Loving Sangiovese - til death do us part!!

Finding true love under a bright blue Tuscan sky

“The love of a good woman can save a man, or it can drive him to fits of unspeakable madness.”  said Molly Harper in her book "nice girls don't have fangs. A good wine can do the former but certainly never the latter. Accordingly -- I have found love in the form of a grape...and that grape is Sangiovese.

A tour of the Chianti region (Classsico to be specific) under a bright blue Tuscan sky was all is took to cement the relationship. The name Sangiovese was whispered on that fragrant breeze but also by the tour director who took us through wineries of stellar reputation and samples to confirm that worthy boast.

While indeed the standard to produce a Chianti Classico (rather than Super Tuscany or other regionally grown table wines that are not of the same quality) is exacting, the wine is only a great table wine in my mind. There is a requirement that 70% of the grape be Sangiovese keeping the flavor consistent over time and tastes. Great with red meat, chicken... maybe lamb. But my heart started to flutter and my pulse quicken when given the Chianti Classico Reserve to sip and swirl.

Not good with food - Chianti Classico Special Reserve is a wine for contemplation. To sip while examining the stars, existential thoughts ebbing and flowing through our noggins as the sweets Sangiovese nourishes our souls and sweeps our troubles away. It was pretty good. 😗

Half man half turtle ... this is how the hard shelled fellow finally kicked the Hare's Ass... 

A notion that persists for me when I visit or consider Italy is "Dolce Far Niente" Meaning; The sweetness of doing nothing. Again and again the philosophical concept takes hold of me when I visit this spectacular land and people.


So much care is taken to have good manners -good appearance -- and to clearly make an effort in adding beauty to the world.


Flowers and art are ubiquitous from balcony to boulevard and rooftop to roadside. A couple of shots above and below to make the point....

So Red  - bursting with beauty for all to enjoy

Classic Vespa marking it's spot with dripping oil like a puppy dog does with pee

 




Thanks for reading ...........Layno in Love!!!