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:00.200 taste a bit different from County Classico because they're there's 195 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:04.240 different soil levels. You know, you've got lots of fossils 196 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:07.480 in the soil and gravel and clay, so depending on 197 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:11.399 the region that soil will feed the grapes and that 198 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:17.840 gives the grapes their unique DNA and personality. Kiante also 199 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:24.120 has this doc and then there's Kyanti doc Cheese, which 200 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:29.440 are different sub zones that surround Florence and their different appellations, 201 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:32.039 and they're all very unique because they have different soils 202 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:38.600 and what they call micro microclimates. I learned about one 203 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:42.759 called Rufina. Rufina is one of the oldest of these 204 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:46.480 sub sub zones and it's in a mountainous area. I 205 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:49.279 had some amazing wines from there, not to be confused 206 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:54.440 with raffino, which is a wine. Rufina and I learned 207 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:57.399 a lot from this particular trip about roof and the 208 00:13:57.399 --> 00:14:00.720 wines because I went to fabrious dinner hosted by their consortium. 209 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:04.799 All of these have consortium, which are governing bodies organizations 210 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:08.879 that maintain the standards and quality of the wines. That's 211 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:13.399 why it's DOCG and DOCG, DOCG being the highest level. 212 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:18.240 So you know, just outside Florence, you can drive forty 213 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:21.480 five minutes north, an hour east or west and you'll 214 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:24.000 be in one of these sub zones with their own 215 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:31.039 unique wines. There's Coley Arantini, Coley Fiorentini, Coley, Senezi, Colini, Pisani, 216 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:34.639 Nicoli means hills, so these are hilly areas. There's Montalbano, 217 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:38.080 Montespertoli and as I mentioned, Rufina. 218 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:41.840 So Tuscany is like. 219 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:47.519 A puzzle of different areas, each with its own personality. 220 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:52.320 These all areas surround Florence where we base ourselves, and 221 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:56.759 it is fabulous. But a region that I highly recommend 222 00:14:56.840 --> 00:15:02.200 visiting for its incredible history and unius and amazing wines 223 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:06.440 is called Carmignano. That's c ar MiG n a and o. 224 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:10.240 It is also a docg. It is a red wine 225 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:13.799 of fifty percent san gioves. So what makes Carmignano unique. 226 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:18.320 And this is about ninety minutes drive from Florence, just 227 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:24.080 to give you a perspective, ninety minutes drive north end 228 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:30.039 west of Florence. Carmignano wines are fifty percent Sangiovese and 229 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:33.840 the remaining amounts can be cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet froc. 230 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:36.919 Now that's pretty interesting because that's not really the case 231 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:40.919 with a lot of wines in Tuscany which use native varieties. 232 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:49.120 But this is because this area is influenced by Bordeaux producers, 233 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:52.840 and the producers brought vines from Bordeaux over to plant 234 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:58.480 in Carmignano. I know it'll be the Rothschilds. So these 235 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:01.720 wines are really fabulous. Highly recommend them. And the producer 236 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:06.080 that I will recommend above all is Capisana. Capasana is 237 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:11.080 a very historic family run producer, dates back centuries. It 238 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:13.279 was so blessed because they you know, many of these 239 00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:17.200 wineries did not bottle their wines for commercial sales until 240 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:21.360 much later into the twentieth century. They were producing wines 241 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:25.840 for the Capisinos, the locals, or for the family. But 242 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:31.639 Tenuta de Capisano is a beautiful place to visit. Highly 243 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:35.600 recommend it. And there's a farmhouse you can stay in 244 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:40.759 which I have stayed in, and the family is at 245 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:44.600 The Bonacossi family dates back. They actually came from Spain 246 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:48.200 and came over to They were art dealers in Spain 247 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:55.320 and they moved to Italy Cesra as Alessandro Conti, Cossi's 248 00:16:55.360 --> 00:17:01.399 son Augusto moved to Italy and their first vintage is 249 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:04.279 nineteen twenty six. The story begins for the family in 250 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:08.200 nineteen twenty six, so What was amazing was this year. 251 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:11.200 The Bonicasi family. 252 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:17.279 Had a dinner a beautiful restaurant and opened a bottle 253 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:23.200 of their nineteen twenty six wine one hundred years. It's hard, 254 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:25.880 you don't know what happens to wine in a bottle 255 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:28.599 for one hundred years, but it was quite beautiful and 256 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:32.640 it was a special occasion to mark that one hundredth anniversary. 257 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:37.680 Tanudo Capizana also makes beautiful wines and oil olive oils. 258 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:41.640 Actually brought some olive oil home and they being art dealers, 259 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:44.559 they have a gallery in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. 