This morning we slept in a bit, and headed out for takeaway breakfast and our wine tour in Chianti!

We stopped at a cute bakery en route to the winery meeting point and the chocolate croissant and fruit tart I had were 👌🏽.

Next we were off to the hills in a small van with Danielle our driver to our first winery, Podere Campriano. The drive out was beautiful and during the time in the van Danielle explained to us how Chianti and Chianti Classico are two very different wines not to be mistaken for one another and he pretty much reiterated that with various facts the entire drive. Haha He arranges these tours and private transport for a living so if you want his social media handle just ask me!

Arriving to Podere Campriano winery I was pretty giddy with excitement purely just on my surroundings being as breathtaking as they were. Elena was there to greet us upon arrival and she was so incredibly warm and friendly! She is pictured below in a black dress between all us girls. 🙂

She took us on a short tour of their family owned winery and taught us about the particulars of their Chianti Classico production, the history of her families winery (she is a 3rd generation wine producer on this land), and introduced us to her lovely family (including two adorable dogs)! We felt right at home. Fun fact, her great grandparents bought this land for 40 euros, because at the time no one wanted to live in the country. What a crazy ROI!

This is a view from her property, it’s just so gorgeous here! Side note: They have a couple rooms they rent as a bed and breakfast if you ever want to experience this for yourselves over a longer period of time. 😉

Next was lunch paired with 3 tastings. Let me just say–these pictures do not do justice. I cried tears of joy by the end of our meal.

Our first course was Pici. Elena hand made this egg free pasta (with organic flour from her neighbor) with sage, mint and parmesan paired with their standard Chianti Classico, 2014. It was out of control. The wine was so easy to drink-not heavy at all, but still very enjoyable and present flavor notes to it. A great everyday choice.

We learned you can tell a Chianti is Chianti Classico if there is a black rooster on the label. To put simply without a black rooster, it is not validated by the institution that regulates the rules for the production.

Second course was the most amazing charcuterie I have ever had in my life. Hands down. Elena and her family cure/make all the meats salami at home.

The first salami I tried literally melts in your mouth (pictured above on the left). The flavor is insanely wonderful! The last salami (above on the far right) was grandpa pecorino’s recipe–special because the cinnamon he added to it. All the cheese was different peccorino and the fresh tomatoes tasted like candy. She made two jams as well to pair with the homemade bread she baked for us. The Quince jam was AMAZINNGGG. Very unique flavor that I have never had before but definitely love. I may have finished off the container. Lol There were also two balsamics, one she made infused with grape juice from her vineyard, and one normal. I’m smiling writing this just thinking about it! That course was paired with their 2014 Reserve Chianti Classico. She told us weather conditions were insanely perfect that year for their production.

Last course was dessert. Local strawberries with fresh whipped cream and their mosto cotto. 🤤 I didn’t know strawberries could be this flavorful.

Heaven on earth for real. We ended up exchanging lots of stories with Elena, she was so lovely. We sent a case of her wine home with all three wines we tasted because we loved them all for different reasons. Haha We could have literally stayed there all day, and part of me wishes we did. Love you forever, Elena!

Next stop was Principe Corsini – Villa Le Corti. They produce wines and olive oil. They have an expansive amount of land! So walking around is really cool, and random fact–the original owners had a pope in the family (he commissioned the Trevi Fountain in Rome and you can see his name in one of the photos I posted from there!)

The tour around this wine and olive production facility is full of history and it’s pretty cool to experience. It wasn’t as warm/friendly as Podere Campriano but we learned so much on this tour. A few pics below.

The below olive oil terra-cotta container is from 1843, and they still use it today! I will say being here the olive oil is a new experience. The good stuff is almost spicy and soooo aromatic, flavorful!! It surprises me every single time.

After walking around the production facilities we had 3 tastings. 1 was a rose and two reds. The rose was really nice, not too sweet or dry.

A couple more photos of a garden, and my ecstatic nest day of my life pose. 😂

Once we left there, we headed back to Firenze. Gelato definitely happened, and it was GLORIOUS. I HIGHLY recommend you cross the river out of tourist land and try this gelato at Gelateria dello Passera (pictured below). We haven’t been able to find anything better. It’s 1 euro a scoop. 😍

The streets near the gelato place are adorable. Feel free to have a little mini photo shoot like we did. Ha

Buona note, as I have sweet dreams after the best day evarrr.