Hi guys! I have decided to share my Tuscan series with you in 2016, although I was there last summer in July 2015. Vineyards & wineries were the highlights of my study abroad trip during my senior year! Salcheto winery in particular was very impressive. Not only is the location superb, but the design and structure of the winery enhance the day to day business of Salcheto, Toscana. The architecture of the winery consists of a round base, unlike the popular rectangle/square mazes, which several other wineries prefer. When first walking up to the winery, you will find yourself on a high, round platform overlooking a gorgeous vineyard valley. Genuine Tuscany in the warm sun & cool breeze. The wind couldn't be more refreshing! On the platform, round holes in the ground exist to provide natural sunlight peaking though a tunnel, which leads to the cellar. Sustainability is of extreme importance for Salcheto. Energy independence is top priority and is what I found very unique about this winery. The view is a perfect photo op! The building is covered in an array of light brick, which creates a warm feel. Friendly hospitality from the staff was also a bonus. Tours are given almost everyday during the season and Salcheto tour guides will mention brilliant explanations as to why Salcheto manufactures wine the way they do. Inside the cellar is an amazing site to see! Round and round we went, passing through the steel tanks and then past the wooden barrels. White wines and few rose's are aged in steel, while reds are aged only in oak. Tuscany has unique regulations regarding types of wine. There is table wine, IGT, DOC, and DOCG. Wine labeled with DOCG is the best choice, since the wine is aged longer in oak and additionally aged in the bottle for a specific longer length of time before entering the market. As a study abroad student living in a small apartment in Firenze, my roommates and I would put our Euros together and purchase a nice DOCG bottle. Pure perfection from a visual analysis, to an olfactory analysis, & a gustative analysis (Professor Carlotta would be impressed that I remembered my wine tasting vocabulary!). After returning home and visiting several Italian restaurants and trying the imported Chianti wine, the aroma was present, but the taste was not the same. Only in Italia will you truly experience a perfect glass of Toscana wine. I suppose the atmosphere contributes to how the body senses. Tuscan red wine uses the Sangiovese grape, also referred to Prugnolo Gentile in Montepulciano. Most reds have a deeper taste of plum & cherry. I was most surprised to find hints of leather, pepper, & tobacco in few variations. High alcohol content was noticed by tipping the glass and watching the wine slowly drip back down the glass like thin syrup.
Salcheto winery is a barrel of delight! A great learning experience in a warm & peaceful environment! Not to mention the endless buffet of food waiting for you as you enter the dining room! Definitely worth visiting if traveling though Tuscany! Ciao for now! Love Always, Mia.
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AuthorHi guys! My passion is anything and everything SWEET! I am a graduate from Los Angeles, California with a hospitality degree. I have experienced many inspiring delights of the world as I have traveled here & there. Whatever the future may bring, I will always observe with my eyes & enjoy with my heart. Love Always, MARIA CEKO (Mia) Always #HEARTInspired Archives
January 2017
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