260 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:47.440 If you have a chance to visit it, sometimes you 261 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:51.480 have to go by invitation. It is quite spectacular, but 262 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:54.440 I highly recommend this winery. I highly recommend visiting this 263 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:58.160 winery and the farm house. It is fabulous. So again, 264 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:02.279 the region is Carmignano. The winery is new to Capisana. 265 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:06.200 Capasana is c A P E z z A N 266 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:10.880 A dot it beautiful wines, probably one of my favorite 267 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:17.000 Tuscan wines ever. In terms of regions, Carmeniano highly recommended 268 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:25.079 another area that I kind of rediscovered this trip. They 269 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:31.839 call Ultra Tuscana Altra tiscana Is are the regions more 270 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:48.640 to the coast, uh Montecuco. Here's some names to know Montecuco, Suveroretto, Bulgary, Montescudo. 271 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:53.519 These are all Moralino uh is the great what they 272 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:56.039 call Sancho Visi, they call it Moralino. Here these are 273 00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:00.559 more coastal wines. You're gonna have some amazing slight selinity 274 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:02.799 and some of the wines beautiful wines. I gotta tell you, 275 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:05.440 the wines of Subaretta blew me away. And this is 276 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:08.400 where you'll find what they call the super Tuscans, well 277 00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:14.039 nonofficial categorica wines. They're really highly regarded. The name originated 278 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:19.559 in the nineteen seventies when producers started making wines that 279 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:25.319 fell outside the doc and DOCG regulations at the time, 280 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:28.559 where they took san Gioves wines and blended them with 281 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:34.559 other varieties. And here you'll find some very famous wines 282 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:38.960 like Sassakaya, Tigna, Neello or Inlaya. Those are some of 283 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:42.880 the big ones, and they're called super Tuscan and they're 284 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:45.839 very popular. They're very different because they have a lot 285 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:49.200 of Cabernet, Cabernet franc and merlau. The Bordeaux varieties, but 286 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:54.559 they're beautiful wines. I you know, I've been talking about 287 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:57.200 red wines because Tuscany is mainly a red wine region, 288 00:19:57.240 --> 00:20:02.000 but I would highly recommend the whites that are produced 289 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:04.519 there on the coast, in the coastal area and what 290 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:09.599 we call ultra Tuscana Vermontino rules. Vermentino wines are very 291 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:16.680 crisp white wines, really fabulous, and you can find really 292 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:19.759 good vermentino not only in Tuscany on the coasts and 293 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:23.440 areas like Marema, which is a coastal area, but also 294 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:27.279 in non Tuscan areas like Sardinia. But I would think 295 00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:33.400 Vermonino is a great alternative to drinking say savignon blanc. 296 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:37.920 You can find some savignon blancs also in the Tuscan coast. 297 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:40.880 I had a few and Vienna and they're all very good. 298 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:47.000 It is a smaller area production, but they're all very good. 299 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:53.799 So white wine Vermentino. And then there is one area 300 00:20:55.000 --> 00:21:01.759 of Tuscany that is a docg Bernacio de sand Jiminiano. 301 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:06.039 It's a cogc only of white wines. Vernacia is another 302 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:11.920 white grape, really refreshing, kind of floral, herbaceous grape, and 303 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:14.960 the wines and vines are all in the docg area, 304 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:20.599 exclusively around San Giminana, which is a beautiful village known 305 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:26.279 for its tall towering bell towers they call Vernacia descend 306 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:32.759 Jiminana the White Queen of Tuscany wines, and San Giovanni 307 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:37.400 is the Red King of Tuscan wines. So if you go, 308 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:40.160 the best way to get there is to fly into Florence. 309 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:42.839 I highly recommend spending a lot of time in Florence. 310 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:45.640 It's a very historic, beautiful area, and if you can 311 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:49.200 rent a car or catch a tour, I would suggest 312 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:51.440 going over to Carmeniano. It could be a day trip, 313 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:54.640 but I would make it a night trip, and then 314 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:58.599 I would highly recommend going down to Pisa or Luca. 315 00:21:58.680 --> 00:22:02.240 That's where we're going to be going next actually to explore. 316 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:06.400 I think those are all great areas. We also visited 317 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:10.000 an area that was we'd been to once, but we 318 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:15.039 went back to again, called Valdano de Sobra. It's more 319 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:21.720 toward Oretso, another area of Tuscany where there are a 320 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:26.079 lot of hunting. The royalty and the Medici family and 321 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:28.440 the wealthy would go there and hunt, so it's a 322 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:33.559 very hilly Bucolic area. Just a little footnote here. A 323 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:36.880 lot of Florence was built around the Medici family. Its 324 00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:39.759 storied family, very very wealthy. They controlled and all the banks, 325 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:43.440 they controlled, all the land, and a lot of businesses 326 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:49.640 were built to serve the Medici family. You will see museums, 327 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:53.119 you will see palazzos, you will see palazzos or palaces. 