HTT - Hill Towns Tours

If someone wishes to send a postcard to one of their friends back home that is a perfect representation of their vacation in Tuscany, often the chosen image is of the splendid Chianti region. Soft rolling hills, lines of cypress trees, endless grapevines, orderly olive groves, majestic castles, and a history that goes back over centuries all await you in Chianti. The region indicated by this geographic appellation is mostly made up of rolling hills that are located between Siena and Florence. Inside this area you will find the original

core of the region, more specifically the communes of Gaiole, Radda, and Castellina. These are considered the old province of Chianti as defined by Ferdinand III of Tuscany. This marvellous section of land is appreciated and renowned worldwide for its production of the wine that carries the same name. However the production of Chianti wine also takes place in other geographical areas such as Pisa, Arezzo, Prato and Pistoia,
The first documentation containing some mention of Chianti wine, and that help to qualify its origins, date back to 1398. From these documents it is interesting to note that Chianti was a white wine that wasn't even of very good quality. Further documentation in 1427 show that in Chianti its red wine had become more well known. In the 1400's Chianti wine began to be consumed even by the popes and this, as we already know, was always a sign that the quality of a wine could be guaranteed. In 1713 there were two proclamations on the part of Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany. The first precisely determined the borders of the most prestigious vineyards where Chianti was produced, while the second outlined regulations on the production. These two documents are of extreme importance, given that until then, no other place in the world had a specific area for producing wine that been determined by law. Bettino Ricasoli, a man of great intelligence, knowledgeable farmer, and expert oenologist, proved to be one of the most important figures in getting the Chianti wine recognized internationally. At Castello di Brolio he produced a red wine that was of such superb quality that it was comparable to even the finest Italian and French wines, and being a man of politics (he was the second president of the Council of Italy’s Kingdom after Cavour) he opened the door to the world for Chianti wine, and it soon began to be exported to various other countries. Ricasoli conducted several experiments between 1834 and 1837 in the vineyards at Brolio, and he was able to pinpoint the grape that, in his opinion, was the best for producing Chianti wine. From these studies came the original composition of Chianti which consisted of two varieties of red grapes. These were the Canaiolo variety (5-10%) and the heart and soul of the wine, the Sangiovese variety (75-90%). There is also one variety of white grape which is the Malvasia (2 5%). One further variety of white grape, the Trebbiano, was later added into this formula and is still used even today, though only by a small minority. For the most part producers choose to use either just Sangiovese, or Sangiovese with a small amount of Merlot and/or Cabernet Sauvignon.
This fascinating region does not only consist of olive oil, wine, and wonderful cuisine. Found within the breathtaking landscapes are many extremely interesting historical sites. In fact the Chianti region, which was already inhabited during the Etruscan era and then housed the Romans, was the stage, as well as a cause of dispute, for the notorious war

between Siena and Florence
(XI-XIV century). For this reason, the area is full of military outposts, fortresses used to observe the movements of the enemy, castles and strongholds belonging to noble families that intervened during the war, first siding with one Republic and then the other. Many of these noble families were involved in the commercialization of wine of to replenish funds in their home.
Some of these castles still produce their own wine and have spectacular wine cellars that you can visit, and are surrounded by hectares of vineyards. Apart from the previously mentioned Castello di Brolio, it is also worth visiting the Castello di Meleto, Castello di Spaltenna, Castello di Cacchiano, Castello di Tornano, the city-fortress of Vertine, Castello di Rietine, the Medieval village of San Sano, and the Castello di Monteluco dei Lecchi. Of the four major cities in the area (Gaiole, Radda, Castellina, and Greve), the most characteristic is perhaps the city-fortress of Castellina with its rich civil, military, and religious history. If you are able to visit these places between May and June,
the manifestation "Cantine Aperte" (open wine cellars) takes place in several different areas of the Chianti region. During this event, local producers invite you to visit their wine cellars. September is another month full of events dedicated to wine. In Greve during the second weekend of the month, the Festival del Vino takes place in Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, where the Chianti
Classico wine is celebrated through dances, theatrical productions and wine tastings. The following week, in Panzano, is the "Vino al Vino" event where various agricultural associations of the region set up stands in the main piazza. Visitors have the possibility of purchasing and sampling a glass of wine from any of the producers present.

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