Archive for 'Localities'

The Crete Senesi presents the most iconic and beautiful of Tuscan landscapes, those that one sees on postcards and in travel guides. These are the rolling hills, the hilltop towns made of stone, the long and lonely country roads lined by proud and tall cypress trees, the golden fields of hay, and the broiling fog sweeping over it all in the mornings, only to clear away and reveal infinite vistas across the whole thing by afternoon. These are the images of Tuscany that have captured the minds and hearts of so many over the centuries and continue to do so. If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany, no matter where you are staying, in the countryside or a city, you should make sure to hop in a car, venture out into that landscape and take the magic perfection of it in for yourself.

The Vernaccia is one of the oldest indigenous vine varieties in Italy and also refers to a wine area that is intrinsically tied to the history of San Gimignano. Brought to the area from Liguria in the 1200s by Vieri de' Bardi and with exact origins unknown, it was an incredibly famous and popular wine in the Middle Ages but, so tied to the fate of the city as it was, it declined in prestige and importance as the city itself became less important. That is, however, until the second half of the 20th century when it was rediscovered by local winemakers who breathed new life into the wine and got it to DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) status in 1966. In fact, it was the first Italian wine ever to get this label and then went on to obtain the DOCG quality assurance in 1993.

Today, Vernaccia vineyards cover over 768 hectares, which are tended by 177 winemakers, producing around 4 million litres (or approximately 5 million bottles) of wine per annum. The Strada del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a non-profit association that was founded in 1999 in order to promote the local wine-producing area and are also in charge of managing the Wine Museum in Villa della Rocca and it is precisely this museum that makes a vacation rental in San Gimignano such an excellent holiday destination in Tuscany for wine-lovers. For the most perfect setting to sip, savour and learn, this pretty city is hard to beat and the museum means you have wonderful resources right at your fingertips.

La Fabbrica di San Martino is a beautiful vineyard nestled among the lush rolling hills just north-west of Lucca around 5km from the city centre, in an area called the Colline Lucchesi (Lucca Hills), which is a DOC wine region in Tuscany. At the centre of the estate is an 18th century villa and surrounding it are grounds that stretch over 20 hectares and encompass vineyards, olive groves, a forest, gardens and more. The estate, itself, is a stunning place to explore and spend time but it is also home to a vineyard and winery that produce celebrated wines. If you have found a luxury villa in Lucca and are looking for the perfect setting for some wine-tasting, it is an excellent option. Come and sit back and relax, take in the wonderful views, sip some wine, try some local delicacies, and meet the friendly staff members and the cute furry pals that live on the estate.

You imagine a certain kind of rather traditional option for restaurants and coffee shops in Italy but, of course, there are more modern and cutting-edge options available and one thing that we love to do is track down all sorts of different kinds of places to eat on our next trip to various cities. With Florence currently in mind, I was looking at lots of places, hunting for something special, when I came across the magical and appealing interiors of La Ménagère.

Tuscany is one of the great wine regions of the world, as beautiful as it is prolific, an ideal place to holiday, sip, sit back, relax, and enjoy. Throughout the year, there are all sorts of wine-lead events and festivals as well and there are several great times to choose to plan a wine-based vacation in Tuscany but, if we were to recommend one in the coming months, during the lovely springtime in the region, it would be the Orcia Wine Festival in April. Just browse our vacation rentals in the Val d'Orcia and plan to attend this amazing festival and try some delicious Tuscan wines for yourself in the stunning surroundings of this gorgeous part of the region.

Taking place each year during the last weekend in April, in the town of San Quirico d'Orcia, the Orcia Wine Festival is an event that was created in order to promote and celebrate the excellence of the wine production of the Val d’Orcia. Conceived and organised by the Municipality of San Quirico d'Orcia, the fair takes place in the beautiful eighteenth century rooms of the Palazzo Chigi and involves technical tasting sessions, food and wine tastings, specialist talks and the organising of visits to the wineries in which the excellent local wines that are showcased over the course of the festival are actually produced.