328 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:56.640 You will see incredible buildings built around the influence of 329 00:22:56.680 --> 00:23:00.480 the Medici family, which remained today. And so when they 330 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:02.680 left Florence in the hot summers, they would go to 331 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:06.599 places like Aretzo and go hunting, and you'll see beautiful 332 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:09.559 estates there. And Valdona is Sobra. I wish we had 333 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:12.440 spent more time there. It was quite beautiful, very rural, 334 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:16.200 a lot of medieval influence. And the wines there again 335 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:21.880 are Sangia Vesi dominant, but there was a lot of Sarrah, Cabernese, 336 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:25.359 Sauvignon and Marilow and very good wines as well. I 337 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:29.559 was incredibly impressed by Valdano di Sopra. And if you 338 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:33.440 continue further west you're in Umbria. So Aretso is kind 339 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:39.799 of like the between of Florence and Umbria. So very 340 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:42.839 big area, and I think a lot of people go 341 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:46.200 to Tuscany and just stay in Florence and maybe pop 342 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:52.039 over to Siena, Pisa or Luca. But there's so much 343 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:55.960 beautiful Pienza is another area known for their cheeses. As 344 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:59.680 I mentioned, there's so many areas to explore, so I 345 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:02.039 would take more time and do that and go to 346 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:09.319 those beautiful little villages. Tuscany makes a very famous sweet 347 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:13.079 wine called vincento. The Sainted Wine is a very specific 348 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:18.720 way to make this wine, and it's a doc wine. 349 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:24.839 There are four docs for vincento in Tuscany, Chianti, Santo 350 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:29.640 del Tuscan County, Santo del County, Classico, Santo di Multipulciano, 351 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:32.079 and Santo di Carmeniano. And I have to tell you 352 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:37.039 Tanudo Capazana's Santo di Carmeniano van Santo di Carmagiano is 353 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:40.599 really one of the greatest wines ever. So Vincanto is 354 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:45.599 a sweeter wine that is in limited quantities. In fact, 355 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:49.079 it used to be made just for the families. It's 356 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:52.519 typically a white wine made from Trebiano Tuscano, another white 357 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:57.000 grape in Tuscany, along with Malvasia, there's sweeter wines, but 358 00:24:57.039 --> 00:25:00.680 there's also a wine called Okio de p Nietzsche. I 359 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:03.079 have the Partridge, which can be made. It's a more 360 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:05.559 copper colored wine. One of the best ones is from 361 00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:11.559 Nobly to Multipulciano. It's called It's by Buscarelli. It's Buscarelli's Vancento. 362 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:13.759 Buscarelli is a terrific and probably one of my favorite 363 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:17.640 producers in Montepulciano. And that's hard because you have a 364 00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:20.920 lot of favorite producers there. And on my website, the 365 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:24.680 Connected Table, I'll be listing some producers that you can 366 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:27.160 look for, because these are wines that are widely available. 367 00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:28.440 But if you want to. 368 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:34.240 Bring something special for a dinner party, a bottle of 369 00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:38.160 Vancento for dessert and maybe some Cantucci or Piscatti to 370 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:42.160 go with it is a very special gift. These are 371 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:47.599 labor intensive wines that take years before they can actually 372 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:50.359 be bottled and ready to be served. They have to 373 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:52.640 be kept in an attic for a minimum three years, 374 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:59.119 naturally aged. Very special. So Tuscany is a lot more 375 00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:01.559 than you probably vision It's a lot bigger than you 376 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:04.799 probably envisioned, and it deserves more time than you probably 377 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:09.079 planned for when you go on your grand tour of Italy. 378 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:12.480 I have been several times, and every time I go, 379 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:16.480 I discover something new. If that says anything to you. 380 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:21.480 We'll be going back soon to Luca never been and 381 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:24.119 we'll be exploring in that area and I can't personally wait, 382 00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:26.160 can't wait to go back to the Tuscan coast and 383 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:28.960 to a Retzo. I was blown away of both of 384 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:33.240 these areas and the wines. So if you want to 385 00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:37.400 learn more information about tusk and wines, there as several 386 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:41.359 websites I would highly recommend. First of all, I like 387 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:44.920 the website Italian Wine Central. It's just a good, old central, 388 00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:49.920 easy to follow website. It's wine centric, but I think 389 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:52.519 it's a good one. You can go to the Kianti 390 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:59.599 Classico website. The website is I think www dot Knti 391 00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:03.680 class dot com. You know, the symbol of the Countie 392 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:07.599 Classical region is the red rooster Gallo negro. There's a 393 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:10.000 whole story behind that which I won't get into, but 394 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:14.160 it all County Classico wines have the Gallo negro on 395 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:19.359 the label. There's a lot of history there, but look 396 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:20.599 for that when you're looking for wine. 397 00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:21.279 So county. 398 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:25.359 Classico is a region, and then Brunella de Montlcino. 399 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.720 Okay, I'm gonna make this short. 400 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:30.200 Like I said, I was gonns to have another guest 401 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:33.759