(click on this link to see an album of my favorite pictures from the grape picking! also, check out my new pictures on Facebook.)
Who knew that when I signed up to come to Italy I'd get to participate in the wine-making process?
My first real taste of wine was in France in 2007 on a wine-tasting of Champagne with FPD's French Club. Since then, I've been intrigued by wine but have never had a strong urge to drink. I still don't, honestly, and it hasn't been hard to say "no" at college being underage.
Here, wine is an important "ingredient" in the Italian diet. They frown upon the way Americans use wine. We "drink" rather than "taste" what is in front of us. Instead, we should use all of our senses. Sight: the color. Smell: fruity? spicy? floral? Taste: astringent? dry? sweet? You taste sweetness with the tip of the tongue, bitter tastes at the back, and acidity on the sides of your mouth. But, shouldn't we ingest everything slowly, in this same way so as to appreciate it all? I say this but still often inhale a panini rushing out the door to class. There is so much that goes into each bottle that it is a shame when it is mistreated.
It takes an army to run the place: experts on agriculture, field workers that individually pick only the best bunches, truck drivers, weighers, grape crush machine runners, those that run the de-stemming machine, experts who run laboratory tests on each barrel to make sure it is up to quality, overseers, engineers of new wines, cooks for the taste testings, shop workers, so many!
I paid twenty euros for one of the coolest things I've ever done. Sabrina, Olivia, Meredith and I were handed a bucket and shears and sent to pick out our grape bunches. Of course, we had to sample the different varieties along the way. They have to be top quality, duh. We sheared and nibbled and laughed and took pictures while the fog lifted and we could see the mountains and other vineyards around us. I'm still surprised that they let all thirty or so students be a part of the process! We literally picked the grapes alongside the field workers and learned the techniques by watching them. It was sooooo cool.
Of course, we had a tour of the facilities and an introduction to the winemaking process as well. There is so much precision required to be able to satisfy the requirements to make a labeled Chianti!
Our guide was an FUA professor of wine studies, who was also the daughter of the family that owned the castle and vineyard. After going to school and specializing in wine studies, she made certain to keep the business in the family (which is of great importance to the Italian culture). She even created a special type of white wine dedicated to her mother. We tasted it, "Donna Patrizia," with our focaccia and AMAZING vegetable lasagna. Later, we had two reds: the first, a Chianti, with a selection of Tuscan prosciutto, and the second, a kinder wine called "Baccante," with pecorino and parmesan cheeses. We had a surprise dessert of cantucci (Tuscan biscotti) to finish the meal. We were stuffed! And this was considered a "light lunch" according to our information sheet.
Then, we got back on the bus, and nearly EVERYONE fell asleep. Full tummies and rosy cheeks. Back at the train station, the girls and I bought tickets for CINQUE TERRE tomorrow. It's a four hour (but only 10 euro) train ride to Monterosso, so we are meeting at 5:45 AM and leaving at 6:10 to get there around 10:30. I'm gonna sleep on the train... we are hiking all five cities, a full day event. We're starting at the top, the harder climbs, and working our way down to the "lovers lanes" which are not as strenuous. Everyone says that Cinque Terre is the most beautiful part of Italy. Can't wait to see it for myself! Don't worry, I'll DEFINITELY put up pictures.
It's not yet ten, but I have to hit the sack to wake up at 5 AM tomorrow. Whoosh.
Buonaserata!
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